The main attraction of this drama is definitely the satires. The writers are commendable for being able to continue the bold use of candid humor throughout the drama without making it revolting or tiring at any point. This drama takes in many typical elements like-naive main girl, arrogant main guy, evil opponents, traumatic past etc. - smites them with absurd derision and serves as a great amusement to the person savoring it!
Another good point is the attention paid to the legal details. Although the principle selling point was to be the humor, the writers did not forget to focus just as much on legalism as to be expected in a legal drama.
The characters are simply outstanding. The lead character Komikado is whacky, cynical, wasteful and indulgent. He is not only the center source of interest and excitement but also of contempt and resentment. The preposterous remarks delivered by him are unbelievable and unforgettable.Mayuzumi as an upright, honest lawyer has nothing surprising to offer but her existence is certainly indispensable in emphasizing the contrast with Komikado and maintaining the balance of craziness with rationality. The supporting characters are equally capricious and funny and enhance the pleasing power of the series.
The cast is exquisite. Sakai Masato has done a splendid job in the role of Komikado which is entirely different form his past images. He is so magnificently convincing in this drama that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else to be more fitting for this role. I liked the acting of Aragaki Yui here more than in any other dramas I’ve seen so far. Satomi Kotaro, Koike Eiko, Namase Katsuhisa, Taguchi Junnosuke -all are impressive and persuasive in their respective roles.
Overall it an excellent drama and if you are in the mood to watch something that will make you laugh out loud in every episode then Legal High is a must for you.
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memorable leads, memorable supporting cast and a memorable story makes this drama my favorite of the sprint 2012 season!
if you long for a wacky but clever comedy to keep you in stitches, this is the drama for you.
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Legal High focuses on Komikado Keisuke who is a genius of a lawyer who has yet to lose a case. He picks cases driven solely boy one thing,money. He is over the top, hilarious and an absolutely captivating character. He's a blend of immaturity, charisma and at times raw and powerful emotions. His partner is the naive and innocent Mayuzumi Machiko who is surprisingly not irritating. Normally, this is the type of character that I absolutely despise. The self-righteous preachy type who wants the world to be butterflies and rainbows- however, she is very charming in her own way. She for one sticks to her philosophy but also acknowledges its flaws. This partnership makes for some of the most "laugh out loud" moments I have ever had in a drama.
Overall, this is a hilarious yet very well done script. The writers did a phenomenal job not only developing the characters but giving them distinct and memorable personalities. The humor does not get in the way of plot progression or even distract from the issue. It serves as a good compliment to the overall plot and by the end of this season, I was more than thrilled to hear there was a second which I have also finished. I rarely ever seek out second seasons in dramas. Heck, it's an incredibly difficult challenge for me to ever finish a drama much less get passed the fourth episode. I jot this down as an over the top yet highly recommended comedy. Do not pass this up.
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To be completely honest, when Legal High aired last year, I had no intention of watching it. Something about the poster (and Sakai Masato's hairstyle) put me off. Seriously Aragaki Yui looks weird! I watched it for the sole reason that I had nothing else to watch. The japanese dramas of the last few seasons have not piqued my interest at all. I almost began to feel that the quality of Japanese dramas were declining off late.
Anyway, ramblings aside, let's get down to business. Legal High is about a money/women-loving, winning-obsessed, fast-talking, rude, extravagant and spend-thrift genius lawyer Komikado Kensuke (Sakai Masato) who, besides all these adjectives has peculiar quirks (fear of heights, tone-deaf, etc). Calling him rude is actually being polite. He has absolutely no qualms demanding exhorbitant payment for his services and always wins cases. Justice is the winner, according to him.
Of course, in such scenarios there always is a do-gooder, hardworking lawyer who believes in helping people get justice (or some such naive notion) and in Legal High that person is Mayuzumi Machiko (Aragaki Yui).
Surprisingly, Mayuzumi was not as annoying as I expected her to be and the arguments between her and Komikado are extremely hilarious. Each episode contains a case which Komikado defeats the opposing lawyer who is usually appointed by the Miki Law Firm headed by Miki Choichiro (Namase Katuhisa). Miki-sensei's aim in life is to defeat Komikado for some unknown/mysterious reason.
Although the writers have done an excellent job, the prize (for keeping me hooked to this drama) goes hands-down to Sakai Masato. He is absolutely brilliant as Komikado Kensuke (bizzare side-swept hairstyle and all). His dialogue delivery at break-neck speed, skipping and twirling about, exaggerated facial expressions are all hilariously done without seeming as over-acting. I have heard complaints about Aragkai Yui's acting before, but personally, in this drama I think she has done well and her character balances the weirdness of Komikado very well. Namase Katuhisa rocks the villain role as usual (even if his villainy is not so comical in this as it was in Gokusen). Even Taguchi Junnosuke performs well in the small role he has.
