I have started watching the chinese drama Ode To Joy because I heard a lot of good things about it and I was curious as to how they would represent a show with five leading ladies. Especially because in the past I have come across some really silly, self-centered, only seen by her parents as marriage material or man-dependent women characters in chinese television. Of course none of this wouldn’t be a problem for me if such woman has an actual storyline that defines her beyond her romantic interest but that was not the case. So, I approached Ode to Joy carefully but hopeful because the whole premise of the show is that this is a story about five strong-willed and independent women making their way trough the world on their own terms.

Our story takes place in Shanghai and Ode to Joy is an apartment complex. Floor 22 has five residents: ANDIE, a smart and aloof business woman. Next door there is FAN, YING YING and GUAN sharing the space. And at the end of hallway lives spitfire XIAO XIAO. These are our leading ladies, they could not be more different from each other, and yet due to a elevator malfunction and shared loneliness, the five quickly form a bond that takes them from acquaintances to sisters.

The reason behind why I chose to write this review from episode 01 to 16 is because up until now there has been no romantic entanglements. Sure, there was that one nasty boyfriend but it was only a plot devise in order to push the friendship between the ladies to grow even stronger. And I can really appreciate a show that takes it’s time building up the friendship between women and trying to make us understand who these people are, instead of throwing us into a full-time romance from the set-go. This way we get to know our characters and fully understand their actions, their motivations, ambitions and dreams. On this the show has a slow pace but there’s always something happening, leading up to a storyline that eventually will play a bigger part in the life of one of the girls and by association on the others.

ANDIE (Liu Tao) has a very interesting storyline. Owner of apartment 2201, Columbia graduate and Wall Street genius, she couldn’t do better professionally. But we slowly find out she doesn’t like to to touch, and this social anxiety has crippled her in more than one way when it comes to building human relationships outside and inside the office. Until her neighbors come into he scene, her only friend is TAN (Jing Dong), who also happens to be her boss and is helping her find her brother who she lost touch with after they were both sent to an orphanage at a very young age.

But Andie also has an online friend, who she finally meets at one point between episode 5 and 10, and so we are introduced to who is probably the first real romantic interest of the show. WEI (Ding Yong Dai) is a middle aged man who so far has been trying to gently break down Andie’s walls in order to get her heart. Is she interested? She cares for him, sure, but she has her reservations and I think she’s right to have them. It could be due to her fear but it could also be her instinct telling her something is off about Wei.

Personally I don’t know if this character is truly sincere with her, and very much like Andie, I find myself doubting him. It feels like we are not getting the entire story and something will go wrong any minute.

FAN (Jiang Xin) works on the HR department of a big company. She is a good person with those she cares about, she also has a lot of experience on life and with people so she actually gives excellent advice to her friends on floor 22. But, at the same time, she’s also very interested in getting married to a rich man in order to achieve her dream of ending all kind economical struggles. My first impression, and I am going to be completely honest, was that she is a gold digger but the show slowly let me see through her and understand that she doesn’t want to a kept woman, she wants someone to share her burdens and struggles with. But she is going for the wallet instead of good intentions or heart, judging men for what they wear or the kind of car they drive. I can understand what her character is trying to say: having money makes life easier, and to a point, in we are being completely real, she might be right. When you don’t have to worry about things like getting enough money for rent, groceries and such, it leaves time to enjoy the things you like and give yourself presents. But is the way she’s going about it that is worrisome.

I’m particularly looking forward to see the development of her friendship with WAN (Zhang Lu), the owner of a small company and her former classmate who just moved to Shanghai in order to expand his business. It’s clear he is very much interested and she is letting him believe he’s got a chance, I wonder if it’s true or if there are other intentions.

GUAN (Yang Zi) unlike the other two is a recent collage graduate who moved to Shanghai in order to pursue a career. She’s probably the most introverted and soft-spoken of the girls, slowly trying to push through in a job she doesn’t like at all and in which she has to work overtime almost every day. Even though Guan is very capable and I’m sure she would do just fine on any job, she cares deeply about what her parents think of her and this, I’m guessing, will be a important point in her story. They are the reason why she choose this particular job and this particular company. Her father wants her to work at a big city and a big company in order for her to gain life experience, on the other hand, Mom wants her to comeback home, get a easy job and get married. On this, I agree with Dad since she is indeed rather green on life and job to the point of not knowing much about human dynamics or realizing when someone is giving her attentions in a special way. Guan has taken Andie as her role model and with he advice of Fan, you can already see her slowly growing into an amazing, caring and smart young lady. Looking forward to the day she actually gets to work on something she likes.

YING YING (Qiao Xin) is the most naive to the point I sometimes wonder if she’s not plain dumb but then BAM! she surprises me with a smart move and then I have to apologize to her character because she did so well. Doesn’t mean she won’t screw up again, this character is the kind that learns through crashing and burning which -as you can imagine- can be quite frustrating but her innocent personality makes up for it. I would say she will have a lot of growing up to do through the entire season in all aspects of life.

Finally, but not least important, we have XIAO XIAO (Wang Ziwen) who has recently came back from studying abroad (she was actually partying) under the request of her mother. Turns out Mom is afraid her father will name Xiao Xiao’s half brother the heir of the company. Yeah, she’s rich, well connected and crafty. Her story doesn’t concentrate much in the family drama, tough, it centers around how she’s building up her reputation as a business woman who is capable of taking the lead in her father’s company if ever needed to. But to be completely honest I’m not even sure if she truly wants to inherit he father’s company… I’m not even sure if she wants to work at all. It feels more like “business” is the only language her family understands, so she communicates her worries and desires in a business like manner, and making strategies to look good in front of her parents. Is she a fake? No, I don’t think she knows how to properly express herself when it comes to the people she loves and it’s only until you get to know her that you understand how caring she is for everyone.

I’m really excited about the new romantic storyline she’s starting because I want to see more personal development from her, apart from the sisterhood, and a romance with DR ZHAO (Wang Kai) seems like exactly what she needs. He takes no BS from anyone and she is full of it.

Overall and so far, Ode to Joy is a really good show with strong storylines and characters, and a slow pace where you learn something new with every episode. Like peeling an onion, one layer at a time.