Burn the House Down (2023)

❌️ 3/10 NOT RECOMMENDED. SERIOUSLY.

I see a lot of people tend to give good ratings to this drama.
I guess they don't know and have never seen a beautiful cinema craft before
(yes, trust me. i'm movie holic and im really understand about cinema or acting skill).
Guess what, IS BAD! really bad.

Japanese cinema is famous for its stilted acting, lack of strength, and worse, overacting.
And this is what you will get in this drama.
Instead of expecting this to be an amazing work from Netflix (like in Million yen women) it didn't work out so well.
We can still see the bad and over-the-top acting of the uniform actors/actresses in this drama, except for a few actors like Murata's father.
(He the only one doing good job acting skill)

The most disgusting, cringe acting I've ever seen was from Claire, and Murata's sister.
I couldn't watch them on screen for long.
I hope some actor in this drama should working their act skill and the writers should more give attention to their story.

Other than that, the concept and phase of the plot in this drama was too fast and there were a lot of plot hole.
Even the romantic clichés were mediocre.

The strongest points are only the Netflix name brand, cinematography, setting and that's it.
I didn't see more points from other aspects especially the story or the cast.

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Gripping and A LOT of plot twists...

I watch A LOT of J-drama's especially BL's. And i have too say this one was done very well. I really thought the acting was great with a lot of plot twists. Especially, towards the end. All in all i'd really like too see a second season happen so we can watch how our characters are developing in their new roles and lives after "the incident" and truth was finally told. I especially, want too see if Mitarai Makiko is going too continue her devious schemes or finally turn the corner for the better. I'd like too see Kichi and Anzu get married and have kids. And perhaps that would change Kichi's mother into a kinder more caring person. And i definitely want too see Shinji become a doctor at the hospital and start his relationship with Yuzu. So hopefully the director get the positive feedback he needs too "green light" this a second season. Because their is a lot they could do with it if given the chance.

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A very satisfying ending.

Although I find some things there surreal and nonsensical, it was a drama I enjoyed and thought it presented a solid storyline, without the usual drag found in dramas of this theme. Suzuki Kyoka deserves positive mentions for her portrayal of the nonsensical and narcissistic villain in the drama; she was restrained and exaggerated just right, as her character aimed for every step of greed and acceptance from others. I found Anzu and Kiichi's ending together cute, and I found it bold and amusing that she asked to take care of him for the wicked mother.

I understand some might have wanted imprisonment or death for Makiko, but I understand the drama wanted to give a realistic tone to this ending, showing that evil may not always be eradicated but can be defeated. I am currently watching Japanese dramas and am enjoying them immensely; I currently prefer Japanese dramas to Chinese ones.

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Low-Key Revenge J-Drama

BURN DOWN THE HOUSE (Mitaraike, Enjou Suru) was an interesting Thriller / Mystery Revenge J-Drama series, but ultimately felt lacking to me. It started out with thrilling promises and a darkly intriguing premise, a mysterious house fire that tore a family a part and a girl seeking revenge and redemption for the life that was stolen from her, by a conniving future stepmother. This series seemed so fascinating but ultimately didn't really live up to the promises it made. It moved slowly and the "thrills" just weren't really there for me.

"Follows Anzu Murata, who— thirteen years after the home of the wealthy Mitarai family was burned in an mysterious and devastating fire— infiltrates the house of the Mitarais as a housekeeper in order to reclaim the house and family that was taken from her."

Overall, it was a cool series, but not quite as interesting as it had initially seemed it would be. I frequently felt distracted and uninterested as the series went on and its slower pacing came unexpected for being advertised as a thriller. The acting, settings and visuals were really good and the main character Anzu Murata was likeable and relatable as well. It was still worth a watch, but just expect something a bit more mild for the thriller genre.

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A Gripping Journey through Mystery, Thrills, and Mind Games

"Mitaraike, Enjou Suru" is a captivating Japanese drama that seamlessly combines thriller, mystery, psychological twists, and compelling drama. This well-crafted series offers an enthralling experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The story unfolds with a mysterious incident, piquing our curiosity from the very beginning. Each episode unravels layers of complexity, gradually revealing shocking revelations that test the characters' limits, as well as our own sanity.

What sets "Mitaraike, Enjou Suru" apart is its ability to toy with your emotions and challenge your perception of reality. The skillful execution of mind games and plot twists creates an enigmatic atmosphere, leaving you guessing and eagerly anticipating what will happen next.

