The cases in the drama are mostly well-thought and well-executed, maybe with exception of the few cases related to the main plot which was a bit draggy. They did not just solve cases related to unnatural deaths but also gave a soft criticism to the certain aspects of Japanese society.
I love all the characters in the UDI, they are all unique and the supporting characters aren't just there to support. Perhaps I liked Mikoto less than the others because the character is an idealistic type who believe that we can talk everything out, but it is forgiven because she is played by Satomi Ishihara. Masataka Kubota did a decent job as usual and I am impressed with Arata Iura's acting in here. The music, well.. maybe we don't have to talk too much about it. The OST is a big hit and you will see why it fits this drama.
So, what are you waiting for? Just watch it if you haven't!
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Forensic pathology is work for the future!
As a newcomer to Japanese dramas, Unnatural was definitely worth a try. It doesn't just get into the medical and forensic stuff but also digs into mystery and investigation.Being a medical drama addict, I found the abundance of information fascinating. Were they asking me to take notes, cuz I was about to do it!! This was my first experience with a forensic-focused show, and I was genuinely amazed. It went beyond just determining the cause of death; each episode presented a standalone story about the victims and their lives, making it emotionally moving.
The cast was refreshingly portrayed, with Dr. Mikoto Misumi laughing off everything, emphasizing that there's no time to despair. I admired her intelligence.
Nakado-sensei, always wearing the 'Don't speak to me' face, investigating his girlfriend case, with the mysterious killer and the surprising resolution, had me hooked. Kube, the part-timer always ready to help, Shoji, the crazy friend, and Director Kamikura, always supportive, formed a cohesive team thriving in UDI, which felt like their home.
In fact, I believe the series left me wanting more. I truly hope for a second season or perhaps they could turn it into a saga, as unnatural deaths just don't seem to end.
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One of her best dramas in a leading role. Never lost interest throughout the story. So happy to have been able to catch this drama. Lots of interesting info for the viewer to absorb. Strongly recommend it to all.
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One of my favorites Forensic Medical drama rn!!!
The well-written plot, interesting complex characters, every episode is a heartwarming or a painful story... the director & screenwriter all played a big role in creating this masterpiece.Starting watching this because it's on an upcoming list on Netflix and have known about this drama before but didn't have a chance to watch it, seeing all the good reviews from the media I thought oh "Is this actually as good as they said?", "let's see how it goes!".
All the characters are doing great, especially Satomi and Arata, they set the bar too high for me, and this is my first time liking a male character so much, his sassy, cold, and soft-hearted, while Mikoto is a smiley and loveable girl.
Ep 1 hits differently after we all experience that "pandemic" thing.
"Lemon" is absolutely the perfect song for this series, made me teary every time it played!
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Esta resenha pode conter spoilers
Why Autopsies Are So Necessary!
This is a fascinating look into the jobs of coroners and forensic scientists in Japan, where the fewest amount of autopsies are recorded of all developed countries in the world. Most deaths reported as "accidental" or by "natural causes" are never autopsied, thus leaving the door wide open for murderers. You can't help but speculate how my deaths might be attributed to murder. Most bodies are cremated before they can ever reach an autopsy table, and there are many hurdles that must be jumped through, such as getting family consent.Misumi Mikoto is the idealist coroner who firmly believes that her job brings piece of mind as well as closure and truth to the cases she works on. She works at UDI (Unnatural Death Investigations), a company subsidized by the government. They don't necessarily work on police cases but as a private company that is paid by people who want further investigations done. She is the #2 coroner with a troubled past. While her job doesn't pay much, she's very good at what she does. She also tends to wear her heart on her sleeve.
Mr. Nakado is the #1 coroner of the group, and we find out that he's been suffering in anguish for over 8 years since his girlfriend was found dead in a scrap pile. He somehow performed the autopsy himself (not sure how anyone would be able to do that). After finding a "goldfish" imprint inside of her mouth, he firmly believes his girlfriend was murdered and possibly by a serial killer. He tries to check every body he can find for the same "goldfish" evidence with the hope of catching the killer. He barks at everyone, and is notoriously renowned for calling people, "stupid." He's incredibly smart and gifted despite his sour demeanor. He reminds me a little bit of Dr. House.
