Underrated Gem!

This show really showed off a side of Katori Shingo that I've never seen before; he became mesmerizing with every episode! I think his voice really helped to create the personality of his character, someone dark and mysterious; tall, dark, and handsome....


This drama quickly became one of my absolute favorites! The plot line itself isn't really new, but it isn't typical or predictable either. Each time I thought I had guessed who the culprit was it felt like I was lead down a winding staircase and the case would go in the complete opposite direction! I like how the cast handled the relationship between Katori Shingo and Sekimizu Arisa's characters, a little stand-offish but still able to work together; sometimes the "i work by myself" attitude can be overbearing or over done, but in this story all of the characters seemed to fit together very well. Every office has their issues, with personal in the same office or higherups or politics, and this story really surprised me in how well they all worked together even though there could have been some differences or contrasting opinions, etc...


The music was a really nice addition! The opening definitely felt extremely compatible to the story, and really helped to create a rise of emotion and expectations for each episode. The story itself moved at a very brisk pace, though nothing was left to the imagination and no part of the story was left out or confused me. I do wish there were more in-depth moments and more episodes too; it kind of feels a little like something has been left out or they're pushing to fill too much within a small(er) space than they may have originally had. I wish there were more episodes or even a special episode, I think this story shows honestly and genuinely what's going on today within society not just in Japan but in every country (fake news, gaslighting, lies, rumors, unrest, etc...)


The last sentence above was a real heavy one and I don't want people to think that that is what I am aiming for with this review, because it isn't. I do think that this drama has similarities to what is going on within the world at this moment, however; the fact that it was filmed during the Covid-19 Pandemic says a lot, too, and they even hint to it during an episode of why there is a lot of "stress" going on. It was wonderful watching the cast of the "Metropolitan Police Department Finger Murder Prevention Office" or "Yubitai" growing and working together in the office as co-workers and as their own person/character. I would love to see more of that; each actor/actress really worked hard to create a certain type of persona for their character and they all really did a superb job!

Leia Mais

Unexpected

I wanted to watch this story for a couple of cast members... At first...

Then the story threw me off my seat!


The story of how theres a "switch" within each one of us is quite surreal. If you think about it, what happens within the last 2 episodes is something that could be completely true. With thrilling mysterious killings and dark pasts that no one likes to talk about, let alone reveal, it's filled with your typical "good cop" vs. "bad cop" co-worker troupes; however, the story doesn't really focus on the history or future, so much as they focus on the present and their current cases.


Watching the growth of the cast as their characters was pretty intense! The dramatics were a little over the top, at first, but as the story builds and builds towards the finale it's like the puzzle pieces of the entire story are finally fitting together to create the "perfect picture". This show was thrilling and full of suspense, a couple of episodes seemed predictable, but in its entirety this show is a hundred miles above other thrilling drama's I've watched. I would like to think it's at least within the top five of the most mystifying criminal drama shows I've seen!

Leia Mais

Genuine Humanity

I wanted to watch this show based on the character list alone, I haven't read the manga or watched the anime (but this made me want to!), and I have to say that 1 - you don't need to read the manga or watch the anime to understand what's going on, and 2 - this is one of the most genuinely real shows I have seen in a long time.


This show is full of honest and real human/humanity moments; without excluding anything, the cast and creators of this show have managed to create a show that is full of human kindness, sadness, anger, frustrations, happiness, courage, trials and tribulations, and so many more things that affect/effect a community... or in this case an apartment complex.


Without being too dark, or giving too many spoilers if any, this show has managed to make me cry, laugh, worry, and get frustrated within a handful of episodes. The characters within this story worked very hard to bring such an important story to life; this story is a very big underestimated gem!

Leia Mais

Genius Mystery With Fun Adventure

This story is reminiscent of a couple of dramas I've seen before and when you add in the humor it's almost as if this two-episode special is a parody of those two other shows. Which is what makes this quite enthralling to watch, along with the wonderful cast!


