Ode to Joy (TV series)

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Ode to Joy
Season 2 promotional image
GenreDrama
Slice-of-life
Romance
Created byShanghai Media Group
Written byYuan Zidan
Directed byKong Sheng (Season 1)
Jian Chuanhe (Season 1-2)
Zhang Kaizhou (Season 2)
StarringLiu Tao
Jiang Xin
Wang Ziwen
Yang Zi
Qiao Xin
Opening themeVarious renditions of Beethoven's Ode to Joy
Ending themeThere Will Be Happiness Waiting for You (Season 1)
Us (Season 2)
Country of originChina
Original languageChinese
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes42 (Season 1)
55 (Season 2)
33 (Season 3)
37 (Season 4)
Production
ProducerHou Hongliang
Running time45 minutes (approx.)
Production companiesShandong Film & TV Production Co., Ltd. (Season 1)
Daylight Entertainment Television Ltd (Season 1-2)
Original release
NetworkDragon Television
Zhejiang Television
Release18 April 2016 (2016-04-18) –
10 June 2017 (2017-06-10)

Ode to Joy (simplified Chinese: 欢乐颂; traditional Chinese: 歡樂頌) is a 2016 Chinese television series jointly produced by Shandong Television Media Group and Daylight Entertainment Television Ltd. It is based on the same title novel by A Nai. The first season of the drama aired from 18 April to 10 May 2016.

The second season of the drama aired from 11 May to 10 June 2017.[1] The 3rd[2] and 4th[3] season were released in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The main characters and their actors have been changed from Season 3.

Synopsis[edit]

The series is about five modern women who live on the 22nd floor of an apartment complex called "Ode to Joy" in Shanghai. Each with their unique personality and lifestyle, the five women have different backgrounds, including their age, social status, personality and careers. Their relationships were initially rocky, but eventually they became good friends and neighbours. Together, they navigate their career and love lives, solving problems and growing more resilient.

Seasons[edit]

SeasonsEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
142April 18, 2016 (2016-04-18)May 10, 2016 (2016-05-10)Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV
255May 11, 2017 (2017-05-11)June 10, 2017 (2017-06-10)Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV
333August 11, 2022 (2022-08-11)August 31, 2022 (2022-08-31)Dragon TV
437April 7, 2023 (2023-04-07)April 26, 2023 (2023-04-26)CCTV-8

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

Actress Role Appearance Description
1 2
Liu Tao Andy Main 31 years old; a Wall Street executive who returns to China in search of her long-lost brother. Despite her intelligence, Andy is not good at dealing with relationships. Her lonely childhood as an orphan and battle with a hereditary mental disorder fills her life with worry.
Jiang Xin Fan Shengmei Main 30 years old; a senior HR executive at a foreign company. She is resourceful, worldly and kind-hearted. Facing constant extortion from her financially strained family, Fan Shengmei puts great importance on money and superficial needs whilst battling her insecurities.
Wang Ziwen Qu Xiaoxiao Main 24 years old; daughter of a rich businessman. She is honest, sassy and fierce. Despite being raised in a complex family. Qu Xiaoxiao is caring, she is a rose with thorns, making people love her and hate her at the same time.
Yang Zi Qiu Yingying Main 23 years old; a regular employee who comes to Shanghai from a small city to seek better endeavours. She is straightforward and simple, but she also has a bad temper. Her impulsiveness gets hers into sticky situations.
Qiao Xin Guan Juner Main 22 years old; an intern at a global top 500 company who strives to catch up with her fellow peers due to her inferior educational background. Coming from an academic family, she is quiet, introverted and gentle. As she enters the workplace and meets different people, Guan Juner starts to question her identity and aspirations.

