Drama Review: Keizoku 2: Spec

[dramasoliloquy]

This has already been quite a year for me with Japanese dramas. I've already watched three dramas this year, which is around how many I watch per year. And I'm definitely going to be watching more, with the upcoming remake of You're Beautiful, etc

I guess when you watch something good, you want to see if there's more like it. So here I present the something good I've watched, with minimal spoilers, Keizoku 2: Spec.

 

Drama Title: Keizoku 2: Spec
Genre(s): Suspense, Mystery, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural
Original language: Japanese                                                       Year: 2010
Episodes: 10                                                                               Pacing: Brisk
Director: Tsutsumi Yukihiko, Imai Natsuki, Kaneko Fuminori    Screenwriter: Noshiogi Yumie

Cast of Characters:  Erika Toda as Saya Toma, Ryo Kase as Takeru Sebumi, Raita Ryu as Kotaro Nonomura (pictures above in order)

Pet Cliches (Pros): Special Powers

Pet Peeves (Cons): Abusive Male Lead, Bickering Couple Syndrome, Genius At Work!

In Brief: After being demoted to a special division of the police, MIshou, the new recruit Takeru learns of the existence of people with special powers (SPECS), such as ESP, telekinesis and so on.

The department proceeds to solve cases involving the specs, with the help of a comic relief police chief Nonomura and brilliant, but odd, Toma, who goes around with her arm in a cast after a mysterious accident.

Soundtrack: Swoon. I. Just. Love. It. I... words cannot convey my love for this soundtrack. Music goes such a long way with me. As soon as I heard the main theme in this drama, I knew immediately it would go into my top soundtrack list, which consists of dramas such as Save the Last Dance, It Started With a Kiss, not to mention Cowboy Bebop, and Samurai Champloo.

Sweeping, somber, coupled with certain scenes (such as in episode 5 kiss kiss), the soundtrack enhances the sense of danger and looming destruction the characters face at times. 

(For once, not just a clown, Chief Nonomura, and Takeru crying. Episode 5. Oh yeah!)

Favorite Scenes: I have a favorite episode. In fact, I think it's the highlight of the show really. Episode 5 ups the action, the suspense, the emotion of the series. 

Smiles: The crown jewel of episodes in my book, and the episode that changed me from a passive mildly interested viewer to a can't-wait-to-watch-more viewer, episode 5.

The music plays an important part in this episode, as all three members of the department show some real emotion. The chief leaves off being funny for awhile, and Toma and Takeru are less stoic then usual, some of Toma's past is revealed and the stakes are raised.

(Chief Nonomura's girlfriend and Takeru throwing books at Toma. Haha.)

Frowns: Stupid chief Nonomura for the majority of the time. He's a character just for laughs, but I'm not really into laughing at a guy chasing a girl probably young enough to be his grandkid while he's still a married man.

Also played for laughs just as inappropriately? Takeru hitting Toma. Let's set aside the fact where she's a woman and he's a guy. She's also been injured and is his partner. Plus, Takeru's character seems like such a by the rulebook guy. Would he really act so unprofessional? It's played for laughs, but the whole thing left a bitter taste in my mouth instead.

Parent's Rating: PG-13

Where to watch this?: Can find this anywhere

MY BIAS: The rating of this drama will reflect in large part my love for the drama's soundtrack. Thus, it will probably be an inflated score.

Final rating:                                                           Great!
I loved episode 5 and most of the episodes after that was interesting, but I found episodes1-4 to be rather mediocre. The cases were pretty typical, except for the use of special powers.