I think Kitamura Takumi was the perfect choice for the main character of this story. The way he responds or reacts to a character, or a few words is one of the funniest things I've seen in a while, yet still remaining subtle. Nothing he did was exaggerated or too over the top or goofy. It wasn't a "smart funny" that a lot of people probably wouldn't understand either.


I think the supporting cast was fantastic as well! Each one worked well with the other and the support for the follow throughs and the story in general was spectacular to watch! I wish there were more episodes to watch because the continuation would be something amazing! I would love to watch the cast solve even more crimes!

Leia Mais

Fantastic Season

This show tells a wonderful, funny, heartwarming, unique, mysterious, bittersweet, talented, thrilling, and genuine story about honesty, humanity, and relationships with others and with oneself.


Each case brought the story and cast of wonderful characters together as a team of more than just co-workers; the respect and rapport between each person was almost tangible and made them seem like family. It was great having an episode showcasing each person's strong points that also showed the strong points of how "Zero Gakkari" works together.



The "main" storyline was somewhat the same as the other seasons within this series (1-4) but it doesn't make the show seem boring at all! If anything it seems to tie all the seasons together. Not once did I feel lost within this show, even though there was a couple backlash scenes.


I laughed, cried, and worried with the cast of Zero Gakkari and hope more people will enjoy it too!

Leia Mais

Realistic Dramatics

An epic, intelligent, dramatic, hilarious, bittersweet, talented, heartwarming, unique, genuinely real, and full of honest, respectful actors and actresses! The careers, techniques, and admiration for a multitude of hospital careers as doctors and nurses, cleaning and cooking staff, and the patients too was very wonderful to watch.


If you're looking for a dark drama, then this show is about 45% there, and the story does grow more and more interesting as each character's "main back story" comes to light.


If you're looking for some romantic drama then this may not be the show for you, there is some hinting but no love triangles and the importance of friendships, co-workers respect, family, and a relationship with oneself is pretty prominent instead. It is very entertaining and really fantastic to watch the relationship of everyone within the story become closer as co-workers, friends, and grow as a person themselves and as their character's story.


The series in itself does seem to try and teach lessons along the way throughout the 10 episodes but they don't focus only on the lesson to be learned and it's not heavily religious or preachy. This show is one of the most realistic, beautifully created, hilarious, honest, heartwarming yet bittersweet shows I have ever seen.

Leia Mais

Extraordinary Series

This show is the third in one hell of a series! I watched season one and fell in love, then fell once again while watching the second season... this third season has sent me through a whirlwind!


I binge-watched this season within 2 days! Each episode was thrilling and full of mesmerizing, beautifully captured, suspenseful, and raw stories. The cast was so amazing and full of honest emotions that a few of the episodes not only scared the hell out of me but gave me goosebumps, made me angry, and made me cry... In one episode I even wanted to yell at my screen in worry, frustration, and empathy for a character.


This show is fast paced but you never get lost or fall out of touch with following the story. The report between the cast members as their characters and their own person is so fantastic its almost tangible, and watching it grow throughout the series was wonderful! I do believe that this series is even better than it's American predecessor!

Leia Mais

Original Yet Familiar

This show feels like it's drawn from some very prominent, popular, meaningful, and significant Japanese dramas... Yet still has paved it's own way to filling those very same prominent and significant shoes as its predecessors.



This show is intense and quite thrilling! Each episode brings about new mysteries that are mesmerizing and extremely entertaining. I have laughed, cried, held my breath, got angry, sympathized and empathized; each story threw me for a loop but there are some predictable parts, too.



The relationships (romance first) are subtle throughout the entire show but they are also pretty evident, too, though not cheesy or overbearing either. I very much like and enjoy seeing a lot of strong female actresses in this "male dominated job" series. Each actor and actress stepped in to their roll whole heartedly and completely submerged themselves in to their characters career(s).

The strong respect for partners/co-workers (friendships next) is also mildly subtle, yet still visible. It's not heavy or excessive, but it isn't cheesy, the "friends to enemies" type(s) is tangible but is also pretty simple yet not idiotic; and each character freely seems to share their opinion openly and freely multiple times throughout the show, which is what makes it so funny and interesting. It seems like the actors/actresses' report with each other has also flown into how their characters treat and act with each other, too.



