A Shorter Wait for “Joy of Life” Fans?

Zhang Ruoyun’s (張若昀) hit historical political drama Joy of Life <慶餘年> has been a runaway success, and after fans had to wait five long years for Season 2, anticipation for the next installment has only grown stronger. Now, a promising update has finally arrived.

Seasons 3 and 4 to Go into Production Together

Tian Yu (田雨), who plays Fan Xian’s loyal right-hand man Wang Qinian, recently revealed in an interview that the production team is hoping to begin filming by the end of this year or sometime next year, depending on how quickly the script is completed. Even more excitingly, he hinted that Seasons 3 and 4 may be filmed back-to-back, sending fans into a frenzy.

With a huge and intricate storyline, the drama still has not covered half of the original novel, even after two seasons. Many of the most iconic plot points — including the Battle of Dongshan, the Kyoto rebellion, Chen Pingping’s tragic end, and Fan Xian’s showdown with the Qing Emperor — have yet to appear on screen. Ever since Season 2 finished airing in 2024, viewers have been urging the team to continue filming and bring the rest of the story to life.

According to Tian Yu, much will depend on screenwriter Wang Juan’s progress. Still, his comments strongly suggest that the team is thinking beyond just a third season. For many fans, that is the best possible outcome. Trying to wrap up such a massive story in only one more season would likely mean cutting or rushing major moments, which could hurt the drama’s pacing and disappoint loyal readers of the novel. Expanding the adaptation into a fourth season would give the story more room to breathe and allow its biggest scenes to be done justice.

Preserving Cast Continuity

There is also the practical issue of scheduling. Reuniting the original cast — including Zhang Ruoyun, Chen Daoming (陳道明), Li Qin (李沁), Song Yi (宋軼), Guo Qilin (郭麒麟), and Li Xiaoran (李小冉) — is no easy task. Chen Daoming, in particular, is already in his seventies, and there have previously been rumors that he might step away from Season 3 due to physical demands, leaving fans worried about whether the original lineup could stay intact.

Season 2 also faced some criticism over recasting, with new versions of Ye Ling’er and Yan Bingyun receiving mixed reactions from viewers who felt the replacements did not quite match the original feel of the characters. Filming the remaining story all at once may thus be the smartest move — preserving cast continuity while avoiding further delays or changes.

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