Blue Bird

As far as first episodes go, this one does a good job of grabbing the viewer's attention and holding onto it. All the main characters are introduced. Many basic things are made apparent right away. Both Shiori and Miki likes Yoshimori. Hiromu has a mean streak to him. Junichiro is even worse, and he has zero respect for Kahori. And right away, we know that perhaps an ill-fated love will develop between the single Yoshimori and the married Kahori.

In brief, this episode is about Yoshimori and Kahori's discovery of each other. The sparks are apparent from the start. Of course, though, there's her husband Hiromu, who she doesn't seem to love too much. He and his father, Junichiro, are revealed to be sure paths in the way of Yoshimori's and Kahori's quickly blossoming affection for each other. This episode also shows Yoshimori and Shiori's growing friendship.

In brief, this episode is about how passion and desire quickly blossoms between Yoshimori and Kahori. I notice how it seems like every time the two of them meet, they are alone. But people are becoming suspicious. Also Hiromu begins to become jealous of how well Yoshimori gets along with Shiori.

This episode is about the fateful incident in which Kahori rents a summer house in North Kiyosumi. She wants to spend time alone with Yoshimori. Yoshimori discovers the whereabouts of his mother. Hiromu really begins to become suspicious of his wife. When his suspicions are realized, he decides to punish his wife. The end of this episode is very strong and emotional.

This episode marks a drastic change in the feel of the dorama, as even the locations become varied. Yoshimori, Kahori, and Shiori run away on the train. Eventually they meet up with Yoshimori's long gone mother, who lives on a farm. But Hiromu goes all out in an effort to locate his wife. Still, the focus is on the general feeling of optimism felt among the three "runaways."

In this episode, the three runaways finally find a place where they can settle down. Or did they? Hiromu and his cronies are still in hot pursuit of them. And while Yoshimori and Kahori are able to find jobs in their new town, poor Shiori is unable to attend school, and thus she doesn't do much of anything at all.

This episode is easily the most emotionally powerful yet. It's also very shocking, although I hesitate to say that it is the most shocking in the whole series. I think the remainder of this series contains a suprise or two up its sleeves. The one lengthy, tumultuous scene towards the end is especially riveting. In short, this episode is about the three runaways' attempts at new lives in Hokkaido, which proves to be all-too short-lived, as Hiromu finally catches up with them. This episode proves to be, as the title suggests, the end of the three runaways adventures together.

The producers of the dorama waste no time with Yoshimori's time in jail. Everyone is older, especially Shiori. In this episode, Yoshimori heads back to Kiyosumi, and there he runs into Shiori, and more than once. It's a bit sad though, without Kahori around.