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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