Kusanagi Tsuyoshi’s “War of the Trap” and Sho Sakurai’s “Occupation of the Great Hospital” are also… “frustrating but addictive” goofy dramas “a force to be reckoned with”.
It’s frustrating.” “I’m beat.” …… When I interviewed many entertainment journalists and TV magazine editors about dramas, this is what I heard this season. They mean that a drama series they had underestimated would be boring turned out to be more interesting than they had imagined and, to their chagrin, they were hooked on the drama.
These voices got us curious, so we decided to conduct another round of interviews on the same theme. I took a ranking of “unexpectedly addicting and frustrating dramas” as I called them. I would like to introduce the top three, and No. 1 was one that was just too unexpected.
No. 3: “War of the Traps” (Kansai Television, Mondays at 10:00 p.m.)
The “Trap” series has been a hit series with Tsuyoshi Kusanagi. However, I was skeptical about how the previous film would fare with Reiwa, since it had a “blandness” that was only popular because it was eight years ago. However, when I opened the door, I found it to be the most interesting of the season. Kusanagi’s acting is not particularly good, but it has a strange power that draws you in. I felt the underlying strength of the former SMAP members.
The story is about a weak man taking on powerful politicians, but the end of each episode has a refreshing Mito Komon-like feel to it. I think it is good that the story coincides with the time when the Kishida administration is doing whatever it wants and the people are feeling frustrated because they have nothing to do. I think one of the reasons for the strong viewer ratings is that the show is helping the people of Japan to feel better about their situation.
No. 2: “Brush Up Life” (NTV, Sundays at 10:30 p.m.)
A drama in which the main character dies in an accident and starts his life over again from a baby. I thought it was of the “Soyada Toako and Her Three Former Husbands” or “Quartet” type that has recently been popular among the subculture, and I was reluctant to watch it, thinking, ‘I don’t like this kind of conversational drama,’ but it is very interesting. ……
The reason for this is, after all, the god-level acting skill of the lead actress, Ando Sakura. She brings out 120% of the charm of Bakarhythm’s surrealistic script. The scene in which she nettles her former male colleague, saying, “If you touch Reina-chan, I won’t shut up about it,” was especially great (laughs). I can’t stop giggling every time.
(Entertainment writer) “Sakura Ando is good, but I think the fact that they used actors like Hana Kuroki, Shota Sometani, and Momori Matsuzaka for small roles and didn’t cut corners on details is also a big factor. It may not be to everyone’s liking, but for the first time in a long time, we can fully enjoy the actors’ performances in a drama.
No. 1: “Daihyoin Sukyo” (NTV, Saturdays at 10:00 p.m.)
A group of terrorists called “Oni” take over a hospital equipped with state-of-the-art defense equipment. Sho Sakurai, a former detective, takes up the challenge. At first, it had the feel of “Die Hard” and “Paper House,” a Netflix drama about a bank robbery in Spain, but then it became a time-limit film that even “24” would be proud of. ……
The high tempo of this drama keeps me interested, and the ridiculousness of the storyline is entertaining. In fact, it is becoming a drama that I look forward to every time I watch it, but it is also one that I am slightly embarrassed about and have a hard time honestly saying I like it (laughs).
I can’t say that I like this drama, but I can’t say that I like it.
Thinking about it, Bruce Willis in “Die Hard” and Jack Bauer in “24” are not the coolest action actors. That’s why they were so appealing to me, and maybe Sho Sakurai has broken new ground in a way that I didn’t expect. ……
You never know what will stick until you open the lid. The only thing that can be learned from this result is that it is not good to be averse to food.
Interview and text: Nanako
Born in Ehime Prefecture. After working at a broadcasting station, became a freelance writer. She specializes in interviews with celebrities and analysis of popular events, and is always checking out serial dramas and popular Japanese movies. She is a well-known beautiful writer in the magazine industry.
Photography: Takahiro Kagawa, Yusuke Kondo, Kenji Sugawara, Ichiro Takatsuka, Keisuke Nishi