Supporting[edit]

Actor Role Appearance Description
1 2
Zu Feng Qi Dian Main Guest A shrewd and capable CEO who builds his career from scratch. He is cautious and on-guard of the people around him. He is long-time online friends with Andy, and is also her first love. However, he made a mistake trying to resolve her personal problems that their relationship ends up falling apart.
Wang Kai Zhao Qiping Main A chief physician at a renowned hospital known for his exemplary educational background and immaculate work attitude. When he is off-work, he displays his charismatic and flirtatious nature. He has an on-and-off relationship with Qu Xiaoxiao until he realizes they want to be exclusive.
Jin Dong Tan Zongming Guest A legendary figure in Shanghai's business world. Andy's boss and long-time friend who truly cares for her and helps her find her brother.
Yang Shuo Bao Yifan Guest Main A second generation rich heir and vice president of his family's company. Though he may seem frivolous on the outside, he is earnest and persistent, both in work and love. He later becomes Andy's second boyfriend.
Zhang Lu Wang Baichuan Main A hardworking businessman who founded a start-up. He has had a crush on Shengmei since their university days, and when he hears that she is still single, he decides to pursue her. He is someone willing to go the extra mile for love, but Fan Shengmei's relentless demands make him feel inadequate.
Wu Haochen Ying Qin Guest Main A hardworking and simple man who works as an IT employee. He comes from the same hometown as Qiu Yingying, and later becomes her boyfriend. However, his traditional view towards relationships put their romance in peril once he finds out that Yingying isn't a virgin.
Deng Lun Xie Tong Main A rising musician in his early twenties. He was expelled from his highschool in his teenage years and as a result he never went to University and is uneducated. He meets Guan Ju'er after a misunderstanding between him and Yingying. He later becomes Guan Juner's boyfriend.

Extended[edit]

Family members[edit]

Actor Role Appearance Description
1 2
Su Shenghua He Yunli Guest Andy's grandfather who passes away.
Ding Yongdai Wei Guoqiang Regular Andy's father.
Dai Meihong Andy's mother Guest
Shi Yunpeng Xiao Ming Regular An dy's brother who suffers from a mental disorder.
Zhang Naihua Fan Shengmei's father Regular He was diagnosed with a sickness and as a result Fan Shengmei had to sell her brother's house.
Kang Junzhi Fan Shengmei's mother Regular She is always biased towards Fan Shengmei's brother thus always begging Fan Shengmei to help her brother and his wife.
Yue Yang Fan Shengying Regular He is a Fan Shengmei's brother who is a troublemaker who ownes money to a lot of people. He is constantly asking for money from his sister.
Zhao Qianzi Fan Shengmei's sister-in-law Regular Fan Shengying's wife
Yang Yicheng Lei Lei Regular Fan Shengmei's nephew and Fan Shengying's son.
Wang Yongquan Qu Xiaoxiao's father Regular A rich business man. He and his wife disagree on matters regarding money.
Mu Liyan Qu Xiaoxiao's mother Regular She is a straightforward women who cares and looks out for her daughter.
Guo Xiaoran Qu Lianjie Regular Qu Xiaoxiao's older half-brother. A rich man with many relationships including Fan Shengmei.
Feng Hui Qiu Yingying's father Regular
Yan Jingyao Qiu Yingying's mother Regular
Tan Xihe Guan Juner's father Regular
Liu Mintao Guan Juner's mother Regular She is always advising her daughter to look for a boyfriend and openly discusses the disadvantages Guan Juner and Xie Tong's relationship have after figuring out he did not go to University.
Chang Chen-kuang Bao Yifan's father Regular
Juan Zi Bao Yifan's mother Regular She disapproved of Andy and Bao Yifan's relationship at first but has a change of heart after she was admitted to the hospital.
Chen Jin Zhao Qiping's mother Regular
Cai Gang Wang Baichuan's father Regular
Li Xiaoyan Wang Baichuan's mother Regular She disapproves of Fan Shengmei and Wang Baichuan's relationship due to Fan Shengmei's complicated family matters and believed she would be a burden to her son.
Cao Yi Ying Qin's father Regular
Yang Kun Ying Qin's mother Regular She originally disapproved of Qiu Yingying and Ying Qin's relationship, but approves it after an incident with Yin Qin's ex-fiancée.