If you are looking for a darker police drama then this may not be for you, though it does have dark and mystifying moments! This show is mesmerizing, hilarious, honest, unique, different yet familiar, strong, full of talent, and definitely feels raw and real (as in true to the character's actual persona). If you are just getting started in the Japanese dramas or are a "veteran watcher" or are looking for a new genre to dive in to, then this show seems to have it all!

Leia Mais

I began this drama because of the cast and the story synopsis, even though they say "don't judge a book by its cover" (lol) and I have to say that I didn't really have high hopes or high expectations for this drama going in, but it absolutely did not disappoint! This charming, enchanting, one-of-a-kind story is absolutely worth watching!

Even though I said this show is "one-of-a-kind", I have to say that seems to be about 50/50 true. The more I watch the more I can sort of tell that some episode's stories are familiar and some are brand new story's. There were similarities to other stories, but there were also similarities to a few shows as a whole, and there were brand new moments within the series in its entirety. Not one episode, minute, or second is not worth watching or in any way disappointing!

The title and one of the characters is hilarious alone, and partly my reason alone for watching; I don't want to spoil it but a hint for it would be "it's a language thing". If I'm being honest, too, this show definitely has some "Hero", the drama starring Kimura Takuya, vibes. While some of the humor was a fall for me, it was pretty hilarious how the creators, writers, directors, and cast brought forward the comedy and laughter within and from each episode. Another hint for this would be "dog".

The actors/actresses were very talented! The actress for Mizuki, Murasaki Maaya was very talented and a real joy to watch as her character grew throughout the show, her story really created a nice high point for the show. But then again, I really liked episode six; this show definitely has a few tear-jerker episodes, so keep the tissue box handy. The guest cast for each episode was full of surprises and I was thrilled to see who would be joining the cast for each episode! This is going to sound hypocritical but I don't look at the guest list as much as I look at the main character and/or supporting character cast lists. I'm more likely to watch a drama or movie with actors and/or actresses I'm familiar with, which I think is true for many viewers, than I am a cast of unknowns; however, if I like the synopsis and the supporting (and sometimes even the guest cast) then I'll watch the show or movie.

The story of this show was very well told. Each episode was full of stories told from a very genuine and honest human viewpoint. Extremely relatable and full of heart, warmth, and laughter; each episode was told with strength of character and genuine raw, real humanity! Absolutely a show to be watched and treasured!

Leia Mais

One of the most thrilling, adventurous, suspenseful, and dramatic dramas I have watched in a long, long time! The story was most certainly original and the student's problems are definitely unique to any other school/student drama I've seen (or read in manga or manhwa) before. However, there is a familiar feeling within the depths of this show that I just can't figure out. I can't tell if it's because of the story, or if I recognize the cast in other roles from other shows I've seen, or if I recognize and am comparing the story (even faintly so) within another story. Though honestly, I have to say that I wanted to watch this story because of Fujiwara Tatsuya, however, I am so glad I watched this because of the ENTIRE cast!

To be honest, though, when I watched the first three episodes or so, I just didn't understand why Fujiwara Tatsuya was cast in a very unusual setting. Though the more I watched this show I was surprised with how well he fit within this story as his character, Shimada Ryuhei. He taught so well, in his unorthodox way, and to watch him in action was superb! Watching the growth of each person throughout the show, as their character and as themselves, was insanely amazing!

Even though this show is mostly kid actors, the story(ies) and plot line(s) are pretty adult and mature for being at a middle school, however, I think that the cast, director, and screenwriters really created a very special and exciting story! With each episode, a new student was brought to the front as the "main character" and their problem was brought to light, and at the end of each episode while it seemed like the student was put on the backburner... it wasn't. Even though each student's issues seemed to be resolved, they all seemed to melt within the entire story as a whole. If I'm being honest, each student's issue is about 50% relatable and 50% not relatable, at least to me. Though I'm sure that seems to be an even balance for the millions that live on this earth (if that makes any sense).

