Granted it didn't go as deep as I'd wanted to, and one of the best villains here felt like a copy of the villain in Siren, it was interesting nonetheless. As far as storytelling goes though, don't expect all to make sense, but just works out in the universe of the drama.
Todo is a pretty intriguing characters. I liked following her trail of thoughts as she makes the (obvious) connection between cases and follow her investigations on her own. What I enjoyed most is her personality. She's definitely one enjoyable to have around since she's agreeable for the most part, but there definitely is this invisible wall around her. Once through that wall, you may find something completely different than the impression she gives at first. Another intriguing character would be Nakajima. I enjoyed most the conversations people have with him. I thought it was only his conversations with Todo that interest me, but even around others like Shoji, he never ceases to be interesting.
Honestly though other than Todo, Nakajima, and sometimes the Queen of death, none of the other characters were remotely interesting, and were there to fill space and add on the usual tropes.
If more depth and screentime was given to all the characters, and whole police were not made so dumb, it would've been one of the greatest dramas. I mean how could you call yourself a detective when you're incapable of making such simple connection. Also the way Shoji does his investigation is just such a sloppy way to portray! Everyone else was useless. Well the forensic department also had its moment.
As for the cast, casting Hayashi Kento was the BEST thing they did. He really carried the drama for me. I didn't like Haru much but I warmed up to her here. I always enjoy Watabe Atsuro on my screen but felt underused. Still he had quirky personality traits. Harada Mieko was a welcome addition to the team and her scenes her fun. First time watching Yokoyama Yu and OH MAN HE WAS ANNOYING! A total grumpy ojisan! And it doesn't help that he looks SO MUCH younger than his age. The rest of the cast aren't worth mentioning. Except the guest role actors, like Mamiya Shotaro, left an impression as well.
Quality wise, I'd give it 6-6.5 rating. However when factoring in my enjoyment I had of it I had to boost it up.
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One of the best female lead detective Japanese drama.
There are not a lot of female leads Japanese dramas out there unfortunately and I was so glad to stumble across this one. I loved it. I tend to see Haru dragged here and there for her acting ( idk why because I like her acting in other projects as well) but she did so well here . I appreciated the many veterans actors that were in this drama. I liked the different cases. I didn't care for the gore or 1 of the storyline/case.They unfortunately did something here that I hate to see Chinese dramas do as well. Cast someone as 2nd male lead actor and then give him so much screentime than the male lead that the latter becomes like a special appearance. I didn't care for the 2nd male lead and unfortunately he had so much screentime than the ML and was assisting in solving the cases . I also didn't like how they brushed off what he did. Just because he's a genius doesn't mean that he's not a murderer. Yet they had the ML ( Police officer)in 1 dimensional role throughout the drama. Now that I think about it, because of this I will slightly drop my rating. By order appearance in the introduction and even cast, he is the male lead then why why have him almost as a guest appearance? I recognize that the 2nd ML has been in a lot more projects than the ML but that is messed up imo.
Anyways, great drama overall. The cases were interesting. The lead actress is great. The ensemble cast did well .. They're not too many Female Lead Japanese detective roles out there and this is 1 of the best ones
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Unexpected
I wanted to watch this story for a couple of cast members... At first...Then the story threw me off my seat!
The story of how theres a "switch" within each one of us is quite surreal. If you think about it, what happens within the last 2 episodes is something that could be completely true. With thrilling mysterious killings and dark pasts that no one likes to talk about, let alone reveal, it's filled with your typical "good cop" vs. "bad cop" co-worker troupes; however, the story doesn't really focus on the history or future, so much as they focus on the present and their current cases.
Watching the growth of the cast as their characters was pretty intense! The dramatics were a little over the top, at first, but as the story builds and builds towards the finale it's like the puzzle pieces of the entire story are finally fitting together to create the "perfect picture". This show was thrilling and full of suspense, a couple of episodes seemed predictable, but in its entirety this show is a hundred miles above other thrilling drama's I've watched. I would like to think it's at least within the top five of the most mystifying criminal drama shows I've seen!
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The most fascinating thing about this drama is that one could almost see a drama it was aiming to be. On paper, everything seems to be built for success. There is female main character who is devoid of empathy, yet, drawn towards violent crimes. Her self-righteous 'hard-boiled' colleague mistrusts her while the sensitive police consultant and profiler, on the contrary, offers her his support and understanding. As the protagonist dispassionately digs deep into the human motivations behind the act of murder the viewers are offered a philosophical discussion on whether or not there is really any kind of divide between those who kill and those who do not.
Unfortunately, the drama does not work.
One could only guess at the motivations of the main character and her colleague as the performances of their respective actors are just too bad. Another actress could have given the main character a sympathetic side and could have made it easier to forgive how the mental condition is used as a cheap gimmick and a 'moe' point. Those who watched Dexter or South Korean Stranger would be baffled by this portrayal. The supportive cast is decent but has almost no screen time.
The story itself stretches suspension of disbelief beyond its limits. Starting from the first episode the audience is supposed to take for granted some outrageously unrealistic things. Coupled with the conflicts that are either stated but never shown or lost due to the abysmal performances, this makes the drama unwatchable.
Personally, I found two grains of brilliance in the wreckage of this show. Firstly, Hayashi Kento gives his all to play the sensitive police consultant. There are at least two scenes that his acting manages to make poignant despite all of the other stuff working against it. Secondly, the question about the difference between murderers and those who do not kill is very worthy of exploration (and apparently, Dostoevsky thought so too as he had written two renowned novels about it). Hayashi Kento is a perfect actor for the tortured character who ponders this question.
Watching this drama makes one to wistfully wish for a show worthy of Kento's performance and the philosophical question raised.
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Отдельное спасибо Хару - не ожидала от нее прекрасное воплощение такого персонажа. Watabe Atsurou и Harada Mieko чудесны. Очень рекомендую. ON!
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