Reviews

After just having finished the last episode of Sparrow an hour ago, this review is going to be in a somewhat bullet-pointed format, and mostly just room for my final thoughts and feelings towards the drama.

First off, would I recommend the drama? Yes. Rewatch? Potentially, after some time has passed, though personally I'm not one to rewatch many dramas, no matter how great of an impression it left. Did I like it? Of course, and I was hooked like nothing else mattered, which led me to binge all 61 episodes in less than 4 days.

Now, onto the details:

I watched this series on TV at first, then on Youtube, both of which had no English subtitles. It took me a while to decide to continue watching because the first three episodes start very slow, and they're mostly there to set up the main characters' positions. From what I saw in the comments on every episode, every watcher seemed to greatly dislike the female MC, Xu Bi Cheng, to the point where they blamed her (as a character) for every mishap in the story, or claimed she ruined the drama. I have to admit, I didn't particularly like her either at the beginning, nor in the first twenty or so episodes that followed, because she was pretty clumsy (especially considering her job as an agent) and tended to cause trouble for the other MCs, which wouldn't be so bad if she would actually learn from enduring all the dire consequences that others have to suffer from as a result of her own recklessness and selfishness. Throughout the drama, she continues to have other clean up her messes and never loses that vexing everyone-will-take-care-of-me perception - until one certain event becomes her turning point. Thus, this is a bit of a let-down as she IS the female MC so we automatically set up high expectations for her performance and role from the beginning; however, it could also be down to the actress selection, since Zhou Dong Yu, though feminine and petite and perhaps fitting a Shanghainese beauty ideal in that period, has an expression that makes her look 10 years younger and perpetually petrified like a deer caught in headlights (i.e anything but mature, sophisticated, and steady in mind). But worry not, because in the last arc of the drama where things get to their climax, we do see her finally think more rationally about her actions before carrying them out, and manages to play a part in saving others, including the MC: Chen Shen.

Chen Shen and Xu Bi Cheng's relationship? I liked it. I think it was simple, straightforward, and pure. Considering all the manipulating, strategizing, and assassinating that occurred constantly around them, I think their love was refreshing and heart-warming from when it started to the end, regardless of how XBC herself was as a character for the most part. With such complicated plots like the one in this drama, the relationship drama should be toned down to keep it balanced, which imo this drama did perfectly well.

Plot twists: this drama was full of them, and while some were fairy predictable from the beginning (like who "Sparrow' really was), many did catch me by surprise, and I thoroughly enjoyed the guessing/watching process. The drama was also never short of touching moments, where some did trigger some tears, especially towards the end, which you'd expect from the overall vibe of the drama and its intro song.

Music was used beautifully at just the right moments, and the quality of filming is definitely not to be worried about.

The antagonists were truly masterpieces of the drama, for it was a struggle between hating/wanting them dead and loving/wanting them to survive with the MCs the whole way. The relationship between the MC Chen Shen and his closest friend Bi Zhong Liang was unique among all the MC-Antagonist relations I've come across in the dramas I've watched. Just this focal relationship alone should make many people want to watch this drama.

Finally, the ending. The ending is always a huge deciding factor as to whether or not a drama will become a favourite, or an absolutely terrible experience you wish you hadn't set foot upon: because what happens in the end can either ruin everything that has happened till then, or make it all worthwhile. For dramas like these, set in the revolutionary period of Shanghai, I always feel dread towards the end because tragedies have become so common, even as a plot twist in happy-go-lucky dramas, never mind in such a suspenseful, intense drama like this one. I can say that the ending was fitting and well-rounded, and I am satisfied, though I won't say it wasn't bittersweet or that it didn't leave a slight pang in my heart, which was to be expected from the beginning.

A masterful piece that is worth your time; even if suspense/mystery isn't your usual genre, please give it a try.

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I really loved this series. The cast worked very well with each others and it was not awkward acting. The actors who played Bai Lou Yin  and Gu Hai really portrayed the building relationship and how they started to discover each other and theirs feelings very well and I could really see them slowly changing. The side characters were acted very well to and complimented the main roles.
The story follows the same one as some of the first book.
The theme song is very beautiful and I think the person who wrote it must have read the books because the lyrics hint to some parts of the book/story.
I really recomend this and it has to be one of my favourite BLs. Sadly, if you do decide to watch this, you must know that there will not be a 2nd season. It cuts off in around about in the middle of book 1. They may have filmed it but it is not allowed to air because China banned it.
I first watched the web series and now I am on the 2nd book. I still love both and can continue to discover they story even if there is no season 2 and am satisfied with continuing the story with the books

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I like this drama because it reminded me of my real life except the ending of my story diverged quite thoroughly from that of the main characters. But I could put myself in their shoes and dabble a little in my own ‘what if’.

