Kinkyu Torishirabeshitsu 4 (2021)

Wishing for season 5

The series has little to offer by way of a usual cop show, without gruesome crime scenes, chasing (physically running after) criminals, etc. Instead, fine story-telling and acting make this a compelling drama and probably the best of the four seasons so far. Amami Yuki delivers, as do other actors playing her colleagues on the same team. I like, in particular, Tanaka Tetsushi, who, I think, is an underrated actor. The main story that runs through the two beginning episodes and two at the end is nicely wrapped up by a crucial line from Amami Yuki's character as she steps out the office of a newly appointed cabinet minister: "You don't think that we didn't make a copy of the contents of the cell phone" (or, something to that effect), that is, before the phone, with incriminating information on it, was returned by a good-natured boy to the politician. It is for fear of subsequent exposure and scandal that he resigns shortly after rather than because of the boy's innocent words and gesture. Without that line, the drama would have appeared sugar-coated with the cliche, "Good triumphs over evil." With it, the accusation of the depth of political filth is briefly but loudly restated. The script writer(s) deserves kudos. Season 5 is still possible, though the team is supposed to have been dissolved. TV magic can resurrect anything. Let's hope this will happen.

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