tsuyoi_hikari

Thank you. :D

The ML (Communist) finally got the Return to Zero plan and managed to escaped. But while doing so, he staged his own death so the enemies thought he is dead. He supposed to run away with the FL (newly turned Communist, before this she's a Nationalist), but when he arrived at the meeting place, it turned out the Communist has assign her to stay at Shanghai with another mission.

After the WWII ended and Japanese occupation is over, which is 4 years later, the ML comes back to Shanghai and continue being a spy for the Communist. Now its no longer Japan vs Chinese but Communist vs Nationalist (civil war). The FL turned out was assigned as a Communist spy in Nationalist party (her old party didnt know she converted) so she saved the ML from getting caught by the Nationalist. She is happy to see him and the drama ended.

Yes, indeed. I actually like Sparrow. It is really nerve-wrecking and full of suspense. And Xiaonan is indeed awesome. The best spy among all of them -- even Chen Shen was caught off-guard with her revelation. And tbh, the only time I shed tear is when she said 'she is happy to be neighbor wih Shanhai even in afterlife. So she wont be lonely'. ';_; IDK, the way she said it, it was just so sad since I was already very angry when they killed Shanhai 10 episodes before the drama ends. :((

Ohh I love Joy of Life the most out of all dramas I have watched in my life. When you are seasoned watchers, some thing are just predictable. But Joy of Life just throw all the predictability out of the window. It is very refreshing. And I esp like it that they balanced the sad and happy parts equally. Its only Fan Xian vs the Evil world. While he may lead a turbulence life, but at the same time he had great supports in term of his family and friends. And he even have a fantastic love life. Many dramas like to make their leads have this tragic life one after another and the suffering never ends lol until the end haha so I really love balance story like this. Watching it is indeed 'joy of life' all the way through.

I tried Young Blood for 6 episodes late last year but decided not to continue since the story didnt grab me. But I will probably pick it up again due to your recs. ^^;

Perhaps I should try The Disguiser after this. I finished Nirvana in Fire years ago but havent watch that one yet despite many of the casts are similar. It is also the highest rated espionage drama in MDL

But in 100 days My Prince, we always know he is a prince with amnesia. I thought when you mean secretly a king, they do not know their origin (secret child) either until it is revealed later in the drama.

Historical dramas mostly do not end with a happy endings because they need to follow the actual history since their characters are based on actual historical figures. And those people during that time usually get killed at the end. Yi San for an example is a great king and achieved many things during his reign. However, we all know his end.. King during that time is either puppets or if they are righteous, they will get killed for their new ideas.

But sometimes, creative writers do successfully write happy endings for tragic real life historical events. Take example of Secrets of the 3 Kingdoms. In the drama, they follow exactly like the history (since China censorship do not allowed to change history) so the Queen is bound to die. But in the drama, they only staged the poison drinking so the Queen actually survives. However, the whole world thought she is dead except 2 people and she remains dead in the history book. They also made the Emperor close like brothers with Sima Yi which did not happen in real history lol since they are enemies but the friendship only happen behind the close door and no one knows it except a few people. Thus the 'secrets' in the title of the drama. :D Smart writers can find their ways with how they construct the plots so once in a while, you will find interesting stories which follow the actual tragic history but ended with a happy note instead.

Yes, I have to agree on this. The chemistry between the leads are the main point on making it extra romantic. The Princess' Man for an example has one of the best chemistry I have seen in historical Kdramas.

Which historical dramas that the ML is secretly the King? I would love to watch some.

I agree with you. :D I actually enjoy romance more in costume or historical dramas despite the lack of skinship. I personally feel the love demonstrated there are shown more beautifully and more heart fluttering -- accompanied with those beautiful costumes, everything just look much prettier. Plus, guys in historical dramas are more dreamy and much smarter in general and you know how intelligent makes men more attractive lol. And of course the lack of stupid female characters is just an added bonus.

She didnt trust him enough that he could protect her and her baby. Thus lying to him was a better option according to her. I really couldnt get this kind of thinking tbh..

Do you want me to tell you the ending? It seriously doesnt feel like an ambiguous one -- which left you feeling you waste your time. It can also count as a good ending. Like a perfect end to a good drama about spies which stays true to its theme until the very end.

But have you watch any republican drama with a clear cut happy endings? It is an unrest time for decades during the era, so scriptwriters almost never gave this type of drama happy endings. A hopeful endings are much better than bad endings imo.

