Joy of Life

Joy of Life

Created by Mao Ni

On CCTV-8, Zhejiang Television

2019–3 seasons83 episodes45 min8.0 / 10

A sprawling wuxia-inflected political drama about a gifted young man navigating court intrigue, martial challenges, and moral tests in a fantasy kingdom, framed as a historical fiction written by a modern student.

Zhang Qing, a present-day college student in culture and history major wants to study in professor Ye's postgraduate class, so he decides to write a historical fiction to elaborate his perspective of analyzing ancient literature history with modern concept. In the fiction, Zhang himself acts as a young man Fan Xian with mysterious life who lives in a remote seaside town of Kingdom Qing in his childhood, under the help of a mysterious mentor and a blindfolded watchman. Fan goes to the capital when he grows up, where he experiences plenty of ordeal and temper. Fan persists in adhering the rule of justice and goodness and lives his own glorious life.

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Questions people ask

  • Is Joy of Life violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.

  • Does Joy of Life leave you hopeful? Somewhat. More hopeful than 69% of series.

  • Is Joy of Life scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 59% of series.

  • Is Joy of Life sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Joy of Life easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

41/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

You have seen this shape before.

Rarity56

How unlike any other series this one feels

Surprise22

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love49

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Joy of Life, and what each one shares →

Like Joy of Life

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Joy of Life

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Joy of Life, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Joy of Life, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Joy of Life, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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