Posted: July 20, 2023
According to Baidu Baike, Ode to Joy season 5 has been announced for later in 2023. The exact dates for the broadcast has not been announced. The series continues from season 4 which aired earlier this year, with the same cast of characters that started in season 3. Jiang Shu Ying performs in a main role. Aside from the two previous seasons of Ode to Joy, she was in the legal drama, Lady of Law in 2022.
Also as part of the Ode to Joy cast is Yang Cai Yu, who will also be in the upcoming Like a Flowing River 3. The Like a Flowing River series is about a time of economic reform in China that began with season one in the late 1970s. Like a Flowing River 3 opens in 1993. Seasons 1 and 2 are available on YouTube.
There is indication that the Ode to Joy series has gone downhill from some commentators. With a season 5, popularity for the franchise must remain high, which focuses on women-centric stories. The series is from Tencent and CCTV. Seasons 1 and 3 are available on Viki.
Be Your Own Light – Chinese Drama Updates
Posted: July 17, 2023
Since I have only access to YouTube, I have been watching one episode a day of the Legend of Anle. There appears to be a triangle that has formed with Ren Anle, the Crown Prince, and Luo Ming Xi, who plays Anle’s mentor. The show has fun banter between characters and political intrigue to keep me interested enough to continue watching the 40 episode series.
The actor who plays Luo Ming Xi is the actor and singer Liu Yu Ning, whose music I have enjoyed recently.
On Monday, after logging on to YouTube, the folks behind Legend of Anle at Youku, started to release a new contemporary series called Be Your Own Light. Liu Yu Ning is in the lead role with Liu Tao.
In Be Your Own Light, Liu Tao plays He Huan, a woman whose husband has left and she has many debts. She has experienced many setbacks in her career, and she must care for her mother who is ill. She is also working in the changing television and media industry where she is determined to make her mark.
Earlier this year I started watching the first season of Ode to Joy (2016), which has been called the Chinese answer to Sex in the City.
Liu Tao plays a character I find compelling, An Di, an executive at a corporation, who is one of four women who find friendship with each other living in the same building complex. The series follows the ups and downs of the careers and love lives of the main characters.
Legend of Anle – A Chinese Drama Update
Posted: July 14, 2023
I have posted enough about Chinese dramas to now get regular updates on Facebook. When I glanced at my phone this morning, I was surprised to see Legend of Anle, a new drama had started releasing episodes the day before. The first episode is now available on Youtube and is released by Youku.
The story follows Di Zi Yuan with Dilraba Dimurat in the role. Ten years prior to when the drama is set, her family lost the battle against the Han, with her being the only survivor. She takes on a new name Ren Anle to be Consort to the crown prince Han Ye played by Gong Jun. While feelings begin to set in, there remains an enmity between the two families.
After seeing a bit of publicity before, I wasn’t really anticipating any news soon. I am not very attuned to the drama industry in China, so I find out about shows along with pretty much everyone else watches the shows overseas.
I have followed Dilraba Dimurat’s career since The Flames’ Daughter, a xianxia drama from 2018. Currently, I am in the middle of watching a contemporary drama, Love Designer where Dilraba is a fashion designer. I wonder if I should jump onto the new thing any time soon.