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Pika**nchi Life Is Hard Therefore Happy
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1.) I laughed like hell and repeated the beginning of episode 2 (on dramanice.to) it was absolutely hilarious!
2.) I'm not afraid to say I cried a few times during this series!
To me, this seems like a completely different Ohno Satoshi. The story was like a children's book played out, but made for "older kids"... if that makes sense. The cast was fantastic, Hamada Tatsuomi was really wonderful; I liked him on the VS Arashi episode, too! This is a cute, funny, heartwarming show that just so happens to star an Arashi member; instead of an Arashi member making it famous, it's like they both balanced each other out. I seriously recommend watching this show!
Now on to the specials and movie! I can't wait!
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Tokumei! Keishicho Tokubetsu Kaikeigakari
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Every Little Bit Matters
This drama is so much more than the synopsis tells or the trailer shows! I can't even begin to start this review because I have yet to process all of the information of what exactly happened...As I began watching, during the first few episodes, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to continue. It seemed way more focused on the accounting side of things, the office work, than the detective's and their case work for whatever crime happened within the episode(s). But to say this drama started off slow is also wrong, somehow this story seemed to start from the middle as if the viewer already knew the information necessary while continuing to add on to the information episode by episode.
Each criminal case was thoroughly thought out from beginning to end, including a couple that seemed to be the perfect crime. The cast selected for this show was a bit of a gamble, I think, at least to me. When I watch things with Hashimoto Kanna-san I'm not entirely sure if it will be a dramatic serious type story, or a ridiculous comedy type. And after watching from episode one until the finale, I can assure any new viewers that this show is a perfect blend of both comedy and drama genres, showing off Hashimoto-san's talents in the utmost wonderful of ways! I've seen a few shows and movies she has been in, as a star or supporting cast, but this show truly showcased her best efforts and talents as the show progressed.
Though I don't want to say that she was the only cast member worth watching, because in all honesty she is not the reason why I thought of watching this story... Just a lucky bonus, I guess. One of my absolute favorite actors is Sawamura Ikki, and he was at the top of his game during this show in my opinion. Granted, though, I'm biased. While watching this show I got to see a new side of his talents and was truly impressed with the emotion, hard work, and thoughtful detailing he put in to his acting. Also, I "discovered" actor JP who I thought was really amazing during this story and his character was a bit underrated throughout; it didn't seem like they gave his character enough to do or say even though he always seemed very busy. I don't want to say the creators should have added on a few more episodes exploring the background of Team Yukawa, but I feel like there was more for the supporting roles, from Team Yukawa to the crepe shop to the other police station staff, etc, to say. If that made any sense!
The music really had me singing along as well! Gotta practice learning Japanese somehow and I find that music or a tv show/movie is something that really helps. I'm curious as to why a K-Pop boy group was set up in an episode, and it made me wonder where they were going with that storyline if there was one. I don't feel like Hashimoto Kanna was the lone main role during this show, because it felt like everyone from Team Yukawa and the precinct also were leading roles.
This story truly has something for everyone! Drama, mystery, suspense, thrilling twists, curious crimes, tearful moments and moments of pure joy; the thought or plot line for romance is there, but it doesn't truly amount to much of anything, which I don't think this show needed because it definitely showed one of the multiple meanings of "soulmates" extraordinarily well! I am super curious as to how many people can figure out all of the references in the opening, too! Honestly, I dont think anyone would be disappointed watching this show; I laughed, I cried, I got mad, I got sick to my stomach, and I most assuredly could not figure out the true criminal mastermind! I wonder if you can...?
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Just When You Think You've Got It.... What Was It Again..?
