4
10
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
a heavier series
Overall: this was a grittier story with disappointing pacing/focus. 12 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on: YoYo English YouTube channel (not in Japan or Korea) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTB73Ibi_X3GNyvCGbi8mAefS-Lhep63A&si=iPvnlW2PiAx3AY2f ; GagaOOLala (not in Japan or Korea) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5333/the-sparkle-in-your-eye-2025-e01 and Viki https://www.viki.com/videos/1261379v-the-sparkle-in-your-eye-episode-1
Content Warnings: rape off screen (end of ep 8 and in flashbacks in later episodes), blackmail, non con kissing, non con touching/sexual harassment, manipulation, drugging, vomiting, slap, non con picture taking
Watch Suggestions (to get rid of most of the content warnings, focus on happy/sweet times)
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- episode 3 watch 21:50-end
- episode 4 watch beginning-3:20 and 9:40-10
- episode 5 watch 5:30-16:10
- episode 6 start at 8 min
- watch episode 7
- episode 8 watch 5-15
- skip episode 9
- episode 10 watch 14-16
- skip episode 11
- episode 12 watch 23:50-end
What I Liked
- caring moments
- character growth
- showed a more realistic take on what happens at the end of episode 8
Room For Improvement
- way too much time spent on the antagonist, pacing in general was slow and then the very end was rushed/not enough with the main couple
- a character did something terrible after he knew or could have guessed what happened and then in episode 12 he pressured/ignored a survivor's wishes (I'm not clear that the survivor gave him the go head, though he did realize his wrongness after talking with another character)
- noble idiot trope
- side couple's love story was uninteresting, I didn't see what the director was supposed to have done differently and then suddenly everything was all fine between them
- some lackluster kissing
- nonsense stuff
- (neutral) I tried to not get angry at a character not telling the truth about a smarmy character by realizing that he was also a victim/survivor
Content Warnings: rape off screen (end of ep 8 and in flashbacks in later episodes), blackmail, non con kissing, non con touching/sexual harassment, manipulation, drugging, vomiting, slap, non con picture taking
Watch Suggestions (to get rid of most of the content warnings, focus on happy/sweet times)
- watch episodes 1 & 2
- episode 3 watch 21:50-end
- episode 4 watch beginning-3:20 and 9:40-10
- episode 5 watch 5:30-16:10
- episode 6 start at 8 min
- watch episode 7
- episode 8 watch 5-15
- skip episode 9
- episode 10 watch 14-16
- skip episode 11
- episode 12 watch 23:50-end
What I Liked
- caring moments
- character growth
- showed a more realistic take on what happens at the end of episode 8
Room For Improvement
- way too much time spent on the antagonist, pacing in general was slow and then the very end was rushed/not enough with the main couple
- a character did something terrible after he knew or could have guessed what happened and then in episode 12 he pressured/ignored a survivor's wishes (I'm not clear that the survivor gave him the go head, though he did realize his wrongness after talking with another character)
- noble idiot trope
- side couple's love story was uninteresting, I didn't see what the director was supposed to have done differently and then suddenly everything was all fine between them
- some lackluster kissing
- nonsense stuff
- (neutral) I tried to not get angry at a character not telling the truth about a smarmy character by realizing that he was also a victim/survivor
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