I thought the nerve-wrecking storyline should be the drive to watch this one. Plus, all the characters are so smart and capable except the female lead so its a good drama. :D Another plus, the female lead is so dumb that you actually wish she doesnt ended up with anyone so its actually a good ending to me haha.

You made the lol with your review. Thank you so much! Your description of the female lead is what I felt when I watch the horrible female lead from Sparrow. Now I wonder is all female leads in spy espionage dramas are bound to be extremely stupid? OTL

I love the thrill and nerve-wrecking plots but I always wonder whether these spies actually cause any real damage to the enemies. Most dramas usually center around the plot of them circling each other out -- trying to get away from being caught red-handed -- I was so frustrated watching them tbh.

Since you a are fan of this genre, can you recommend espionage dramas with a good plot and script?

It is an open ending. Bear in my the events in this drama took in year 1941 so it was during Japanese occupation and before the WWII ended (1945). China has long history of unrest since their civil war (Communist vs Nationalist) followed soon after that. So to expect a clear cut happy ending for this type of drama was a bit difficult but it ended with a hopeful note. Bear in mind that both of the 2 male leads are from different political parties. One from the Communist and another one from Nationalist. But during the Japanese occupation, they both join hand since both have common goal which is to driven the foreign forces out from their country.

I have to agree on this. After watching Kdramas for years, I will always ended up having major withdrawal then I had enough and stop and will watch a bunch of Jdramas or Cdramas to cure my withdrawal. I think most probably because the episodes are toooo long and stories are too predictable. Some even 1 hour plus which is such a drag to finish. They should opt for 12 episodes or 40 minutes per episodes so it made an easy watch.

I always feel I need more episodes of Cdramas (like recently Sword Snow Stride which I felt too short despite it being 38 episodes) while I will struggle to finish 16 episodes Kdramas. If writers are not too keen to follow the usual formats, it will become a remedy for seasoned watchers like me. Like Circle: Two World Connected or Happiness for an example are perfect for 12 episodes. I'm sooo glad they didnt drag the stories.

lol! That drama is so famous though X'D

I forgot about this drama. Will surely watch it since I did watch the Sinking of Japan movie starring Kusanagi Tsuyoshi & Kou Shibasaki. When they show all those historic sites sinking one by one in the movie, my heart sank. I wonder whether this drama has the same ending or not.

Thats the reason why its hard for me to enjoy Kdramas nowadays. Grey characters are not allowed to have happy endings. It made their dramas very predictable..

Yes definitely as good as Nirvana in Fire. Nirvana in Fire basically very serious but Joy of Life is more light and funnier. I rated both 10/10 since the political schemes are great and the writing is very smart & brilliant but to be honest, I love Joy of Life more since it has the perfect balance of happy and sad plotlines. While Fan Xian may lead a chaotic life full of turbulence, but at the same time he had great support systems in term of his family, friends & love life. So you will enjoy watching him VS the evil world as he is at the same time a very happy person. Plus, he is sooo awesome -- my all time favorite drama character -- no contest haha

This drama set to be 3 seasons so this is only the 1st season so we had a cliffhanger ending. But if you read the thick novel, yes it has a happy ending as Fan Xian lead a happy life with his family at the end. :D

Yes I think I can do that as well lol. Chinese dramas in general are highly addicting esp the XianXia and historical ones

I love thriller dramas! I actually lose interest in watching Kdramas in general last year but Flowers of Evil brings me back. There are so many thing I liked about the show esp the relationship between the leads despite them from the opposite side. This is one of a case of melodrama done right as the writer balanced both the happy and sad parts. The lead wasnt too tragic and only experience bitterness of life but he had abundance of happiness as well. I think its important for writers to understand the importance of 'silver lining' in dramas and not only writing their characters tragic all the way through till the end just to gain sympathy from the viewers.

Recently I watched Sparrow and it was amazing since both the good and bad guys are brilliant. Zhang Ruoyun gave a brilliant performance as a spy from the Nationalist. I lose sleep watching it since its too nerve-wrecking and addicting. I never thought espionage type of story would interest me (I blame it on Hollywood for that lol) but they do. :D I wish Kdramas will do another dramas like Gaksital or Capital Scandal -- dramas done during that era always turned out excellent.

Thanks for the recs. I havent watch Memorist and Kairos so will put both on my list.