Others[edit]

Actor Role Appearance Description
1 2
Zhang Xiaoqian Yao Bin Regular Qu Xiaoxiao's good friend. A rich boy who loves to party.
Wang Wenshi Lan Lan Regular One of Qu Xiaoxiao's entourage.
Hu Yijing Kong Kong Regular One of Qu Xiaoxiao's entourage.
Chen Muyang Chief Bai Guest Qiu Yingying's deceiving ex-boyfriend and colleague. He planned on playing Qiu Yingying and tried to falsely report Fan Shengmei to the police for destroying his property. He also tried to prevent Yingying from working correctly at the office, they both eventually get laid off after Yingying exposes his misdeeds. He does encounter her again when they were both looking for jobs, but her slaps her and storms off and she publicly accused him of being evil.
Yu Wentong Yan Luming Guest Tan Zongming's good friend.
Wang Hong Lin Jing Regular Guan Juner's senior and pursuer.
Liu Lin Xiu Yuan Regular Hospital director who helps take care of Xiao Ming.
Li Kewei Liu Siming Regular An Di's employee. A careless and scatter-brained man who focuses more on investing in stocks than on work.
Li Shuai Guan Dayu Regular An Di's employee.
Yuan Yuan Zhang Lili Regular An Di's employee.
Sui Yumeng Mi Xue'er Regular Guan Juner's fellow intern.
Zhu Mengyao Xiao Ye Regular Guan Juner's fellow intern.
Li Xueting Ah Guan Nan Guest Qu Xiaoxiao's former classmate. She wanted to seduce Qi Dian, and was jealous of his relationship with An Di thus she framed An Di to be a third party. She was eventually exposed and was threatened to publicly apologize by Qu Xiaoxiao.
Wei Wei Xiao Nan Guest A debtor who extorted hospital bills from Fan Shengmei.
Johnny Chen Chen Jiakang Guest Fan Shengmei's admirer.
Jin Zehao Shu Zhan Guest Guan Juner's matchmaking partner.
Lu Ling Mrs. Wei Guest Wei Guoqiang's wife. She accused An Di of having an affair with her husband due to being unaware that An Di was her husband's daughter and slapped An Di as well as contact Bao Yifan's mom to further push An Di in a corner.

Soundtrack[edit]

Season One[edit]

Title Singer
"说不出口" (Can't Say It Aloud) Liu Tao
"灰姑娘" (Cinderella) Jiang Xin
"我要你" (I Want You) Wang Ziwen
"开的比花香" (More Fragrant Than Flowers) Yang Zi
"破茧" (Breaking out of the Cocoon) Bridgette Qiao
"陪你左右" (Staying By Your Side) Zu Feng
"空气" (Air) Zu Feng
"你我" (You and Me) Yang Shuo
"爱情这样开始" (Love Begins Like This) Zhang Jiang
"欢乐颂" (Ode to Joy) Zhang Jiang
"繁星" (Array of Stars) Zhang Jiang
"总有幸福在等你" (There Will Be Happiness Waiting for You) Liu Tao, Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi, Bridgette Qiao

Season Two[edit]

