Stray Birds (2021)

The synopsis is misleading!

This isn't a rich people struggle drama. In fact, the male lead is an orphan homeless man who works multiple jobs to support his younger brother and repay his dead parents loan shark debt. While he was studying abroad, his parents were scammed by a large company that introduced a new financial scheme. They ended up borrowing money from loan shark and committed suicide when they can't pay them back. ML came back to china to take care of his brother, while on the run from the loan shark. He then joins the company that now focus on big data tech but its also the same company that scammed his parents back then, and started plotting his revenge.

FL came from a privileged background but not really a super rich person like the synopsis made it to be. Her dad is a professor and her mother is a piano teacher. She studied in America, came back to china the same time as ML and sorta fell in love from the first sight when they're at the airport.

The second male lead is your typical ceo's son. His story is full of cliches. He likes the FL but knows he has no chance to be with her. So there's no evil third party in this relationship.
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Now onto the review.. Like any other 40 episodes drama, there were so much going on. So many side characters and side stories, on top of being a majorly work/business focused drama. I skipped through parts I'm not interested in, and by episode 25+ I don't even know what's going on whenever they're in work mode. At ep 30+ I thought the story is getting better but the writers then ruined it again few episodes before the finale (I'm already tired of this drama by then and only played it for background noise).

Out of the business/work setting, what made the drama watchable for me is their little friends crew, the ML story development, and the FL fun character.

I will give the story a solid 8.5 if its only based on the ML background story, his revenge plan, and the final twist revelation. Those are truly high quality writing that's sadly ruined by a lot of filler scenes.

In the romance department: the main couple liked each other since early on, the girl's parents acknowledged them as a couple, their friends all called them a couple but they aren't actually together. The ML has some issues to resolve so he can't commit to a relationship. They only somewhat got together on the last scene of the final episode, and it's just the ML giving her a rose. No kisses or I love yous being said.



tldr: it's worth watching if you're interested in tech data business drama, or if you're a fan of the actors (I'm watching for lulu xu, she's the main reason I didn't drop this). Don't watch if you're expecting some romance.

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Only watch this drama if you are a fan of Gao Zhi Ting or Xu Lu

I watched this drama for Gao Zhi Ting, he is a good actor but this drama was not the best.

I am struggling with this one because I truly believe give this cast another script with better dialogue they would have performed so much better. I really couldn't understand from start to finish what this drama was about. 40 episodes was just too long, lesson needed is to shorten these dramas. If they would have cut it back to say 24 episodes then it would of earnt a higher score removing alot of pointless dialogue.

I recently finished 'The Old Dreams' which also starred Gao Zhi Ting but with Jelly Lin as his heroine, that drama was soo much better in comparison. Gao Zhi Ting can clearly act, I like Jelly Lin better than Xu Lu however i still believe Xu Lu is a good actress. The support cast in 'The Old Dreams' came alive, really solid. The support cast in this drama i am still abit up and down with, i really couldnt connect with them, non left me wanting more. The American Boss i felt was super solid, gave this drama some value. Felt the boss was very warm & gave the drama that touch with the characters/cast that without many would have dropped this drama, his story with his female love interest the writers got right.

I really hope later down the track we could see a drama again with Gao Zhi Ting & Xu Lu with whole new script & cast. I say give this drama a miss unless you are a fan of one of these 2.

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