Sakai Masato may have become a hit in Hanzawa Naoki, but his acting in
Legal High cannot be discounted.
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The story was really outstanding! It could confuse you, mislead you, make you laugh out loud, get teary because of its silliness and absurdities, and most importantly it could put you to minutes of silence and ponder about reality issues about justice, humanity, and society. The story is well written that it amuses me to the point that I get frustrated of how my emotions are being tricked while watching the drama. For a second you may thought that you may have to cry for the dramatic atmosphere and then comes the feeling of betrayal because of the realization of how absurd it is. (you will understand this feeling if you completed this! seriously!) It is very comical yet it contains depth. At one point it will make you laugh and at some point it will get you all serious. The story is perfect when it comes to absurdities, humor, silliness, morale, depth. It is a profound masterpiece of a complex ironic combination of law and comedy.
The actors and actresses did a really really great job in portraying the characters. I can say Sakai Masato must be a veteran in acting. Usually Im the type of drama person who fell in love with a drama character if the actor playing it is oh-so handsome regardless of its annoying personality(Enrique in flower boy next door for example). Im in love with Komikado-sensei not because of his looks, but because of his unique personality well acted by Masato-sensei. The drama would not be that amusing if not for the good work of portraying awesome characters by talented actors and actresses. Miki-sensei, Mayuzumi, Hattori-san, and Ranmaru are examples of such work of art.
Music was surprisingly entertaining especially the opening song. For 2 months after watching the drama, I always recall the opening song in my head and mutter the beat unconsciously making people around me think I'm crazy.
From time to time, I would watch legal high and replay the scenes in the court wherein Komikado-sensei and Machiko is at its most hyperactive and funniest. I just cant get over of its silliness. very amusing indeed.
In conclusion, this drama is a must-must watch! It would not fail you to laugh and go crazy of its absurdities. Most of all, it will really realize you of some lessons of the realities and complexities of human nature and the society where humans live.
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This is a really good drama, I highly recommend it.
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Brilliant and amusing
This drama is brilliant in many different ways.First of all, the characters are what make this series exceptionally great. Komikado-sensei, the attorney that never lost a single trial, surprises you with his witty and fast speech, and even if sometimes he comes across as incredibly rude, what he says often ends up being wholly or partially true. I definitely agree with his opinion about the countryside, to be honest. That's just an opinion, though. His mannerism is also hilarious and makes him unique and entertaining to watch. What surprises the most is the character's backstory. I do not intend to spoil it.
Mayuzumi-sensei, the Asadora Heroine as Komikado-sensei calls her, is truly a heroine. [From Wikipedia: Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu (連続テレビ小説, "serial TV novel"), also known as asadora (朝ドラ, "Morning Drama"), is a serialized Japanese television drama program series broadcast in the mornings by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Virtually all of the storylines center on the life of a female heroine who faces challenges while working to achieve her dreams.] She is always trying to put justice above everything else, and it's primarily thanks to her that the customers are happy in the end. She is also as stubborn as Komikado. This fact makes them continuously clash in amusing ways. It was interesting seeing her growth as an attorney and as a person during the series. I think she's the one that delivered the most profound values in the show. She is also incredibly sweet, which is the exact contrary of Komikado, who can be extremely mean.
The main antagonist, the Miki Law Firm, is a particular one. The mannerism of the people in it makes it feel like an exclusive club, which you belong to only if you stay successful. What makes the audience laugh is how defeat is handled, as it's common for the firm's lawyers, because they're against that one attorney that is never going to lose. The boss, Miki-sensei, is always trying to beat Komikado with his own employees, and is also always acting exaggeratedly angrily when he loses. His secretary Sawachi is probably the most mysterious character in the show. She is often shown massaging Miki-sensei in order to calm him, and with her calm attitude she was probably put at Miki-sensei's side in order to counter his negative traits, like Mayuzumi for Komikado.
Secondly, the single storylines are amusing and you can never guess how they will end, even if the point of the show is supposed to be Komikado-sensei never failing to win. They become more unexpected as the show progresses. It's never so easy to win.
Lastly, the ost is a good one, especially the phrase "Legal High!" that is used in the most glorious moments of the show and at the end of the episode. I can't really describe how, but its rock feel really fits the tone of the show.
There would be a lot more things to talk about, but long story short, watch this. It won't disappoint you.
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