Title Singer Notes
"我们“ (Us) Liu Tao, Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi, Bridgette Qiao Theme song
"家的滋味" (The Feeling of Home) Liu Tao An Di's theme song
"遇到爱“ (Meeting Love) Liu Tao An Di's theme song
"不怕一个人" (Not Afraid to be Alone) Jiang Xin Fan Shengmei's theme song
"我管可爱你管帅" (I'm Cute, You're Handsome) Wang Ziwen Qu Xiaoxiao's theme song
"蚯蚓" (Earthworm) Yang Zi Qiu Yingying's theme song
"想做你的瘋女孩" (I Want To Be Your Crazy Girl) Bridgette Qiao Guan Ju'er's theme song
"吻你之时别再躲" (Don't Hide When I Kiss You) Yang Shuo Bao Yifan's theme song
"愛我所愛" (Love What I Love) Deng Lun Xie Tong's theme song
"咖哩咖哩" (Curry Curry) Milk Coffee
"天已黑" (Night Has Fallen) Aska Yang
"天已黑" (Night Has Fallen) Deng Lun & Li Yang Version 2
"音樂帶我解脫" (Music Brings Me Relief) Xu Hebin
"只要你一個" (I Only Want You) Dongdong Dong
"逆光飛翔" (Fly Against the Light) Xu Hebin
"錯愛" (Wrong Love) Quan Zhendong
"錯過" (Let Slip) Su Lisheng

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

After airing, Ode to Joy received positive reviews from critics. People's Daily considered the series as a "new style of modern drama" which caters to women.[4] The series has also been praised for breaking away from the cookie-cutter nature of TV dramas that often feature a pure and kind-hearted Cinderella-like figure as its protagonist; and for injecting a new lease of life into the domestic TV drama industry.[5] Hailed as China's answer to Sex and the City, the drama has been praised for its realistic story and characters which viewers were able to empathize with. Sohu commented that Ode to Joy reveals the hardships that exist underneath the surface of shiny metro life, while also exploring different social rungs. Another success factor was due to its high production quality which showcases China's modern developments.[6]

Conversely, the series has also been criticized for encouraging the worship of wealth and leading audiences to become immersed in a world of pure illusion.[citation needed] The second season of the drama was also criticized for its repetitive plot, merely having a rating of 5.3 on Douban. Additionally, it was further panned for its materialist message.[7] The series has also caused heated discussion about "virgin obsession" on social media platforms.[8]

Commercial reception[edit]

Ode to Joy is a hit with both domestic and overseas viewers. The first season of the drama has over 18.3 billion views as of December 2016, becoming the most watched contemporary drama in China, before being surpassed by Love O2O.[9] The total number of views on YouTube also reached over 50 million, surpassing the record previously set by Nirvana in Fire and Princess Agents.[10]

The second season of the drama is also commercially successful, with over 1 percent viewership ratings in China and has acquired a strong international following.[citation needed]

Ratings[edit]

First season[edit]

Broadcast date Episode Zhejiang TV CSM52 ratings Dragon TV CSM52 ratings
Ratings(%) Audience share (%) Rank Ratings (%) Audience share(%) Rank
2016.4.18 1-2 0.492 1.43 12 0.567 1.64 9
2016.4.19 3-4 0.612 1.70 10 0.729 2.01 7
2016.4.20 5-6 0.580 1.61 10 0.780 2.16 7
2016.4.21 7-8 0.593 1.71 11 0.753 2.15 7
2016.4.22 9-10 0.808 2.25 8 0.844 2.33 7
2016.4.23 11 0.926 2.72 4 0.984 2.89 3
2016.4.24 12-13 0.885 2.54 4 1.102 3.05 3
2016.4.25 14-15 0.897 2.58 4 0.983 2.86 2
2016.4.26 16-17 0.912 2.58 7 0.993 2.79 4
2016.4.27 18-19 0.919 2.67 5 1.040 3.01 3
2016.4.28 20-21 0.826 2.43 7 0.962 2.82 5
2016.4.29 22-23 0.976 2.84 3 1.126 3.24 1
2016.4.30 24 0.833 2.61 5 0.862 2.71 4
2016.5.01 25-26 0.913 2.9 3 1.29 3.92 1
2016.5.02 27-28 1.262 3.514 2 1.513 4.205 1
2016.5.03 29-30 1.236 3.590 4 1.383 4.020 2
2016.5.04 31-32 1.298 3.801 2 1.524 4.474 1
2016.5.05 33-34 1.304 3.791 3 1.672 4.854 1
2016.5.06 35-36 1.349 3.95 2 1.748 5.1 1
2016.5.07 37 1.274 3.76 2 1.68 4.96 1
2016.5.08 38-39 1.11 3.32 3 1.928 5.54 1
2016.5.09 40-41 1.258 3.562 3 1.930 5.451 1
2016.5.10 42 1.331 3.69 2 1.972 5.48 1
Average ratings 0.982 1.233

