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This review may contain spoilers
Clearing Crimes from the Public and Even the Police..?!
This story is fascinating and had me captivated from episode one! I still have unanswered questions about a few of the episodes, and I believe this show should be given either an updated remake or a second season; the cast, the mystery, the drama was intense and way too epic to just leave at eight episodes!In all honesty, I'm not entirely sure what to write in this review. The music was an interesting choice, but most definitely escalated or calmed the story when necessary; like adding fuel to a fire! It was nice watching a few cast members I'm familiar with go out of their "ordinary" roles (at least that I've seen them in) or what seemed like they were either trying something new with this casting or testing their limits of what they are capable of. I think my favorite, oddly enough, was Suzuki Kosuke as Shibata-san, truly. The way he was portrayed felt like the rise and fall of an ocean wave; you don't know whats coming next, could be high tide could be low tide could be a jelly fish. Does that make sense? Even though I ironically began this series for two other actors, Takahashi Katsunori and Koizumi Kotaro. Also, am I the only one who thinks Hirayama Hiroyuki sounds like Okada Masaki? I'm excited to see what other shows he is in as well.
I enjoyed seeing the private lives of the detectives as well as the tumultuous lives they led within the police bureaucracy. The higher ranks dragging along the lower ranks, while at home dealing with personal issues ranging from familial to money to relationships. Each issue throughout every episode felt so raw and honest that I began to feel sorry and/or angry for a couple of the characters. Each feeling was portrayed so gutwrenchingly well that I felt sick to my stomach in a couple of the episodes.
I wish this story had 9 episodes, though it doesn't feel like the show was left on a cliffhanger, it sort of was left on a cliffhanger. I most certainly was left with unanswered questions, but I think that's just me and my hope for more episodes! Watching and rooting for the team of underdogs is always entertaining, and in some cases inspiring or even life changing.
If you enjoy dark, twisting, suspense and crime dramas... Then this story may be for you!
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I watch a lot of detective shows, so I'm used to the usual partnership setups - buddy cops who just don't get along at first and all that. This show instantly got my attention with how unique its potential "partnership" felt. A much deeper conflict of moral alignments! On opposing sides while also being on the same! The possibility of our good cop being gradually swayed towards the side of corruption!
Unfortunately by the end our honorable secondary lead felt superfluous, almost, his POV and this interesting conflict almost totally pushed aside in favor of the main lead's individual issues as well as larger conspiracies. I think this show either needed to pick a narrower central focus or have at least 3-4 more episodes. 8 was simply not enough to deal with everything it is handing to you.
Deeply wish we could've totally cut out the lady team member's side plot entirely to free up some screentime. What a terrible plot to saddle your one important female character with. (Domestic abuse content warning, for anyone who's sensitive to that.)
Some pros so I don't sound too negative: the episodic crimes are interesting conceptually, though a few are a little obvious when it comes to the "whodunnit." I think this is a rare show about corrupt cops saving the day through their questionable methods where I honestly never felt like those actions were being glorified? Something about the vibe of it all. I love how much fun the guy who plays the one villain is having. This character is so aggravating in the most enjoyable way. And perhaps most importantly in a show like this: Mr Takahashi Katsunori is unreasonably attractive in it.
But man, what is with that ending? There had to have been a better way to do it.
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