Finally, we have Kube Rokuro who is the new part-timer, who has a desire to be a forensic doctor. However, we quickly find that he's working at UDI under false pretenses (selling the secrets and stories of what happens at UDI) to a local newspaper, which acts more like a tabloid. However, after finding himself engrossed in the job as well as being smitten with Dr. Mikoto, we begin to wonder how Rokuro will be able to get out of his dilemma, if at all.
The series is an important one. Japan is a generally peaceful country where people try their best to live in harmony. They don't like to "rock the boat" and will do nearly anything to maintain that harmony, even it means avoiding any kind of confrontation. However, true harmony can never be achieved by turning your back to what is going on; by avoiding confrontation. How can harmony be experienced at the expense of others? It can't be. It's an impossibility, and this is largely the reason why this show exists. With only 170 coroners in Japan, they're desperately trying to get more as well as to change the government policies surrounding autopsies and why they are so vitally important.
While the serial killer story was a fascinating one, my favorite episode was actually the bullying, or as the boy rightfully called it, "Death by Bullying." This was an especially powerful episode that brings a world-wide problem to the forefront. The UDI group race to solve the "murder" of a young high school teen in order to prevent the death of another. However, we quickly find that nothing is as it seems, and the school as well as the other students involved, realize their horrible mistake; allowing the bullying to happen. Yes, where bullying takes place, everyone is involved, and everyone is responsible. I truly hope people take this episode to heart.
There was only one season of this fantastic show, which is easily better than any "CSI" series I've seen, and should be given more seasons. I sure hope a second season is in the works! Not only is the science fascinating but you gotta love the people of UDI!
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Things I liked most:
* The female characters! Although they were still in the minority, they were fantastic! The two main female characters were an equal part of the cast -- in most cases the female forensic doctor was the one who found the deciding clue, even. Both were shown as professionals, with interesting personal lives, own ambitions and well-rounded personalities.
* The team! We get to know all five (hm, six) people of the UDI well, and how they learn and grow together. They start as distant, even uncomfortable colleagues -- and in the end, they work as a well-integrated team. Some of them get some character development, some don't really need it.
* The supporting cast! Even they got a personality, some are more mysterious, some antagonistic, some familial. All of them clearly have their own motivations and goals.
* The acting! The directing! The soundtrack!
* No Romance! Well, over the course of one or two episodes, the male part-timer wonders if the female lead might be interested in him, and it seems he wouldn't have rejected any advances -- but! That fizzles out and is never even thought about again.
(Although, as I read through the other reviews, I see Orangevine's who states that "There is also a love triangle (with the caveat that one must be well-versed in Japanese romance tropes to spot it)". I'm obviously not well-versed, so I don't see it.)
* Minimal gore! We see blood, contusions, discoloration of the skin, some wounds, the occasional part of an organ preserved in formalin. Faces of the deceased are never disfigured, there are a few scenes where we see how the scalpel starts to cut, but never any opened bodies or any inner body parts while the autopsy is in progress.
All in all, it's remarkably respectful of the dead (compared to US productions) and there's never any kind of voyeurism.
* A fascinating insight into Japanese culture! Concerning death, and how the deceased and those who have contact with them are regarded and what it means for the politics around them.
* Last but not least: The cases! Not every case is a crime, but they are all interesting. The first one is noticably from before CoViD. The seventh had me in tears, that one hit close to home for me. The overarching plot was also intense, and was the main focus of the last three or so episodes, and tied all the personalities and their development together.
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Starts Slow, Gets Better
This reminded me of the old CSI series but at times a bit clumsy in weaving the character growth, plots, and crimes into a smooth story. The pilot was slow but as the episodes progressed they got much better. The grating flaw in the production was often the background music which drew attention to itself - was often weird - especially that piano.Esta resenha foi útil para você?