Second season[edit]

Broadcast date Dragon TV ratings Zhejiang TV ratings
Ratings Audience share Rank Ratings Audience share Rank
2017-5-11 1.342 4.438 2 1.549 5.122 1
2017-5-12 1.351 4.49 2 1.925 6.4 1
2017-5-13 1.224 4.22 2 1.446 5 1
2017-5-15 1.352 4.46 2 1.517 5.019 1
2017-5-16 1.438 4.94 2 1.518 5.225 1
2017-5-17 1.397 4.842 1 1.396 4.833 2
2017-5-18 1.34 4.637 2 1.464 5.065 1
2017-5-19 1.43 4.81 2 1.489 5.05 1
2017-5-20 1.261 4.45 2 1.372 4.83 1
2017-5-21 1.597 5.21 2 1.694 5.52 1
2017-5-22 1.549 4.927 2 1.648 5.255 1
2017-5-23 1.582 5.18 2 1.63 5.333 1
2017-5-24 1.592 5.31 1 1.563 5.2 2
2017-5-25 1.516 5.32 1 1.495 5.24 2
2017-5-26 1.558 5.36 1 1.555 5.4 2
2017-5-27 1.36 4.9 1 1.271 4.63 2
2017-5-28 1.495 5.17 2 1.542 5.33 1
2017-5-29 1.583 5.53 2 1.611 5.61 1
2017-5-30 1.688 5.626 2 1.694 5.648 1
2017-5-31 1.645 5.514 2 1.798 6.017 1
2017-6-1 1.647 5.695 2 1.667 5.771 1
2017-6-2 1.681 5.62 2 1.803 6.05 1
2017-6-3 1.331 4.58 2 1.742 6 1
2017-6-4 1.986 6.31 1 1.919 6.1 2
2017-6-5 1.955 6.323 1 1.705 5.519 2
2017-6-6 1.842 6.251 1 1.725 5.859 2
2017-6-7 1.824 6.361 1 1.608 5.6 2
2017-6-8 2.017 7.101 1 1.55 5.452 2
2017-6-9 1.904 6.168 1 1.695 5.811 2
2017-6-10 1.793 6.489 1 1.467 5.317 2
  • Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2016 7th Macau International Television Festival Best Television Series Ode to Joy Won
2017 11th National Top-Notch Television Production Award Ceremony Outstanding Television Series Won [11]
2nd China Quality Television Drama Ceremony Quality Drama Example of the Year Won [12]
Audience Favorite TV Series (Dragon TV) Won
Quality Ensemble of the Year Liu Tao, Jiang Xin, Wang Ziwen, Yang Zi, Bridgette Qiao Won
Audience's Favorite Quality Star Liu Tao Won
Most Improved Actors of the Year Wang Ziwen, Yang Shuo Won
Quality Producer of the Year Hou Hongliang (also for When a Snail Falls in Love) Won
22nd Huading Awards Best Director Kong Sheng, Jian Chuanhe Nominated [13]
Best Screenwriter Yuan Zidan Nominated
Best Actress Liu Tao Nominated
Best Actress (Contemporary) Jiang Xin Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Zu Feng Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Wang Ziwen Nominated
Top 10 Television Series Ode to Joy Won
23rd Shanghai Television Festival Best Television Series Nominated [14]
Best Director Kong Sheng, Jian Chuanhe Nominated
Best Writing Yuan Zidan Nominated
Best Actress Liu Tao Nominated
Jiang Xin Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jin Dong Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Wang Ziwen Nominated
Yang Zi Nominated
8th Macau International Television Festival Best Actress Liu Tao Nominated [15]
Best Supporting Actress Wang Ziwen Nominated
2018 31st Flying Apsaras Award Outstanding Television Series (Modern) Ode to Joy Won [16]
Outstanding Actress Liu Tao Nominated
Jiang Xin Nominated
29th China TV Golden Eagle Award Best Actress Liu Tao Nominated [17]
Yang Zi Nominated

