Zenkamono (2021)

What An Amazing Mini-Series. One of the Best Jdrama of the year!

It won't be an exaggeration to call this one of the best, if not the best Jdrama of the year.

It's amazing how a 25 minutes 6 episodes short drama can have such an impact on the viewers.

This drama is based on a real-life criminal probationary System in Japan where trained volunteers are appointed as probation officers for convicts.

This drama essentially follows what I will call the adventure of one such female voluntarily probation officer, Kayo Agawa in her duties in dealing with 3 convicts who were placed on probation.

Each convict's case is dealt with separately although there are some overlap in so far as the supporting actors appearances are concerned. I have to say that each episode is so thought-provoking, touching and excellent that you will be amazed by the amazing acting from all the casts involved.

This is the first drama that I've ever watched that dealt directly with the job scope of a voluntary probation officer and it's really an eye opener on the challenges and difficulties faced by such officers. You may even wonder if some of the things showed in this drama are true and although it may seem unbelievable at times , it is actually totally true in real life. I've read articles that confirms that the depiction in this drama of the workings of such voluntary probation officers in Japan are pretty accurate.

If you are someone who wants to watch something unique and different from your everyday romance/horror/comedy drama, this one is for you.

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a gem of a drama.

PS: Ishibashi Shizuka is really a scene-stealer everytime she appeared on screen. I'm really amazed by her great acting.

Read More

A Compelling and Introspective Look at Criminals as Humans

I think this drama is special for a number of reasons. Firstly, it covers an interesting and little addressed topic without being overly obtuse or philosophical. Secondly, it steers clear of the unfortunate reputation of most Jdramas, presenting a solemn and cliché-free exploration of the topic. And finally... well I just really like the main character. Such a unique personality, in such an interesting situation, with a great portrayal by her actor.

Criminal justice was always an interesting topic, especially on a personal level. It's easy to reduce criminals to lesser beings or statistics, but everyone has their own situations, and in the end, everyone's a person. However, it can't be dismissed that certain people are inclined towards behaviors which are inherently incompatible with society or which do (or should) violate one's values. These people must either learn to curb these behaviors or face the consequences, and yet they are still people and so can't be condemned forever. Zenkamono is certainly one of the best portrayals of this conundrum, demonstrating anecdotally each of these situations through the eyes of someone uniquely positioned to address the subject: a probation officer. And while (to our benefit) the show avoids grand philosophical debate, there are subtextual implications of greater questions that are being explored, if you care to think on them.

And, perhaps that's where Zenkamono gets it's tone: one which isn't necessarily unique among television media or even Asian dramas, but which is certainly less common in the Jdrama scene. The whole show is permeated with a steady sense of solemnity, even when punctuated by moments of drama, emotion, and intrigue. Even during the comic relief and the least tense of scenes, there is a feeling that no one is denying the truth of their situation, that it has been accepted so they can move on.

Beyond the more intangible elements of the show- if we were to get into the nitty gritty- the production level was spot on, as is pretty much expected by now for all productions of this size, and the acting was all incredible. The characters were really sold in their portrayals and lines, with a fantastic screenplay backed up by a pondering score. I will say, for a show only six episodes long, the plot felt a little disjointed, like it's stuck halfway between a narrative style and episodic style. I didn't mind that they started a new plot line every couple of episodes because it kept it fresh, but narratively it felt a little rushed. Perhaps we can chalk that up to production constraints and give them a little leeway.

All in all, a great show. Probably not a silly, fun comedy or romcom if that's what you're looking for, but if you're searching for something interesting and compelling and perhaps with something to say, you're in the right place. You won't be disappointed by the thought-out scenarios of the characters or the believable acting that occurs in them. With that, I will recommend this show.

Read More