What if Sherlock Holmes was a foodie, not a druggie? What if he and Moriarty (and Watson) had a thing? What if Sherlock Holmes was Japanese?

If you had ever been intrigued by any of those possibilities then Goro Akechi, The Gourmet Detective is a show that you will like. Even if none of the above interest you, but you're nonetheless interested in some light-fare to act as a palette cleanser for the tragic dramas of the A-Dramaverse than tuck right in. You will not regret giving this eight, or so, hours of your life.

Basically, you get to follow the adventures of an uber-smart detective and his cute, lovable assistant as they actually solve zero crimes. The positives of the drama are the acting, which is very strong, the characters, which are all likeable--even the villains-- and the cases which I think are meant to be taken more as social commentaries on contemporary Japanese society than as mysteries meant to have a resolution.

The negatives are the confused motivations of the main character and the rather OPness of the villain(s). Although, that is redeemed when their seeming immortality is played for laughs. I also feel that the villain is a character archetype in Japanese entertainment which might be lost to foreigners. I see her more as the fox-spirit trickster type than as a real, grounded character. I am not Japanese or even very literary, but I have watched my fair share of anime, and I am fairly sure I have encountered such characters before. That allowed me not to raise my eyebrows too high at some of the stuff she pulls.

Anyways, if you watch this, just bear in mind that this is a melodrama, a very melodramatic melodrama. Do not expect anything vaguely 'realistic' and you will have a blast.