Episode 6 is really really good! It's where the action really starts and the plot thickens, and it's no longer a "comedy show". And the whole atmosphere is getting darker as well. I'd rate this between 8/10 to 8.5/10 depending on how they will present the next 4 episodes.
Watching Episode 2 now. I'm happy to see the "Exit 8" walking man (Kochi Yamato) in there as guest. 😊 I expected him to get more exposures after that movie.
Watched Ep. 1 and to be honest, I didn't enjoy it. Way too conversation-heavy but without any meaningful substance (just going in circles). This could fit into an indie-movie type presentation for nerds, but for a mainstream serial drama, unless there's a huge plot-twist that switches this into a thriller movie (with murder, etc. that would turn Tsuchida Ayana character into another Ichiko -type) in the next few episodes, I don't see anything that would gain me any interests.
Looking at the lineup of casts (Sugisaki Hana, Narita Ryo, Okayama Amane, etc.): "Me want to watch, even it's not my kind of drama!" After watching episode 1: Dropped
Clever comedy with a lot of puns. I like it so far! Matsuda Ryuhei just being Matsuda Ryuhei, while at the same time also fits to any character he plays in his movies & dramas.
One of the best dramas coming from WOWOW so far! Especially Sakurai Yuki's acting here in exceptional! She should have more leading roles in intense dramas. She did very well in NHK drama "Eat, Sleep, then Wait for Happiness" earlier this year, but that's a relaxing drama that didn't really show what she's capable of in terms of acting.
Teaser just up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuBxP-JolxM Looks like it's not a "remake" nor a "sequel", but using actual scenes taken from the serial & re-edited it to fit into the movie format (cinematography is already top-notch). They might show the ending scenes & some other scenes that weren't shown in the drama.
It's a "current trend" in Japan, just like Jishin no Atp de (After The Quake) they re-edited scenes from serial to a full feature-film movie.
Sai is going to be put into the movie (feature-film) format. Release date: 2026/02/20 This is one of the most terrifying Japanese thriller in recent years, and re-editing it into the movie format will be great. It's gonna be interesting. Teaser just up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuBxP-JolxM
why do Japanese authors have such weird fetish for adult men going after high schoolers😒
Most likely due to the "idol culture" influence for so many years, where most of these female idols are around 13-15 yrs old, while their fans/supporters (oshi) are mostly single adult male ranging from 20s to middle-aged (50+). Their legal system is also head-shaking. Their "age of consent" is 16 (used to be 13 a few years back), while the "legal drinking age" is 20.
If you're into torrent, you can download both the raw files and the Japanese soft-sub/closed-captions at nyaa.si Search from the words "themis houtei" You can then use online subtitle translators to translate from Japanese to any language you desire then save it. Watch offline using any media player app that can accept soft-sub files. Please note that close-captions are written verbatim (meant for hearing-impaired), so there are errors mostly in pronouns when translated, because in Japanese sometimes pronouns are not spoken as subject in casual conversations. Also, things like letters and other written elements can't be translated because they don't require closed-captions.
But this is the last resort, if there's no fansubbing available.
Watching Oshi no Ko after Scandal Eve. She was given very similar role with a pretty much the same emotional situation in both dramas, but she did her very tense acting for that similar role so much better in Scandal Eve. Glad to see her acting has improved a lot in just within a year. Looking forward to watch her again in Climbing For Life.
Thank you for your review. Are there any trigger warnings you can share for this one? Are there any depictions…
You're welcome. No, there's nothing to the explicit extent in terms of visualization. The only "trigger warning" is the potential "emotional disturbance" due to the nature of the content brought by this drama.
6.5/10Trying so hard to "look cool" by mixing Gen-Z style romantic-comedy with thriller/mystery genre.…
FYI. Kageyama Yuka also plays a support role in "Scandal Eve", and Narumi Yui plays in "Miss King". These 2 dramas are my Top 2 for 2025, and both are must-watch if you like darker atmosphere like Synanthrope. Yamagishi Santa, the director of Synanthrope is also the screenwriter/director of Miss King.
Just finished watching the final episode. Wow! I'm moved by it. For me this is pretty much 2025's best serial drama, followed by Miss King at #2, then Hirayasumi at #3.