This show is epic! The amount of talent within its cast, the writers, the staff, the director, producers, etc... Is one of a kind! Each character seems to have their own sense of justice, conceited or selfish, even the students! Each student was supremely talented; not one person seemed out of their league or too inexperienced. In fact, I was so drawn in by each students acting talents that I completely lost track of the timing of the episodes! The story was so enthralling that I wanted to marathon it straight through to see how the students would cope and deal with each problem that came their way. And I was not disappointed! Each unique problem was settled by a very unique consequence, reason, or action.

The story of this entire show was created so thoroughly that no stone was left unturned from beginning to end! Each episode created such a thrilling and gut-wrenching story that built up to such a creative, epic, unique, and exciting end! Even though I wish there was a more complete follow-up to the ending, I promise you that if you watch this show, I promise you will enjoy it all to its fullest!








(if you've made it this far, here a line I found intriguing: "spite is frightening." this one line was truly telling for not only that episode or even that specific character, but for the entire show; though maybe not for each and every single character, this one line was heavy enough for me to consider it for many characters actions, teachers and students and parents alike.)

Leia Mais

This is one of the most absurd, hilarious, kind, gentle, genuine, unique, talent-filled, honest stories about life, love, friendship, happiness, anger, sadness, and rollercoaster of happenings and emotions that is life!

Meguro Mio (Koshiba Fuka) seems to take the lead through this series, and that is how it's written to be her story! However, after watching it throughout in its entirety, I've come to believe that this show is really about a handful of characters and not only one person or youkai.

To watch each episode play out is nothing short of amazing! Each character has their own story and throughout the series you get to watch them grow from someone scared, tired, sad, angry, (for lack of a better word) stupid, or even prejudice to be their true selves. The comedy is a bonus!

Most of the reviews on here seem to say (and correct me if I'm wrong!) that this show is a completely hilarious comedy tory, but I promise you beneath all of the comedy it is most definitely a life lesson for everyone within each episode! This show is a very good way to beat the Covid-19 Quarantine blues!!

Leia Mais

Spirals of Mystery and Confusion

I want to start by saying this show is both familiar and one of a kind. Ridiculous, I know. Honestly, though, I have never seen a story like this before; however, there were also a few familiar pieces. Though most were cliches or repetitive plot lines of the Japanese crime/police/mystery drama genres, I think, This story is quite unique on it's own, but paired with such a fantastic cast it is truly mesmerizing!

When I began the first episode, I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to keep watching, though this show does grow on the viewer the more they watch. Almost identical to a roller coaster, slowly and slowly the story climbs to the top of the climax (aka hill) before launching into the finale!

I could never predict who was the true culprit behind the main story/plot line, I tried and tried and had finally convinced myself that either the show wasn't complete or they were going to leave a cliffhanger for a season two or a movie/special. I 100% did not see the ending coming!

All of the intrigue and mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, and the unexplained had a strong pull on me to keep wanting to know more and more. Toward the end of the last two episodes, things began to feel a little rushed, like they were running out of time or something; but never once did the story become too cheesy or inexplicable, or too farfetched. A few of the cases had me biting my nails with worry. The feelings in this story are so raw and relatable that they're almost tangible through the screen! The actors cast for this incredible story really put forth their most spectacular work!

Leia Mais

Whatever you think this story is... You're wrong

Never in my life have I watched such a backwards, upside down, twisty, spiraling roller coaster like I have this show! At no moment in any episode could I even GUESS who the criminal was, not only for that part of the story but for the story in it's entirety!

The cast truly pulled off a remarkable show! There were a couple of people I was unsure of at the beginning, however, the more I watched, the more I was mesmerized by the cast and the story... Everything fit together perfectly! Each member of the cast is an incredible member picked for their role to show off such a fascinating show!

I had to take a break from watching the final two episodes because of the intensity from the first six. However, I hadn't seen much intensity until I watched the last two! I believe that the last two episodes are extraordinary. I don't think I've seen a mystery, suspense show any more captivating or curious than this story. I honestly figured out one person the third or fourth episode in, though now I definitely see that person in a completely different light!