International broadcast[edit]

Season One[edit]

Channel Location Date
Dragon Television  China 18 April 2016
Zhejiang Television
Shandong Television 24 May 2016
Jiangxi Television 27 June 2016
Jia Le Channel (Singtel TV 502)  Singapore 1 September 2016
Videoland ON TV  Taiwan 21 September 2016
ELTA Drama 6 October 2016
NTV7 (Astro 107)  Malaysia 27 October 2016
8TV (Astro 708) 8 July 2017
Guangdong Television  China 27 June 2017
Vietnam Television (VTV3)  Vietnam 8 November 2017
TVB  Hong Kong 21 January 2018 (TVB Chinese Drama)
Rupavahini  Sri Lanka 8 May 2018[18]
CGTN Spanish  Spain 1 January 2021
Rede Brasil  Brazil 14 March 2022

Season Two[edit]

Channel Location Date
Dragon Television  China 11 May 2017
Zhejiang Television
Astro Quan Jia HD (Astro 308)  Malaysia 24 April 2017
Tianjin Television  China 27 July 2017
Jia Le Channel (Singtel TV 502)  Singapore 25 September 2017
Videoland ON TV  Taiwan 27 September 2017
ELTA Drama 2 October 2017
Southeast Television  China 19 February 2018
TVB  Hong Kong 17 May 2018

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ode to Joy 2 returns on May 11". Shanghai Daily. May 3, 2017.
  2. ^ "《欢乐颂3》今晚开播！全新的"五美"又在22楼集合了". Xinmin Evening News (in Chinese). 2022-08-11.
  3. ^ "江疏影、杨采钰主演《欢乐颂4》今晚开播，发布追剧日历". The Beijing News (in Chinese). 2023-04-07.
  4. ^ 人民日报海外版：《欢乐颂》为都市剧的创新探路 People's Daily May 8, 2016
  5. ^ "An Ode to Youth". Beijing Review. July 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "Chinese Ode to Joy TV series seducing audiences in Vietnam". Xinhua News Agency. July 8, 2016. Archived from the original on July 9, 2016.
  7. ^ "Show of the Week: Ode to Joy". The World of Chinese. June 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Virginity issue reflected in TV drama". China Daily. June 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "Vlinkage reveals 16 Cdramas with over 10 Billions Online Views". A Virtual Voyage. V Linkage. December 11, 2016.
  10. ^ "《楚乔传》曝定档海报 赵丽颖变特工少". Sina (in Chinese). May 22, 2017.
  11. ^ "第十一届电视制片业颁奖落幕 秦海璐蒋欣等获十佳". ifeng (in Chinese). February 20, 2017.
  12. ^ "品质盛典：孙俪着戏装现身 胡歌现场致敬老艺术家". NetEase (in Chinese). March 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "华鼎奖提名公布投票开启 《人民》吴刚陆毅齐入围". Sina (in Chinese). April 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "23届上海电视节入围名单公布 《欢乐颂》获八项提名". ent.ifeng (in Chinese). May 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "2017第八届澳门国际电视节奖项提名". Weibo (in Chinese). Macau International Television Festival. December 11, 2017.
  16. ^ "第31届飞天奖暨第25届星光奖完整奖单". Sina.com.cn (in Chinese). April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "第29届中国电视金鹰奖提名演员名单出炉". Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018.
  18. ^ "Kirilliyo - Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation". Rupavahini.lk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

External links[edit]

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