After watching the final episode, I had to revise the rating to 9.5/10 on my review (originally 9/10 after 5 episodes, when the review was written). I did not use AI to write the review, so if you want to read any heartfelt & honest review, feel free to check that out (no spoilers). https://mydramalist.com/profile/HomeScreenAlchemist/review/521994
6.5/10 Trying so hard to "look cool" by mixing Gen-Z style romantic-comedy with thriller/mystery genre. Not that mix-genre is bad, only here it doesn't seem to work.
Some characters are also seem to be a second-thought late-addition, for example the Kanna character played by Yui Narumi. She's an excellent actress but here her role is way under-used and her scenes are just pretty much "forced". They don't add to the story at all. There are so many "filler scenes" just to make time, long conversations that are unnecessary & don't add to the actual plot. That's the main problem. Maybe the TV station wanted to have 12 episodes (to get more income from commercial spots) while in reality this whole thing can be condensed into 8.
The good score is because they have some good casts. Anna Yamada and Yui Narumi are especially great for their acting, and they have attractive aura too. Overall directing by Yamagishi Santa is also good.
This could fit into an indie-movie type presentation for nerds, but for a mainstream serial drama, unless there's a huge plot-twist that switches this into a thriller movie (with murder, etc. that would turn Tsuchida Ayana character into another Ichiko -type) in the next few episodes, I don't see anything that would gain me any interests.
"Me want to watch, even it's not my kind of drama!"
After watching episode 1:
Dropped
Matsuda Ryuhei just being Matsuda Ryuhei, while at the same time also fits to any character he plays in his movies & dramas.
This will be a gem, one-of-a-kind J-drama.
Especially Sakurai Yuki's acting here in exceptional! She should have more leading roles in intense dramas. She did very well in NHK drama "Eat, Sleep, then Wait for Happiness" earlier this year, but that's a relaxing drama that didn't really show what she's capable of in terms of acting.
Looks like it's not a "remake" nor a "sequel", but using actual scenes taken from the serial & re-edited it to fit into the movie format (cinematography is already top-notch). They might show the ending scenes & some other scenes that weren't shown in the drama.
It's a "current trend" in Japan, just like Jishin no Atp de (After The Quake) they re-edited scenes from serial to a full feature-film movie.
This is one of the most terrifying Japanese thriller in recent years, and re-editing it into the movie format will be great. It's gonna be interesting.
Teaser just up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuBxP-JolxM
Their legal system is also head-shaking. Their "age of consent" is 16 (used to be 13 a few years back), while the "legal drinking age" is 20.
Search from the words "themis houtei"
You can then use online subtitle translators to translate from Japanese to any language you desire then save it. Watch offline using any media player app that can accept soft-sub files. Please note that close-captions are written verbatim (meant for hearing-impaired), so there are errors mostly in pronouns when translated, because in Japanese sometimes pronouns are not spoken as subject in casual conversations. Also, things like letters and other written elements can't be translated because they don't require closed-captions.
But this is the last resort, if there's no fansubbing available.
No, there's nothing to the explicit extent in terms of visualization. The only "trigger warning" is the potential "emotional disturbance" due to the nature of the content brought by this drama.
I wrote in-depth reviews for both of them (no spoilers). Check them out.
Scandal Eve (9.5/10):
https://mydramalist.com/profile/HomeScreenAlchemist/review/521994
Miss King (9/10):
https://mydramalist.com/profile/HomeScreenAlchemist/review/511812
For me this is pretty much 2025's best serial drama, followed by Miss King at #2, then Hirayasumi at #3.
After watching the final episode, I had to revise the rating to 9.5/10 on my review (originally 9/10 after 5 episodes, when the review was written). I did not use AI to write the review, so if you want to read any heartfelt & honest review, feel free to check that out (no spoilers).
https://mydramalist.com/profile/HomeScreenAlchemist/review/521994
Trying so hard to "look cool" by mixing Gen-Z style romantic-comedy with thriller/mystery genre. Not that mix-genre is bad, only here it doesn't seem to work.
Some characters are also seem to be a second-thought late-addition, for example the Kanna character played by Yui Narumi. She's an excellent actress but here her role is way under-used and her scenes are just pretty much "forced". They don't add to the story at all. There are so many "filler scenes" just to make time, long conversations that are unnecessary & don't add to the actual plot. That's the main problem. Maybe the TV station wanted to have 12 episodes (to get more income from commercial spots) while in reality this whole thing can be condensed into 8.
The good score is because they have some good casts. Anna Yamada and Yui Narumi are especially great for their acting, and they have attractive aura too. Overall directing by Yamagishi Santa is also good.
I rate this 9.5/10.