1. Smart ML
2. Not focused on romance
3. Intricate plot
In both cases the dramas are headed by a ML who can see through the plots devised by others and come up with counterplots.
Both MLs fall in love with a woman, but the story is not focused on the romance, and the FLs are supportive, though in JOL's case her support is through her knowledge of palace politics and analyzing plots, while in the case of IO, the female lead has the ML's back literally, since she's an excellent martial artist.
In both dramas schemes abound and are quite complex, though in IO the focus is not on court politics.
2. Not focused on romance
3. Intricate plot
In both cases the dramas are headed by a ML who can see through the plots devised by others and come up with counterplots.
Both MLs fall in love with a woman, but the story is not focused on the romance, and the FLs are supportive, though in JOL's case her support is through her knowledge of palace politics and analyzing plots, while in the case of IO, the female lead has the ML's back literally, since she's an excellent martial artist.
In both dramas schemes abound and are quite complex, though in IO the focus is not on court politics.