The cast delivers stellar performances, bringing their characters to life with depth and intensity. Their portrayals add layers to the intricate plot, while their chemistry keeps viewers engaged and invested in their journeys. The standout performances perfectly complement the gripping storyline, ensuring an immersive viewing experience.

Another noteworthy aspect is the production value of the series. Stellar cinematography, exceptional direction, and a haunting soundtrack work together seamlessly to create an ambiance that heightens the drama and intensifies the mysteries lurking beneath every turn.

While "Mitaraike, Enjou Suru" may not be suitable for those seeking light-hearted entertainment, it undoubtedly rewards viewers who appreciate complex narratives and psychological roller coasters. Brace yourself for a thrilling and thought-provoking journey that will leave you constantly questioning everything.

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Nuanced characterisation and amazing acting. Strong female characters. Great storytelling.

It's hard to find a women-centred series that isn't ultimately about the aftermath of a man's infidelity and the modern day take of harem infighting that goes on between wives, mistresses and empires. It's harder to find a female revenge story that's really satisfying. 'Burn the House Down' or 'Mitaraike, Enjou Suru' ticks both boxes. To say that I was blown away by this story was an understatement. The female characters are really strong and nuanced and the plot twists keep you guessing till the end. Ultimately, it was hard to draw the line between wrong and right and most of things were left in the grey areas.

What I loved about this story was how fleshed out and realistic it was. It's usual to have one character shoulder the burden, and hog the limelight, for the plotting and revenge work but to share the work between the two sisters was really unique writing. I really liked how the sibling relationships were explored in BtHD both between the Murata sisters and the Mitarai brothers as well. It's refreshing to see supportive, functional sibling relationships as well, having been so used to competitive and backstabbing ones from western shows. All the psychology behind the characters were also realistic. The ineffectual father, the only son from a family of dominant women, was on point. The fact that Makiko could handle the sisters' bullying better and the fact that Yuzu would be too young to fully understand the father's character and the dynamics at play.

Mitarai Makiko was portrayed as the villainess from the start but in the end, the audience is left wondering "what the hell?!" when we discover that her only crime had been envy and being a protective mother. Is she still someone we should hate? Does she still deserve all that bile buildup from the onset? Or was she also a victim of circumstance and only acting out of self preservation? It's all still up in the air. What's not up in the air was Suzuki Kyoka's acting though. From the moment she appears on screen she really captures the attention. Her micro-expressions when witnessing the fire was also excellently acted to portray both possibilities of what the audience was first led to believe was schadenfreude and also the immense relief at being able to start her slate anew that we later discover was the actual case. Kyoka really inhabits each scene she has with the confidence that comes from being a battler single mom Makiko, something that Satsuki desperately seeks. Makiko is a tremendous survivor of the odds and despite her major setback we see her endeavour to make a comeback again in the end. She is not a pure white character but a real one and though her methods were questionable one can't really judge the means by which she employs her resources to survive in a society and culture that is not kind to single, poor mothers. Makiko's juxtaposition against Satsuki was fantastic in that she brings out the "life" in the latter.

As the show developed there was a suspicion that Satsuki was an unhappily married woman. Satsuki's character was interesting in that she was only unhappy because she felt she could not be enough to help her husband in life and career, not because of problems with the husband. All her thoughts were for her husband and family. This was a character who wanted nothing more than to be an effective and competent homemaker, a stark contrast to most portrayals of stay-at-home mums being sapped of life because of their choice to be SAHMs. Despite being bullied by her sister-in-laws Satsuki wanted to develop confidence, not to defend herself, but to help her husband in the family more. She wanted to learn how to communicate what she wanted and felt, and to even know what she wanted to begin with. We see that her blog posts are described as lifeless and mundane. What a great little piece of information to show a facet of her character. In the end, Makiko's family's acts sets her on this path to self deconstruction and reconstruction. We hear harsh words from her that we'd never imagine could come from a selfless, kind, compassionate Satsuki. Words like "I've hated you from the beginning" directed at Makiko, "I will never forgive you" to Shinji, words that would be more fitting coming from villainess Makiko than pure Satsuki yet when she utters those words and feelings there is a life in the woman, for once. It dawns on the audience and now, with the flaws and the dark thoughts, Satsuki has found that confidence and life that she lacked and so desperately sought in the past. Having this contrast made it seem like Makiko and Satsuki were the perfect yin and yang, bringing out the little light and little darkness that balanced everything out to be more harmonious people. Both were not perfect yet both are real. And because of the diametrically opposite dynamic of their characters it was fitting for Satsuki to have been the one who brought down Makiko by doing something slightly Makiko-ish ie underhanded. By doing so, Satsuki became a less passive character and ended up being the one who saved herself.

