Kiriyama Renn is an enigmatic and super cool assassin named Mirage, in this almost Bond like thriller, with a unit called K13 in Japan who has the license to kill and clean up messy organizations and people. The police system seems corrupt and vile enough as always, and the villains are mysterious. The main antagonist listens to this recurring opera and each time you hear it, you know the villains are gaining an upper hand.
Watch this for the cool music, a very well choreographed set of fight scenes in each episode, and Kiriyama who has little speaking parts but lots of fast action, and a cool car. In fact, the action scenes are short and swift but that is what one looks forward to each episode. They are almost movie quality choreography and design, with each fight scene showing off Mirage's empty hand, or weaponed, or shooting prowess. Mirage is a mysterious killer who dispenses with his missions efficiently, stylishly, and without fail. Even though Kiriyama is not a martial artist, the fight scenes are quite convincing and intricate.
And if you can ever figure out who really are the good and bad guys in the Japanese government/police force, good luck...

Read More

Fantastic acting, production value, cinematography, sound track. It was pretty much a movie production stretched into drama. Ayano Go is amazing here as the 'monster' created from dead people, where a scientist had altered some genetic material and revived. He learns about what it means to live, be a human, and human emotions like love, fear, displacement, friendship. Less sci-fi and more fantasy, and slower paced than it could be, still, its beautiful tone throughout is worth watching every minute. Finely calibrated performances from Ayano and Nikkaido, at a level you don't normally see in TV dramas. Take out the annoying side characters and you have a perfect drama.

Read More

Amami Yuki is phenonmenal as always in every role she plays, but this lively chef who holds an unbeatable, upbeat attitude, is the best. She excels in playing tough women who overcomes all odds, while holding court with her special aura and her awesome skills in the characters that she plays.
This drama is mouthwatering with the food on display, and many scenes of her cooking. A French chef who met her downfall (orchestrated by her business partner), she nonetheless lived for one reason, and that is her insatiable love for cooking. She charged ahead despite obstacles at every turn, and manages to overcome them because her passion for cooking brought out the best in the food, and people loved her, and her cooking, for it. For every artist who lives for their craft, this drama is a gem that presents this aspect of life extremely well.
The main villain, the restaurant owner of La Reina, is a perplexing character hellbent on destroying her for no apparent reason. The other supporting characters are mostly just silly and fill in the blanks needed for an audience for all the shenanigans. Good thing the drama focuses on the chef and not on these side characters.
I would have loved to have school lunches cooked by a 3 star chef everyday! American school lunches are worse than dirt, never mind gourmet cuisine. Aside from feeling envy of the adults who queue up for the food, I envy the kids who eat her cooking everyday. Wish that somewhere in real life, someone like her decides on public service!
This drama maintains a good pace and never sags. The music is nondescript though, so don't expect much. All in all, an excellent food drama.

Read More