Mag20

Awesome, entertaining show with a story that offers lots of surprises. Nice pacing with good balance of light & heavy-hearted segments, while engaging you to the end. A great cast who gave solid performance in both older and younger roles. You care about the characters and about what happens to them.

Beautiful costumes, beautiful hair & makeup (don't know how good they are until you've seen other lesser shows).

Well-executed martial art. I have watched gazillion martial art movies and TV series but there were fight scenes in Joy of Life that really impressed me.

I would have given it 9.5 stars if I could. Not 10 because the first 10/12 episode dragged at time. However, once you've passed that stage the story continues to get more intriguing and exciting.

Can't wait till Season 2 is up!

Enjoyed the story line about family, love and grief. Really want to root for the West family but the script makes the kids look too dumb. Maddie is mono-dimensionally mad. Scout has no control of his impulse at all times. Taylor worries way too much for a 12/13 year old. It's also irritating to see Gwen torment the kids in every episode with no consequence. Would be happy to see less of Gwen overall. Please improve the wardrobe of Maddie and Gwen. They look more like (high & low end) bad than high school students. Billy Baldwin did a great job as a father who's trying. The adult cast (including Baldwin, Kathleen Robertson, Michelle Nolden, John's co-workers and others) is great and it's what kept me watching to the end of the season. Look forward to Season 2 and hope the kids' character will grow.