It’s very true to life and I really appreciate that it didn’t have all the foolishness and very silly tropes that seem to be popular  in dramas these days.  This lead me to get vey invested in the outcome of the series. 

I foung myself talking to the screen as if these characters were my real life friends and have to say that this was very much worth watching.

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What is good about this drama, the story is very realistic. It portrays some of the reality that sometimes happening in Japan. The housewife who was very dedicated to raising her children without thinking about her own needs. She neglects herself too much to the point she was disrespected by her own family. It is about a self-discovery that sometimes things need to be destroyed into ruins. From ruins or wasteland, then a new beginning will only be able to start. The only things that lacking are the pace of the story is too slow and can be too boring. The ending was somewhat an open ending. For me, it's not an exact closure for the main lead, which kind of sad. Since you follow up on her journey, you kind of want something that is definite about her journey. The drama also talked about the Nagasaki bombing during WW II.  I think the drama can take the story of WWII more dramatic in order to make it more interesting and appealing. I don't recommend it for someone who wants a closure or get bored very easily. But this drama can be good for something different from a regular drama. It's a gamble to watch.

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The reasons I watch this drama are the high review and Park Seo Joon (I became his fan since Kill Me Heal Me. He was a support character but he was also shine since he was so funny). The drama is really really funny. If you love rom-com, this will be suitable for you (I laughed a lot until my stomach hurts)! I love the idea that this drama is not the typical Korean drama with a cool or elite male lead. This drama also portrays the realistic life of the current young Koreans that are trying to pursue their dream and start from the bottom. The story tells about the romance and life of 4 childhood friends. All of them are ordinary and strive out to find the meaning of their life and move forward. The main lead has great chemistry which makes me ship them very hard. This drama has become one of my favorite K-drama of 2017.  This drama is unique and memorable, I highly recommend it!

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I don't like it. I read the manga before I watched the drama and find myself disappointed. I understand that you might need to change it a little bit from the original story to make it still interesting but I think the writer change it too much and make the drama loss many many great potentials to be successful. For example is the pairing of Momoe and Arthur. They are my most fav pairing in the story and many many readers really love this pairing compare the main one (Junko and Hoshikawa san) but their depth love story is reduced no erased from the drama. The writer makes them as a side couple and not much story tells about them. Junko character was also more annoying. Junko in the manga is way-way more independent and mature. Yes, she is still lacking but compared in the one in the drama, she has the appeal of a sexy, independent and intelligent woman which attract Hoshikawa to tame her and that is not shown in the drama.  In the end, this drama became a typical Japanese drama with lack of substance. It failed to become a memorable Japanese drama. The acting was great. Satomi Ishihara is a great actress with amazing acting skills. Yamashita, on the other hand, did not act really well. I find him not suited to be the character. His acting is too stiff and weird. It's looked forced to me. Maybe the hair though, he looks like idolish than monkish (Hoshikawa in the manga has shaved head too since he is a monk).  Both of them has chemistry in  certain scenes that I think can be way better. I think all the faults are on the shoulder of the writer and director that the drama became failure to me. I won't watch it a second time and won't recommend it. Please read the manga for a better story (it's more interesting and realistic).

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(I'm refering to some parts of the story, but I don't think it will spoil anything.)

I was supposed to watch one of the three movies: The mermaid, Monster Hunt or Dragon Blade. I watched trailers for all of them and the first two seemed kind of ridiculous, so I went with the third one. The story seemed interesting and well, Adrien Brody.

Now I think that it may have been a mistake.

The story is good, but the way that they’ve made it was awful. The friendship between different races and Chinese minorities (because yeah 36 ethnic nations, you mean 56 current minorities in China right?) was just… Well done, Chinese government. I mean the whole “peace between nations” is very noble, but they did it in a way I could not appreciate it. A Romans attack the city and suddenly everyone becomes best friends, because there is a sick child and sandstorm is coming (don’t even get me started on how annoying the child was). The scene when they are rebuilding the city together peacefully, the happiness and laughing all around, helping each other out, but just a moment earlier they were jumping each other’s throats was ridiculous. I mean, that was a beautiful world of friendship and cooperation, but it was so exaggerated that it was very hard to watch.

This movie is a beautiful example of American-Chinese production, we have Jackie Chan, everyone knows Jackie Chan. And then we have John Cusack and Adrien Brody, yes, what an amazing actors. They even gave us Super Junior’s Siwon! The cast only is something that makes you think “I want to see that movie”. And then you get… this.

I really liked two scenes. The first, when Huo An is fighting with Cold Moon was really good, excellent choreography. Overall the fighting scenes were well done. The second scene was when Huo An was talking with Lucius, during the night. The moment when Lucius takes Huo An’s sword to see it, I really liked how they both were handling the sword, they moves were very smooth and for me, very elegant.

