Why “zero big-name cast”? …Surprising Element of the Greatly Acclaimed Monthly 9 Drama “Lie Unraveling Rhetoric” by Word of Mouth

The numbers are subtle, but… why it is highly acclaimed

Drama numbers for the October season are almost set, and some dramas seem to be dropping out of the ratings race. Among these dramas, one stands out from the crowd. It is “Uso Kai Rhetoric” (Fuji Television Network).

According to its official website, the drama is a live-action adaptation of a popular comic book by Toshitsu Todo, which has sold a total of 1 million copies,

The story follows the unique duo of a “poor, debt-ridden detective with a very keen eye for detail” and a “detective with a strange ability to hear through lies,” as they solve difficult cases involving a mixture of “lies” and “truth,” as if they were a twisting thread. A retro-modern, back-alley detective action drama, a retro-mystery with a poor detective and a strange psychic, in which “lies” and “truth” are mixed up.

The detective is played by Osamu Suzuka (24), and the owner of the “supernatural power” is played by Honoka Matsumoto (27).

The story takes place in a fictional town called Tsukumoyacho in the early Showa period. Unlike modern dramas, studio sets and costumes must be elaborate, and the production cost is likely to be higher than for a regular drama, but the story is well produced and has a good atmosphere.

As for the ratings, the first episode aired on October 7 had an initial rating of 7.1%, and the second episode dropped 0.6 points to 6.5%. In the third episode, the ratings dropped further to 6.0%, and in the fourth episode, the ratings picked up slightly to 6.7% (according to Video Research, Kanto region, households: same as below), but this is still not a passing grade.

A producer at a commercial TV drama production company said, “Mystery dramas are not easy to produce.

A producer at a commercial TV drama production company said, “Mystery dramas fail unless they are carefully crafted. In the first episode, the murderer was arrested, but the child was only rescued and the murder case was not solved. Perhaps this is a foreshadowing of future developments, but it seems half-hearted.

In some cases, a weak cast does not help the numbers. Since this work cost a lot of money for sets, costumes, and location shooting, some people are saying that the popular actors are not in the cast because they were too stingy with their appearance fees.

It is true that in the past, “Tsuki 9” has often starred former Johnny’s celebrities such as Takuya Kimura (51) and very popular actors such as Masaharu Fukuyama (55). In this drama, two popular but “small” actors star in the lead roles. Veteran performers such as Koji Okura (50) as the tavern owner and Hiroki Konno (45) as the grocer are flanked by veteran performers, but there are no big names.

Some are worried that the show will continue to stall.

Will word of mouth on SNS “revive” the numbers?

However, after the broadcast of the fourth episode, the following comments of praise began to flow in.

“I love Hoka Matsumoto, who expresses Kanoko’s feelings so well.
“I love the role of Osamu Suzuka. His charming face and the role of the haughty detective are a perfect match and he is very likable. I hope they make it into a movie.

Why is it that the tide is turning? A TV magazine writer explains.

A TV magazine writer explains, “I think this drama is more enjoyable as a fantasy than a mystery. I think the viewers have come to understand that. The two lead actors also seem to be well received as they faithfully reproduce the image of the original characters.

Many viewers are now enjoying the drama by recording or streaming it. They have started to say, “This drama is surprisingly interesting,” and they are sharing their comments on social networking sites. Now, it is slowly spreading by word of mouth.

Will Fuji’s signature “Geki 9” show its mettle?