After four and a half years, “Joy of Life Season 2” is set to premiere. Along with its solid script and exquisite costumes and settings, the greatest sincerity of “Joy of Life” lies in its thoughtful casting. Almost every supporting character is a skilled actor, beloved and familiar to the audience. The second installment retains most of the original cast while introducing some dazzling new faces. Please note, the following introduction of new characters contains spoilers.
First, let's talk about two characters whose actors have been replaced: Yan Bingyun and Ye Ling'er. Yan Bingyun, originally played by Xiao Zhan, is now portrayed by Wu Xingjian, who has appeared in “A Lifelong Journey” and “The Forerunner.” Coming from a family with a strong military background, Wu Xingjian is the third generation of his family to serve in the military.
Ye Ling'er's role, previously played by Han Jiunuo, has been taken over by Jin Chen. Known for her role as the seductive dealer in “No More Bets,” Jin is a familiar actress to many. Han Jiunuo's portrayal of Ye Ling'er in the first part was noteworthy. Rumors suggest that Jin Chen, a high-profile actress, might have edged out others for the role.
In the second part, Ye Ling'er is to marry the Second Prince and become a disciple of Fan Xian, increasing her role and impact. It remains to be seen if the crew sought a more popular actress to handle this larger role, but surpassing her predecessor in portraying the general's daughter and the grandmaster's niece vividly will certainly be a challenge.
Several new characters in the royal family also make their debut. Firstly, Yu Feihong portrays the Empress. In the original story, the Empress is the mother of the Crown Prince and the wife of Emperor Qing. The Empress is a tragic character who never gained Emperor Qing's love. Her family was initially powerful at court and instrumental in helping Emperor Qing ascend to the throne. However, once secure, Emperor Qing used her to eliminate rivals, including orchestrating the demise of her own family, leading to their downfall. Ultimately, due to the betrayal of the Ye family, she chooses to end her own life during the final power struggle.
Sui Junbo, playing Consort Yi, was a frequent lead in urban romance dramas a decade ago, familiar to those born in the 80s and 90s. In the original, Consort Yi is the mother of the Third Prince and a cousin to Fan Sizhe's mother, Liu Ruyu. Through this connection, she unwaveringly supports Fan Xian in court intrigues, representing one of the few intelligent consorts in the palace.
Guo Zifan plays the Third Prince, initially excluded from the succession due to his young age. Born into royalty and exposed to its intricacies from a young age, he is no simple character. By the age of eight or nine, he partnered with Fan Sizhe in starting a brothel. Later, under Fan Xian's mentorship, he is steered onto the right path. After surviving several assassination attempts by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, and learning that Fan Xian is his blood-related brother, he becomes utterly devoted, admiring yet fearful. After Emperor Qing's death, with Fan Xian's support, the Third Prince ascends the throne, harboring mixed feelings of love and fear towards his master, who could easily topple his reign with his formidable black cavalry and wealth.
Fu Xinbo plays the eldest prince, who, due to his mother Ning Cairen's origins as a prisoner from Dongyi City, was excluded from the line of succession from birth. Influenced by his mother's righteous nature, he leads troops in battles, staying away from palace intrigues. He respects Chen Pingping as an uncle. After the Third Prince ascends to the throne, he laments the loss of two of his four brothers, choosing to leave the court and station himself at Dongyi City.
One of the most gripping storylines from the original novel involves Fan Xian managing the treasury and using commercial bidding strategies to topple the Ming family. A veteran actor, Gui Yalei plays the matriarch of the Ming family, a well-regarded figure in Jiangnan. She joins the ranks of other formidable elderly women like the grandmother of Danzhou and the dowager empress. With her strong acting background, her portrayal is bound to make this character memorable.
Ning Li plays the eldest son of the Ming family, Ming Qingda, whose chilling portrayal of Li Fengtian in “Burning Ice” still evokes fear. In the original story, Ming Qingda is a ruthless character who even murders the family matriarch to manipulate public opinion against Fan Xian. One glance at the character's intense gaze in the promotional photos suggests Ning Li is well-suited for the role.
Speaking of assassins, Feng Bing portrays Fan Wujiu, who was memorable as Lao Mo, the fishmonger in “The Knockout.” This time, he steps back in time to play one of the Eight Generals under the Second Prince, an assassin of the eighth rank.
Among the new female characters, the Northern Qi Princess stands out. Played by Xiaotong Mao, she has become beloved by audiences for her acting and persona. In the original story, the princess marries the eldest prince as part of a diplomatic alliance. Both are inexperienced in love, leading to a genuinely awkward but endearing relationship.
Wang Chu Ran portrays Sang Wen, originally Chen Pingping's exclusive musician. With her exceptional singing skills, she later becomes a manager at Huguelou. She helps run it as an intelligence network and eventually marries Fan Xian's student, Shi Chanli.
Wang Xiaochen plays Yuan Meng, who serves as a pawn of the Second Prince in the original story. Her ruthless behavior enrages Fan Jian, a veteran playboy, who ultimately urges Fan Xian to kill her. But with Wang's distinctive style and acting ability, it's unlikely she'll remain just a plot device in the second installment, possibly resulting in some adaptation changes.
Finally, some new characters have been added to the Joy of Life season 2, including Xu Zhisheng as Xu Shuli. Though not formally trained in acting, his comedic talent and the inherent humor in his character will likely make him a source of levity in this new season.
