For being a remake, I was really satisfied with this series. I was expecting quite the letdown, since I'm such an avid fan of the first one. However, I wasn't all that disappointed in this series like I thought I'd be. They did quite a few tweaks to the storyline, but if you pay close attention to the original, each of those new events in the new version are still mentioned via dialogue in the first one. In the remake, they just decided to focus on some of what was said, expanding it.. The only thing I kinda missed in this series compared to the original is the spontaneous and random bits of humor squeezed into each episode. Those moments that were so unexpected, unnecessary and just plain goofy, leaving you chuckling out of pure dombfoundedness and confusion in the original...that factor wasn't there nearly as much. The actors stayed true to the original characters' personalities. I wasn't disappointed in the least bit regarding the new Nakatsu, Ashiya, Sano or Nakao. But considering Sano is supposed to be quite the looker, I thought the actor's appearance was a little off. They did a great job nonetheless. From what I can recall, the music sounded pretty much like the original music, with a few tweaks and additions. I'd watch this again no questions asked. Overall, nothing can beat the original, but this wasn't a failure in the making. I think it was a success.