Anzu is an incredibly strong female character that is so rare on the screen. Nowadays we are used to badass women who are badass on the male level ie they are warrior like amazons or compete well on a male dominated corporate level or similar. Anzu is none of those but still a badass because she is focused, disciplined, and resolute. She was scared of Kiichi but still plowed through those fears because her mind was made up from years ago. She was scared of other things going wrong, of being found out, of this, of that, but she still did it. She didn't meekly take the push from Kiichi but also pushed back. Courage is having fears but still doing it and Anzu is the embodiment of that. When she stood up to her father and b!tchslapped his phone out of his hands Anzu was really showing the strong feminine energy that's rarely, rarely celebrated. Being the firstborn, she's seen the father's role in the Mitarai family, acutely appraised his character from his behaviour during the 13 absent years and know where she stands in what she's doing and his place in it. Unlike Anzu, she has no illusions that he can be relied on to be even a chance of an ally to her plight to clear her mother's name. Where it is usual to portray daughters as being easily fooled by the excuses of errant fathers Anzu has long ago decided she has no place for his BS. The phone smack would be considered utterly rude and unfilial, in the cultural context, but morally correct in the universal justice context. Anzu showed that she was a bigger person in defying culture and her patriarch. The real badassery from that act was the fact that she did it as she was championing her family, which included her mother and her sister. Because, as Anzu so rightly contextualises everything to Shinji at his confession, it is all about protecting one's family, just as he did.

The reveal was a bit of a rollercoaster which hovered on comical in that it was too "Come on! What?! How 'bout the cat? Did the cat do it too?!" However, the flashbacks interspersed in between and the way the characters have behaved throughout (Makiko always refers to protecting Kiichi, Makiko discovers she still had the cardigan but it was in a box whereas the cardigan on the CCTV shows it being worn) supports it. Because the careful editing supported the conclusion the plot twists did not feel like a gimmicky add-on, which made the story even more masterful.

The ending, imho, was very satisfying. It wasn't linear but it was right. Everything that should happen did happen and the characters all found their own peace. Only let down was the odd soundtrack but it sounded like some 80s video games which I thought was an allusion to Kiichi's fondness for video games maybe. It's not a dealbreaker by any means.

I highly recommend this series for ppl who love great stories about strong women and aren't looking for neat, linear endings but real ones. It's refreshing to see a predominantly female cast in the testosterone filled film & tv industry, even more so that the characters aren't cliche and shallow stereotypes.

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Que buen plot twist

La empecé a ver sin mucha confianza, pero me enganché al toque.

No tengo muchas ganas de escribir la reseña pero no quería dejar pasar el momento para mencionar cosas que me encantaron:

-La músicalización. Cuando Makiko se veía en problemas y empezaba a sonar ese ruido blanco mientras ella miraba a la cámara me daba a pensar que podía pasar cualquier cosa, sobretodo por como construyen su locura, dije uy se viene. Al final no era una mujer tan malvada, tenía corazón. Pero la música nos hace percibirla como la percibe la protagonista. Que, dicho sea de paso, muy buena ambientación cuando Anzu (protagonista) se motiva a seguir después de un traspié. Excelente.

-Los plot twist. La serie te convence que quien inició el incendio es Makiko, después te convence que es Kiichi y decís la puta madre porque todo sale tan mal. Para al final haber sido un accidente de cocina producido por Shinji, solo porque el pobre tenía hambre y nunca lo pudo decir. Todo este tiempo que las hermanas estuvieron buscando venganza por un incendio provocado cuya culpa había recaído en la madre, terminó siendo por un accidente provocado por un niño con hambre. Increíble, nunca me la vi venir.

La serie te lleva a determinadas situaciones donde pensás que continuamente se pudre, pero sucede que te mete tan bien en la mente del personaje principal que no es que todo se va a pudrir, si no que se percibe a través de sus ojos. Me encantó.

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