Se nota cuando un guionista es apasionado con su trabajo y creo que en este drama lo refleja a lo largo de los 10 episodios, todos los casos que se presentan son interesantes, variados y algunos de ellos hasta emotivos que encajan muy bien con la canción de cierre del drama: 'Lemon' de Kenshi Yonezu. El cast es muy bueno, puro actorazo pero más allá de sus fortalezas individuales, de verdad les crees que son un equipo y eso se refleja en la química.
Mi única queja es... y para cuándo la 2da temporada?
Esta serie la encuentran en netflix y es otra recomendación garantizada de entretenimiento puro, un drama maduro que ofrece conocer un mundo no muy explorado (la medicina forense) y también reflexionar un poco más sobre la vida y la muerte.
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Cool Forensics Crime Show with Interesting Cases
The show is relatively PG for most of the season with the more gruesome imagery (largely blood splashes) not appearing until the last couple of episodes. The show was episodic until the last two episodes as each told the story of a different victim. Within each investigation was greater discourse into a societal concern, such as bullying, ethics in journalism, vigilante justice, family relationships, and abuse of employees in the workplace.As with most Japanese detective shows, there is a significant combination of psychological and scientific elements to each investigation. The team frequently is forced to better understand both the victim and the assailant to identify the potential cause of death; then they turn to science to prove it. Or perhaps they identify the cause of death and use this information to provide the families with better insight into why their loved one passed on.
In addition to the main UDI team, there is a wide array of assisting characters including the two lead police detectives who often work with UDI; the funeral director who frequently directs cases their way and assists as needed; and various medical professionals who provide their expertise or access to various public records. The acting amongst the side characters was pretty decent, and the cast as a whole was largely relatable. You come to really, REALLY loathe the main villains, but that is a sign of good storytelling.
I will say that Misumi occasionally got on my nerves with her ‘holier-than-thou’ approach, especially towards Nakado. She puts her nose into things and follows people around when it really goes beyond her professional role which is never attractive to me. She makes demands as the story progresses when she is not his superior and is not in a position to take that stance. While her rigid code of ethics is worth praising, she is also relatively unapologetic when that code of ethics harms her friends. Sometimes taking the ethical stance should also be accompanied with recognition and empathy for how one’s actions impact others.
One interesting ethical commentary the viewers took away from the show was the theory that truth is more important than justice for forensic professionals. Their job was not to be responsible for the outcome of their findings but rather to present the scientific facts for the lawyers to handle. This reminds me of the recent real world case where famous forensic scientist Henry Lee was found to have fabricated evidence in multiple cases. Unfortunately, this now calls into question his testimony at more than 8,000 cases over the years.
The show is short but interesting; the technical effects were decent for its production level. It had some comedy mixed within but was largely a serious drama, little of the over-embellishments or over-acting that sometimes appears in Japanese shows. Certainly was a fun watch for the family of an evening and the crimes themselves were relatively well written. Some loose ends (especially at the end — I won’t go into those because I don’t want to spoil it), but by and large the causes of death and motives were unusual and it offered something new. I think I still like Galileo or Mr. Brain better in terms of ‘scientific-themed’ mysteries . . . but this was still a cool drama to watch.
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WHERE’S SEASON 2
I loved how they dived into detailed pathologies, and I was so entertained because this is what we’re currently studying at uni. Before seeing this series, I was considering becoming a pathologist. So cool!! Just sad to know there won’t be a season 2 of this show. I guess I’ll watch the Korean remake: Partners for Justice. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaEsta resenha foi útil para você?
ISHIHARA SATOMI AS HEALTHCARE WORKERS (FOR THE 2937239 TIME)
the first akiko nogi's work i watched and still my favorite drama of hers. there is a quality in her work that made me wants to stay tune, i don't know, it's probably because i feel like her vision and my vision as a viewer is aligned and we both want the same thing for society. she slipped social commentary here and there but unfortunately, she shied away a little bit on hard topic, which i tolerate, because japan has a very preventive culture towards several topics.Ishihara Satomi is, at this point, a skilled health worker at this point. she has became doctors, forensic doctor, pharmacist, it's crazy how she played the entire hospital at this point. not a shade tho, i just found this funny. and she is always charming in every role she played, so it's just okay. her chemistry with the male chracters are all so funny too! also 'Lemon' as unnatural ost is and will always be my favorite song ever! kenshi yonezu rocks!