The movie tried to make us reflect about peace, equality, lust for power and loyalty, but it was too exaggerated. The idea for the story was okay and the acting was on point. I don't really remember the music, except the song sang by Jackie Chan, which was quite pleasant. And rewatching value? Good fighting scenes, but that's it.

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This series was absolutely amazing to watch. The characters were all very interesting and each episode just makes you want to find out more. The story itself carried meaning and was a great insight to what the life of a college kid may be like. The fact that there were a lot of characters but they were all very easy to follow is amazing in itself. I thought that it'd be difficult to keep up but the editors did a fantastic job keeping the audience entertained and intrigued. I found that with this series, there was not a boring episode. Usually, filler episodes are easy to pinpoint and brush off but it was less evident with this series, which I liked a lot. I enjoyed the finding out the relationships between the characters and how their lives didn't move at an extremely quick pace. Everything was planned and timed out nicely.

Surprisingly, the cast were all fantastic actors. I was expecting the odd one or two 'unable to expression emotions properly' characters, but they didn't come out! For that I am so thankful. The whole process of watching was a roller coaster of emotions and I'm genuinely a 100% satisfied watcher of the series.

Since I've watched it a lot later than the initial release, I don't know whether this series received the limelight it deserved but know that this series deserves so much love, the actors and actresses too!

The cinematography was great, the sound quality was practically 10/10 and the soundtrack was beautiful to listen to.

Overall, I think this series is definitely worth the watch. For me, it was superb. 10/10 ????

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To be honest, I don't like the main character, Aki. I find her personality can be really annoying. She is too innocent and clueless for her own good and sometimes too absorbed in herself. The only thing that keeps me with the drama is the story. There are many plot twists and conflicts in the drama.  Over time, even though Aki is annoying, you find yourself that you want to cheer her up and move forwards (well I still cannot like her at the end though).  There is also a story about idol culture which was not mentioned in the drama summary. It opened my eyes to idol culture in Japan and make me understand about it a little bit. Overall this drama is great to watch.  In the beginning, the drama was slow paced but after around 20-30 eps, it becomes more interesting. There are many famous actor and actress being involved in the project which I don't know at the beginning. I find the acting was pretty good and realistic. In conclusion, this drama has so many appeals from the unique culture and accent from Iwate region, idol culture and a real substance that life does not always work in your favor.

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This Drama is most definitely in my top 3 CDramas (alongside Love 020 and 10 miles of Peach Blossoms). Shan Shan and Feng Teng have really great chemistry, although I feel that Feng Teng could've been a bit more expressive after a while you just get used to the smallest of details when it comes to his emotions, I have just recently finished rewatching this for the 2nd time and then decided to write this review, the show is rather fluffy in terms of their love story, although I felt that if communications was a bit better between the characters less misunderstanding would occur, having said that no ongoing issue were carried out for more than like 3 episodes which I liked. The music was okay, nothing extraordinary, I didn't have them stuck in my head after listening. All in all 9/10 :)

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the story was new
the writer displays & exposed to us  many things that happened in real life from fanatic groups in each religion  under the  protection of politicians &  Government men

but something goes wrong as if the events get off his hand
every thing goes wrong and was mess for me

& he tried also to put touch of romance in the story but i saw it  very poor & provoking  
cause if im sang should love she should love seok dong not han sang  that left her from the beginning  

it's good not brilliant but i didn't like for many reasons 

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much worse than season one
& the frustrating thing that  season 2 doesn't explain much which i didn't get from season 1

what surprised me more  that  Lee Tae Gon Director try to dazzle us by that weird  intro in each ep. that doesn't relate to the drama at all
as if he was trying to improve that he is a genius  director

& the most provoking thing for me ever that the only good character Ryu Hwa Young in this drama the writer suddenly decided to skip all about her

the events were wrote in a very bad way from my perspective

the two seasons for me both r really bad
the stories r very shallow with only headlines with no details
the romance is in the very back seats mostly
each story has no end as if they r going to made season 3
the seasons r related

SPOILER :

the writer make one of the main couples separated without any good or reasonable reason
and the other couple didn't confess to each other with no reason
& the third couple they didn't tell us what happened to them & in the second season he decided to skip all about their story

this drama really provoked me soooooooooooooooooooooo
& i was dump enough to watch second season

what provoked me more that high rate for both seasons

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WTH
this will be the shortest review i wrote ever
VERY SHALLOW & WEAK DRAMA WITH VERY LAME ROMANCE

it wasn't romance nor suspense

the directing  is bad  insufficient,  sequences, with imperfect events
& the story doesn't explain much

two characters  bothered me soooooo Han Ye RiYoon Jin Myung

(THE FRIDGE GIRL Park Hye Soo) & THE NAIVE GIRL

there is no even character improvement  

EXCEPT for (Ryu Hwa Young) i saw her really the best character in that mess

as if the writer didn't had enough
from that mess so he decided to dazzle us with  season 2 which was much worse than season 1

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