Joy of Life 1 (2019) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:                      Joy of Life (Season 1)

Chinese title:         慶餘年 (第一季) /庆余年 (第一季)

                              (Eng translation: "Celebrating the remaining years")          Episodes:               46

Genre:                    Fantasy, Sci-fi, Mystery, Political, Wuxia, Romance  

Screenwriter:        Wang Juan 王倦 

Director:                Sun Hao 孫皓

Original network:  IQiyi, Tencent 

Release date:        26 Nov 2019

Airing schedule:    26 Nov 2019 - 1 Jan 2020

Synopsis:

Fan Xian is born in the empire of Southern Qing, but inexplicably has memories from the 21st century. He is raised in the small coastal town of Dan Zhou by his Grandmother, where he is taught the art of poison and medicine by his mentor Fei Jie and martial arts by his late mother's blind bodyguard, Wu Zhu. Fan Xian's mother, Ye Qing Mei, was once a celebrated inventor and the founder of the Overwatch Council (Southern Qing's spy network) and the Treasury Department, but was killed shortly after Fan Xian's birth.  

After Fan Xian survives an assassination attempt, he ventures to the Capital to investigate who wants his life and to learn about his late mother and his mysterious past.

  

Blossoms in Adversity (2024) - Final Review

Final review/rating: Blossoms in Adversity (2024) - A heartwarming comeback tale with family at its centre and a strong heroine at the helm

This is 8.5/10 stars ✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮ from Pandafan🐼

Overall rating:         8.5 Stars Plot:                       8 Stars Acting/cast:            8.5 Stars Couple chemistry:   8 stars Music:                    8 Stars Re-watch value:      8.5 Stars Enjoyment factor:   8.5 Stars

Blossoms in Adversity (2024) is one of the dark horses in the 2024 drama line to date. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Hua family's heartwarming comeback tale, how much I rooted for their success, how moved I was by their losses, and how invested I was in their outcome.  

For those who despair at the preponderance of flakey c-drama heroines, the titular Hua Zhi as played by Zhang Jing Yi is a breath of fresh air, with her incisive intelligence, her courage in the face of adversity, and her visionary outlook.  If anything, Hua Zhi is a little too perfect, a few minor flaws notwithstanding. But who better to take the helm? It certainly makes for some very compelling feel-good watching.  

Undoubtedly, suspension of disbelief is needed to enjoy this drama because plot armour abounds. That said, the story is engaging and full of twists and turns, and the empowerment of women by women is an uplifting leitmotif throughout, as is the importance of family.   

While the drama is not romance focused, the main pairing of Zhang Jing Yi's Hua Zhi and Hu Yi Tian's Gu Yan Xi is also a #relationship goals portrayal of a very healthy romance.

SPOILERS AHEADS

  

Blossom in Adversity (2024) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:                      Blossoms in Adversity

Chinese title:         惜花芷 (Eng translation: "Cherishing Hua Zhi")

Episodes:               40

Genre:                    Historical, Romance, Palace 

Original network:  Youku

Release date:        2 April 2024

Airing schedule:    2 April 2024 - 25 April 2024

Synopsis:

When Imperial Minister Hua Yi Zheng speaks truth to power, the Emperor is enraged. In one foul swoop, the Emperor demotes Hua Yi Zheng and his sons, forfeits all the Hua family's assets, and exiles all the Hua menfolk to the barren lands of the North.  

The ladies of the Hua family and their young are left destitute and rudderless.  In the face of adversity, Hua Zhi, the eldest young lady of the Hua family, steps up as the head of the household. Using all of her considerable acumen to ensure that her family survive and thrive, Hua Zhi gives them hope for an eventual family reunion.