Whatever you believe this story is about... You're wrong. You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Detectives... Mysterious cases... First loves... True self... Familial relationships... Friendships... Good and Evil... Coming out of one's shell... Growing as a person... So many different stories wrapped up into one extremely imaginative, genuinely honest, heartbreakingly, gutwrenching, beautiful, funny, thrilling adventure.I have no idea where to begin with this review. Even the above doesn't sound like an entry paragraph, it sounds more like a confused person rambling. Honestly, though, I couldn't pinpoint a genre or theme for this story throughout all 10 episodes. Just when I thought I had the storyline down, just around the corner came an epic curve that shook me to my core! I never could have predicted what happened within each episode, not to mention within the show as a whole.
While there were some familiar pieces within the story or an episode, trust me when I say that I cannot stress enough how original this story is. I've truly never watched, nor read, anything like this. At the beginning, I thought it was going to be a comedy; lots of detective work but a few deadpan-straight man lines here and there, but as I continued watching I realized how far from the truth that theory was. This show is seemingly "perfect", in my own humble opinion. Hilarious yet sad, thrilling yet perhaps a little dull, dramatic yet simplistic. I rarely cry during dramas or movies, however, I was tearing up during at least 3 or 4 episodes while on the edge of my seat, biting my nails in anticipation of what would happen next to the characters or within the show itself.
Soil & Pimp Sessions did such a fantastic job with the music! During the credits for each episode, it was exciting and enjoyable to listen to the music while wondering and/or imagining what was going to happen next! The ensemble cast for this story was remarkable! In the beginning, I was casting another actor to play a role in the show but the more I watched the more I realized the cast chosen was impeccable, and I enjoyed seeing different sides of the actors I already knew of and watching them portray the different roles of mesmerizingly different characters. I've also found a few new-to-me actors that I really enjoyed watching in this show and look forward to seeing more of them!
If you enjoy mysteries so coiled and warped and tightly wound that you can just barely figure out the truth, or watching actors not only meet their limits but surpass them, or listening to wonderful music, or straight-man-deadpan humor, or dramatics that put your stomach in knots... then please give this show a chance!
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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!
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Was It The Real Ending?
I don't know what I expected from this drama, however.... it wasn't what I watched. I don't know if this story exceeded or met or fell below any or all expectations that I had, though it did fall in the range of "extraordinary" and "thrilling".This story was very well cast, at first I wasn't sure if a few cast members were the right choice, though the more I continued to watch, the more I was proven wrong. I haven't watched the first series of "Kurosagi" yet, even though I've planned to, so I'm not entirely sure how this remake matches or creates its own story with the original. The music really added to fueling up anticipation for the next episode so much that I'm still looking forward to more stories of Kurosaki, Yoshikawa, Kashina, and everyone else!
I'm curious about the role of the professor at Yoshikawa-san's college, however; I feel like that part could have been played up a bit more, though I can see why it wasn't toward the end. While there didn't seem to be any cliffhanger, per say, the last episode definitely left me wanting more! I'm glad there wasn't a strong romance side story within this show, I think it would have made the storyline a bit complicated and maybe even a little cheesy.
I really liked watching Hirano Sho's take on his character. Seeing his personality come through and the way he portrayed such strong, intense, scary emotions and roles in each episode was really spectacular. I wonder If this show was tough; emotionally, mentally, or even physically. There are a few parts I wish they drew out longer, or gave more definition too, including a few characters, too.
This show really is one of a kind, keeping in mind I haven't seen the first series that started it all. Watching the cast put their unique spin on each story was fascinating. Though I do have a few questions left, I'm not disappointed with how things turned out, so much as I feel like there should have been more to the story; it sort of felt like, toward the end, that there was a rush on time or something like that. I think this show has great rewatching power, and it is most definitely one of my favorites of Hirano Sho's. I think he was supposed to be something of the "main cast/headliner" for this series, although I don't think that would be fair to the rest of the cast selected; everyone was truly incredible! It was nice to see a new side of Hirano Sho, and a few other actors I like, too.
This story definitely leaves you thinking!