I promise you that you will most definitely never guess the ending! This show has so many plot twists and turns that it truly is like ivy growing around and around and around..... Do not be deceived! Trust me. you won't want to miss this!

Leia Mais

Different Forms, Different Meanings of Love and Heartbreak

This story was the absolute definition of its synopsis... And then some. Do not watch this if you're ONLY looking for a happy-go-lucky love story/family story/coming-of-age story. There is so much more to this story than those genres alone; considering my own life and circumstances, this story is one of the most relatable, gut-wrenching, yet heart-warming stories I have seen in a long time.

A true story, in its own right, of love in all of its forms; good, bad, ugly, first, last, friends, family, new and/or old relationships, too. Toward the end, it was almost hard to watch. This story showed the most realistic view of love, friendship, family, new beginnings, and old relations. Honestly, it was one of the most relatable, raw, and real stories; incredibly true to life in more ways than one. Without sharing spoilers, because I truly would like a lot of people to watch and experience this show, to explore the feelings of this show within themselves as they watch.

This story showed the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of life and all of its characteristics and events. Meeting new people, making new friends, starting new adventures, trying new things, exploring or creating new versions of yourself... From birth, through life, and then some... All of life's ups, downs, uncomfortable moments, exhilarating moments, and everything in between. A thrilling adventure, indeed!










*** SPOILER ***

"Every spring, the cherry blossoms bloom, but you need a ticket to view them: your life. As mentioned in the Kokinshu, the cherry blossoms bloom every year, but in order to see them, you need to continue living. For both flowers and people, it's meeting once in a lifetime. Wholeheartedly enjoy every single moment as it will never come again. Now, dance and go crazy as much as you like. Everyone, let's be intoxicated with the joy of living for a while."

Leia Mais

Beware Watching on an Empty Stomach!

A cozy, curious, satisfying story showing off Japan's different lively and beautiful towns full of delicious, umami, and stunning foods and beverages, while including a rich and in depth history of, not only Japan and/or a certain town, the food and drink featured. However, be careful not to watch on an empty stomach; honestly, it can get dangerous...

Each episode features specialties from the town that Takamiya Susumu-san (played by Mashima Hidekazu) is visiting; the variety of interesting feasts range from the adventures to the comforting "soul food" types. Each meal is thought out and planned from beginning to end, including snacks, with a lot of thought and careful selection to ensure a special and tasty meal to enjoy. The delicate choosing seems to be tangible through the screen; each episode looked immensely fun!

I really enjoyed watching the interactions between Susumu-san and the local artisans, chefs, restaurant or station staff, and citizens around the town as well. It really became a close tie in what I enjoyed watching more, his adventures around the towns he visited, the food and drink he carefully and happily chose, or the characters of the show! It was nice seeing more of his "home life" throughout a couple of episodes, though I really liked seeing Zhiwei-san enjoying Japan while thinking of his family and trying new things, too; I felt as if I (the viewer) were participating along with Susumu-san's "food prep"!

Learning about the history of Japan is one thing, but I believe that learning while engaging one or two, if not all, of the human senses (see, taste, hear, touch, position, etc) while learning can be extremely helpful! Like in a couple of episodes they showcased a few moments of Japanese history dating back to (if i remember correctly) the 1800's and while doing so the story showed off a few special drinks or food dishes that were not only popular during the time period but even now, during this day and age... In theory, if I went back to study about that certain time period, it's possible the food and/or drink I tasted when I first learned the history could help me remember and remember and remember for a long time.... Hopefully.

This show has a sneaky way of showing off the best, unknown secrets of food, drinks, and the country itself, making me want to adventure outside of my comfort zone and try new things! Tofu, mushrooms, crab, sea bream, prawns, liver, sake, craft beer, etc... A mesmerizing comfort show specializing in adventure, history, culture, umami, and even a little bit of the love of traveling. If you're interested in learning about Japan, whether that be the culture or food or beverages, or enjoy a slow-paced calming story of lively adventure, then please give this show a try!

Leia Mais