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Satomi Anatomy
Difficile pour moi d'être honnête sur la critique de Unnatural, tant le casting de rêve que nous offre la production peut supprimer toute objectivité. À commencer par le premier rôle Ishihara Satomi, son joli minois et sa moue bien naturelle pour le coup, peu faire fondre tout homme, même confortablement installé en chambre froide et cela à chacune de ses apparitions dans les dramas. Accompagnée de Kubota Masataka ultra-populaire auprès des demoiselles et bien plus encore auprès de moi-même, depuis que j'ai eu la chance de le rencontrer à la JapEx (qui me manque tant), et qui joue toujours aussi impeccablement le jeune bleu un peu benêt. Si on rajoute en collègue exécrable en la personne de Iura Arata (qui d'autre ?) ou un chef de bureau largué mais sympa comme Matsushige Yutaka (qui d'autre aussi ?), nous avons des rôles secondaires qui donnent à eux seules envie de se plonger dans la série. Et quel bonheur de revoir l'ancien duo pére/fils de Death Note (2015) réuni, même si les interactions sont moins importantes, évidement.Au départ, j'étais un peu déçu de retrouver une fois de plus ses acteurs dans un milieu médical, même s'il faut dire qu'ils portent bien la blouse. Mais j'ai vite compris que cette fois-ci il ne valait mieux pas être un de leur patient et pourtant dieu sait que c'est le rêve de beaucoup d'entre nous. On suit, en effet, les aventures d'un laboratoire privé de médecine légiste. J'étais passé à côté de la série à sa sortie venant juste de visionner Sign (Jap) et ne voulant pas me replonger dans cet univers, disons ... plutôt frisquet. Mais loin du sérieux du susnommé, Unnaturel aborde dès le début les autopsies de manière assez, voir trop, légère. Ça rigole, ça plaisante et ça joue la compétition au-dessus des cadavres, nous faisant ainsi partager le même malaise que Kubata, tout juste débarqué dans le métier.
Manque de respect ou manière de se protéger contre les 7K (à découvrir dans la série, mais évidement il y a kusai), on le découvre bien assez vite, d'autant plus que nos héros ont tous un lourd secret à cacher. Ce qui fait évidemment le sel de ce genre de série. Chaque épisode tourne autour d'un mystérieux meurtre, d'une maladie ou d'un accident qui comme toute enquête bien écrite vous tiennent en alêne jusqu'à leurs résolutions. Mais c'est la vie de nos acteurs préférés qui se dévoile, au fur et à mesure des 10 épisodes qui vous fera les enchainer sans vous arrêter. Même si à la fin du second on commence à imaginer facilement la tournure un peu trop classique des événements futurs. Mais avec autant de persos secondaires, comme le jeune croque-mort ou les collègues du labo qui nous donnent envie de connaitre ce qu'ils cachent également, il y a de quoi rester accrocher. Quand on repense en plus au premier épisode qui nous glace le sang à telle point il raisonne de manière affolante avec les événements de 2020, je me dis qu'il faudrait les prescrire à nos ministres de la Santé.
Production impeccable, suspense bien mené, secrets bien cachés et vie privée bien merdique, Inutile d'aller plus loin dans la dissection de la série, car tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour en faire un excellent drama d'enquête. Juste avant de refermer le corps pour le rendre à la famille, un dernier détaille me titille. Avec un tel Ending, comment se fit-il que la série n'est pas encore eu plus de succès. Jusqu'à en faire un film, ou des séquelles. On parle quand même de Kenshi Yonezu. Mais peut-être que justement, le succès phénoménal (et justifié) de Lemon a complètement embaumer la série. Une disparition, complètement unnatural, due à un Serial Tuber. Affaire classée, donc.
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