Sparrow (TV series)

Sparrow (Chinese: 麻雀) is a 2016 Chinese television series based on the novel of the same name by Hai Fei, starring Li Yifeng as the title character.[1] It aired on Hunan TV from 5 September to 20 October 2016.[2]

Sparrow
GenreSpy
War
Action thriller
Written byHai Fei
Directed byJin Chen
Zhou Yuandan
StarringLi Yifeng
Zhou Dongyu
Zhang Luyi
Zhang Ruoyun
Kan Qingzi
Yin Zheng
ComposerS.E.N.S
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes61
Production
Executive producerZhong Conghai
Production locationChina
Running time45 minutes
Production companiesMahayana Media
H&R Century Pictures
DOMYS Entertainment
Release
Original networkHunan TV
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
Audio formatStereophonic
Original release5 September (2016-09-05) 
20 October 2016 (2016-10-20)

Synopsis

Set in the 1940s during Shanghai's revolutionary times, communist agent Chen Shen infiltrates the Japanese' base and adopts the code name "Sparrow". His mission is to obtain the "zero" intel, a secret plan that could destroy China. To do so, he becomes the assistant of Bi Zhongliang, the leader of the Special Operations Team under the Public Security Bureau.[1]

Cast

Main

The titular protagonist. Born as an ordinary barber, Chen Shen is actually an uncover agent for the Communist Party, codenamed "Sparrow". A charismatic, resilient and loyal man, with a deep-rooted fear of using firearms after inadvertently killing a child soldier many years ago. Due to his prolonged undercover mission, he has learned to disguise his emotions under a facade of carelessness and mockery.
An idealistic and temperamental girl who was formerly Chen Shen's student at the Republic of China Military Academy. She is in love with Chen Shen but has to put up a pretense as Tang Shanhai's wife to complete her mission as a nationalist spy.
Leader of the Special Operations Team under the Public Security Bureau. He was saved by Chen Shen during a war, and became blood brothers with him. After an incident where Chen Shen failed to capture "Prime Minister", he grows suspicious of Chen Shen's real identity. He is distrustful, manipulative and cruel, though he loves his wife dearly.
A nationalist spy undercover in the Public Security Bureau, codenamed "Foxglove". Serious, calculating and always planning far into the future, he is in love with Bicheng, despite the fact that their marriage is only by name, and must constantly suppress his feelings to prevent them from compromising his mission. After he begins his mission, he starts to turn against Chen Shen.
A beautiful and extroverted girl who appears to be bumbling, clumsy and ingenuous, but is a highly capable and composed agent codenamed "Doctor". She is in love with Chen Shen and would do anything to protect him. Her cover identity is a third-rate movie actress.
A cold, ambitious and ruthless young man who betrayed the nationalists to become an officer of the Public Security Bureau. Underneath his megalomanic exterior, he has a twisted yearning for love and acceptance. He is infatuated with Li Xiaonan and sees her as the light of his life.

Supporting

Nicknamed "Prime Minister", she is Chen Shen's only relative. A deeply loyal Communist agent who dies in order to save Chen Shen after being betrayed by a fellow comrade.
Bi Zhongliang and Chen Shen's superior; Xu Bicheng's uncle. The ultimate mastermind who tries all sorts of methods to get rid of Bi Zhongliang.
  • Liu Jiatong as Liu Meina
A hopeless romantic with a warm disposition who works as a bookkeeper under Bi Zhongliang at the Public Security Bureau. She is a close friend of Chen Shen, and she eventually falls in love with the "married" Tang Shanhai, who deceives her to achieve his goals.
  • Wang Wanjuan as Liu Lanzhi
Bi Zhongliang's wife. A kind woman and a devout Christian who does not involve herself in her husband's plans.
  • Shi Chao as Liu Erbao
  • Yang Zheng as Bian Tou
  • Chen Guanning as Wei Zhi
  • Zhang Dabao as Wu Long

Soundtrack

Sparrow OST
No.TitleSingerLength
1."Fly (飞)" (Ending theme song)Han Lei 
2."Ballet in the Wind (風中芭蕾)"Yisa Yu 
3."Astray (迷途)"Zhang Ruoyun 
4."Love in the Past (暖人)"Ning Hengyu 

Reception

Sparrow received critical acclaim for its tightly-woven plot and acting performance, particularly Li Yifeng's.[3] It became the highest rated spy drama to date with a peak rating of 2.46,[4] and also the first spy drama to surpass 10 billion views.[5]

