Shows Like Joy of Life

Same lead Zhang Ruoyun in another costume drama with martial arts, sword fights, scheming, and a witty noble heir navigating power struggles - the closest match in tone and lead.

Adapted from a novel by the same author Mao Ni, sharing Joy of Life's mythos: a young hero with mysterious origins, costume drama setting, sword fights, and slow-burn romance.

A modern-minded protagonist navigates a costume-drama world full of swordplay, political schemes, and comedic banter - the closest tonal heir to Joy of Life's blend of comedy, action, and intrigue.

Lush palace intrigue with a hidden-identity protagonist torn between revenge and loyalty to a prince - mirrors Joy of Life's court politics and power-struggle DNA.

Wuxia mystery with a hidden-identity former assassin and conspiracies in jianghu - matches Joy of Life's investigation-meets-martial-arts vibe.

Costume drama with co-star Liu Duanduan, featuring witty banter, period romance, and family power dynamics in a tone close to Joy of Life's lighter scenes.

Wuxia ensemble of skilled fighters tangled in court missions and historical intrigue - aligns with Joy of Life's mix of martial arts and political maneuvering.

Wuxia with a disillusioned ex-assassin pulled into a sweeping conspiracy - shares Joy of Life's mix of swordplay, hidden identity, and scheming factions.

Modern protagonist time-travels into Qing-dynasty palace politics - directly echoes Joy of Life's modern-student-writes-into-historical-fiction framing and power struggles.

Top-tier xianxia/wuxia with inter-clan power struggles, a flashback-driven mystery, and costume-drama schemes - resonates with Joy of Life's politics and combat.

Costume drama-comedy about an outsider navigating an unfamiliar courtly world - shares Joy of Life's lighter comedic register and culture-clash humor.

Modern screenwriter transmigrates into her own historical script - parallels Joy of Life's meta framing of a contemporary writer projecting himself into a costume world.

Costume drama with a fake-marriage-turns-real arc and battlefield drama - decent companion watch for Joy of Life fans seeking historical romance with grit.

Time-travel/transmigration costume drama with star-crossed lovers and high-stakes conspiracies - shares Joy of Life's time-bending premise in a more fantasy-leaning key.

Transmigration meta-premise about a heroine trapped in a script she's trying to escape - lighter cousin to Joy of Life's writer-inside-fiction conceit.

Xianxia romance with sword fights and immortal court politics - tonally softer than Joy of Life but appeals to the same costume-drama audience.

Modern fan transmigrates into a wuxia novel and grows into its hero - mirrors Joy of Life's meta framing, though execution is reportedly weaker.

Xianxia costume drama with sword fights and star-crossed lovers - overlaps in setting and aesthetics, less in political-scheme intensity.