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I have to say that I have written this in a lot of detective show reviews, yet once again: I could not figure out who the suspect was before the end of the episode. This show did confuse me sometimes, however, if you watch carefully you will pick up on each and every detail; though that isn't to say that the motives and suspects are easy to figure out, or that the stories themselves are simple! The entire show itself is very new to me; each plot for each episode is something the writers and actors painstakingly brought to life, their hard work definitely shows!
The acting in this show was superb! Sometimes in shows with a synopsis like this it can become a little cheesy or even a little easy, yet throughout this show it seemed to become tougher and tougher to figure out who did what to who and why! The female actors in this show did not seem like the "please rescue me, prince" type, and the male actors were definitely not "overprotective muscle heads" either. Each person portrayed their character as if it was the most natural thing in the world; as if they were one in the same with their characters. In fact, everyone's acting in this show is so solid and (almost) perfect that it is one of the reasons why I enjoyed the show so much!
There are a few points that seem slightly ridiculous or redundant that make this show a little cheesy, but each episode seems to "fly past" so quickly that you don't really notice them for too long, if at all! I can honestly say that this show could have lasted for much longer than 7 episodes, and there were times where the show itself felt a little rushed or jam-packed; however I also like where it ended.
If you're looking for a challenge, something a little happy yet filled with mystery and thrills, then this is definitely the show for you!
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Somehow this show is definitely not at all what I thought it would be! The synopsis isn't exactly misleading but it isn't exactly the complete truth of such a fantastic show! Though I suppose that is what a synopsis is meant for. This show is such a spectacular showing of crime-fighting, thrills, hilarity, bravado, suspense, and is so exhilarating that I cannot believe I took so long to watch it!Each story does seem to be its own story, however, if you take notice of some tiny details throughout the show then you may notice a few pieces of the complete story build-up to its superb finale. Each episode was filled with interesting stories, some that seem pretty generic to a detective/police genre show, but mostly within these 9 episodes were stories that I've never really witnessed. It's almost like a movie cut up in to separate episodes, but if it wasn't cut into those 9 episodes then I do not believe it would be as fantastic as it was!
The partnership between each member of Unit Zero was something extremely amazing to watch grow from beginning to end; some partnerships seemed a little more built-up than others at the beginning, but it actually proved fulfilling to the entire show. Which, I think, is sometimes rare to see in detective shows, sometimes they just fall out in big fights for multiple episodes, but in this show, it was very interesting to watch as each partnership grew from new members to trusted buddies.
The cast was perfection for this entire show for all 9 episodes! From the main cast to the guests; and to be honest, I only wanted to watch this show because I knew Ito Hideaki was part of the main cast, however, as I continued to watch, I noticed the cast of superb actors and actresses appear in the show! The guest cast was amazing to watch as the story builds to the final climactic event, and I was not expecting a few members of the cast to be such tangible, honest, and very genuine people. The respect for each story, not to mention, for the other members of the cast, production, directors, and writer(s) was so fascinating to watch throughout each episode! Some people I've seen in other shows, however, this is completely wonderful to watch them in such a different light; and some I've seen within the same genre as this show, though while remembering the earlier shows I've seen them in, I can tell that this show is part of a building block that built their amazing skills and talent to become who they are as actors, people, and their characters was built.
Each episode was full of thrills, suspense, laughter, mystery, wit, and vast knowledge of multiple different skills. I think this show is a fantastic "showing" of what dangerous realities a policeman/woman, detective, and even a civilian can face within different realities (and of course in Japanese tv dramas/movies lol). This show is honest, heartfelt, bittersweet, gutwrenching, and extremely intense! This is not a story to miss!
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The cast for this series really threw me for a loop, too! The past 3 series I almost had it all figured out, who was the bad guy and what the end conclusion would be; however, this series had me completely stumped! The actors and actresses left me in awe; I was afraid to watch this series at night, to be honest, because a couple of the episodes (not to mention Kaminuma himself) just gave me the creeps.
This show is full of wonderful talents and is not one to be missed if you enjoy detective, crime, suspense, mystery, police, or thrilling dramas! Also, this is a good series to binge-watch!
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