Ratings

Ratings of Hunan Satellite TV Golden Eagle Solo Theater[6]
Air date Episode CSM52 city network ratings National Internet ratings
Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rank Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rank
September 05, 2016 1-2 0.946 2.94 4 1.03 3.29 1
September 06, 2016 3-4 0.939 2.815 4 1.14 3.6 1
September 07, 2016 5-6 1.411 4.527 1 1.53 5.09 1
September 08, 2016 7-8 1.193 3.896 1 1.43 4.77 1
September 09, 2016 9 1.081 3.49 2 1.21 3.85 1
September 10, 2016 10 1.068 3.42 1 1.32 4.27 1
September 11, 2016 11 1.07 3.44 2 1.03 3.61 1
September 12, 2016 12-13 1.242 3.999 1 1.35 4.44 1
September 13, 2016 14-15 1.367 4.408 1 1.36 4.48 1
September 14, 2016 16-17 1.606 4.766 1 1.8 5.41 1
September 15, 2016 18 1.049 3.419 1 1.34 4.23 1
September 16, 2016 19 1.191 3.68 2 1.21 3.78 1
September 17, 2016 20 1.175 3.612 1 1.16 3.62 1
September 18, 2016 21 1.279 3.867 2 1.31 4 1
September 19, 2016 22-23 1.656 5.093 1 1.68 5.5 1
September 20, 2016 24-25 1.624 5.058 1 1.62 5.29 1
September 21, 2016 26-27 1.487 4.665 1 1.59 5.23 1
September 22, 2016 28-29 1.715 5.352 1 1.63 5.38 1
September 23, 2016 30 1.357 4.319 1 1.37 4.25 1
September 24, 2016 31 1.317 4.093 1 1.6 4.87 1
September 25, 2016 32 1.487 4.429 1 1.65 4.95 1
September 26, 2016 33-34 1.685 5.267 1 1.78 5.78 1
September 27, 2016 35-36 1.845 5.745 1 1.98 6.34 1
September 28, 2016 37-38 1.736 5.401 1 1.77 5.65 1
September 29, 2016 39-40 1.939 5.967 1 1.98 6.37 1
September 30, 2016 41 1.608 4.955 1 1.77 5.25 1
October 1, 2016 42 1.623 5.391 1 2.08 6.36 1
October 2, 2016 43 1.727 5.552 1 2.16 6.64 1
October 3, 2016 44-45 2.182 6.959 1 2.52 8.12 1
October 4, 2016 46-47 2.144 6.648 1 2.51 7.86 1
October 5, 2016 48-49 2.199 6.705 1 2.35 7.45 1
October 6, 2016 50-51 2.205 6.242 1 2.3 7.04 1
October 7, 2016 52 1.74 4.922 1 1.89 5.5 1
October 8, 2016 53 1.787 5.256 1 1.89 5.63 1
October 9, 2016 54 2.106 6.157 1 2.04 6.1 1
October 10, 2016 55-56 2.253 6.875 1 2.17 7.09 1
October 11, 2016 57-58 2.118 6.362 1 2.27 7.31 1
October 12, 2016 59-60 2.417 7.443 1 2.31 7.63 1
October 13, 2016 61-62 2.438 7.453 1 2.49 8.03 1
October 14-16, 2016 Due to rebroadcast of Golden Eagle Festival, the broadcast was suspended for three days
October 17, 2016 63-64 1.786 5.352 1 1.87 5.8 1
October 18, 2016 65-66 2.036 5.99 1 2.16 6.57 1
October 19, 2016 67-68 2.172 6.413 1 2.3 6.97 1
October 20, 2016 69 2.486 7.326 1 2.35 7.59 1
Average ratings 1.714 5.29 - 1.82 5.8 -
  • Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

Awards and nominations

AwardCategoryNomineeResult
8th China TV Drama Awards[7]Top Ten Television SeriesSparrowWon
Artist of the YearLi YifengWon
Popular Actor AwardZhang RuoyunWon
Audience's Favorite CharacterYin Zheng, Kan QingziWon
22nd Huading Awards[8]Best Actress (Revolutionary-Era)Zhou DongyuNominated
Best Supporting ActorZhang LuyiNominated
23rd Shanghai Television Festival [9]Nominated
27th Zhejiang TV Peony Awards[10]Outstanding Television SeriesSparrowWon
Outstanding ActorLi YifengWon
4th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China[11]Best DirectorJin ChenWon
Best Supporting ActorWang JinsongWon
29th China TV Golden Eagle Award[12][13] Best Actor Li Yifeng Won
Best Actress Kan Qingzi Nominated
12th China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival Most Popular Actor Li Yifeng Won

References

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