Byouin no Naoshikata (2020)

This show is only 7 (though really it could be 8 or even 10 if you consider the first episode) episodes, however, this is the most emotional, heart-pounding, gut-wrenching roller coaster ride I have ever been on. Each episode is so strong on multiple levels, for multiple reasons, that it has become such a show deserving of being called perfect!

I'm not one to watch real life, romance, thrilling, or even medical shows most times because I'm a huge chicken (lol), though sometimes shows like those seem to jump out and grab me at episode one... And this is exactly that type of show!

I can't be sure how accurate this retelling is of a true story, but I have to say that Koizumi Kotaro portrays his character as a caring son, influential chairman, understanding doctor, and learning (yet knowledgeable) businessman, among many other titles, very, very well!! If you're a fan of Koizumi Kotaro, then this series is an absolute must to watch! Seeing him as an unorthodox detective and teacher (which I also adored) made me a little uneasy if I would like him in such a serious show, but his acting is almost magical; he wears his emotions and whatever he thinks on his face, whatever he's going through or thinking you can see it immediately on his face if you pay attention. The way this man tells a story through his acting is what makes him amazing to watch, almost as if he's the man of 20 faces!

This story is such a wonderous and superb story. The way each episode was filmed was as if it was teaching the viewer how each part of a hospital worked, from admittance to human resources and even within the community. In fact, it amazed me to see just how important a hospital is to a community, especially non-medically related. Each hospital and health system is different, so I'm not entirely sure that every medical person or business or clinic/doctor/hospital could follow this story, but it does have some very strong and highly valid points.

This story had lots of ups and downs, hint the earlier reference to a roller coaster, especially toward the end. It was like being a fly on the wall and watching how a community works, within a business and within a city. Watching each actor as their character grew throughout each episode was intense! Almost as intense as the story itself. I don't want to only applaud Koizumi Kotaro in this series, however much I like the man and his acting; please do not only focus on him, there are so many amazing and talented people in this story!

This story is as amazing as it is, I believe, because it did not have a lot of popular actors/actresses in it, give or take a few. Thus allowing for each actor to portray each point of the story, as well as their character, with such strong, believable, and genuine conviction! If you don't have many popular people within a series, then you will be able to focus better on the story itself. With each loop this story threw, I was more and more worried and curious as to how it would end; and I did not see the ending coming in the slightest! This is definitely a spectacular show!

Read More