This review may contain spoilers
So I randomly selected sweet tai chi to watch because it was tagged as an idol drama which are fun and not too heavy. The main problem was that until recently the eng subtitles were not available for it except the first episode. But I watched it anyway to like get a sense of it (coz I have dropped quite a few dramas after just watching the 1st episode) and I was immediately hooked. (resulting in me watching the whole drama without subsThis dramas has got some very strong points to make you like it.
First and foremost the places selected for the filming are amazing. The locations were very well selected including the campus resulting in beautiful shots.
Second major point is the female lead. I have never seen her before in any drama but she is effortlessly adorable. I have seen many actors try to portray a cute character and fail miserably while the FL's acting feels like she is just being herself. Her antics are fun to watch. She is badass in a good way and unlike other dramas the leads meet with the FL saving the ML from a gang.
Third is the Ost. The songs are beautiful and perfectly suited to the scenes and even though I don't know the language after watching a couple of episode I simply started humming along.
Lastly I agree that the story takes off slowly at first but the selling point atleast for me were the action scenes. All the scenes with Tai chi were perfectly shot and edited. Best scenes of this drama is just Piao Piao fighting all different kinds of people. The romance is also a big part of it but it's very PG-13 enough to give you closure but not to make you internally scream. I just wish that the ML's character was better developed. Like I understand that he was supposed to portray a very cool, calm, perfect at everything and emotionally detached from most things kinda person but after all his interactions with the FL I kinda wanted him to show some more emotions and be less stony and I mean that literally. Apart from the ocassional smile or his signature annoyed look it's like looking at a pretty stone wall.
All in all this drama is good enough for binge watching. (especially now since everyone's quarantined due to covid-19).
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This review may contain spoilers
got better as it went on
There are some solid reviews on the movie so I'll just add a few thoughts.Overall: this got better and better as it went on with an ending that was extremely well done. In the beginning, I really struggled with the homophobic, self centered, jerk protagonist. But he actually has character growth which was great. I need a sequel to this movie. Somehow he gets reincarnated as an adult and they solve another mystery together (and also showing explicit romantic feelings would be a bonus)
BL? Bromance? I think they definitely loved each other, whether that was platonically or romantically is not clearly defined, I think it can be a bit up to the viewer's interpretation.
Content Warnings: death, grief, manipulation, violence, held against will
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depiction of mental health struggles (watch suggestions)
Overall: the heart of this series was in the right place, but it took way too much effort to figure out the plot/characters/timeline in this series. 10 episodes about 15 minutes each. Aired on JC Show YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLalG2smk62xFJiyPLSsGxIW_4Znk24W_j&si=J4IbxX_npVilW4RfWatch Suggestions (to focus on the main couple)
- watch episode 1, watch episode 2 stop at 14 min
- episode 3 watch 6-10:40
- skip episode 4
- watch episode 5 beginning to 10:30
- skip episode 6
- watch episode 7 3:45-16:20
- watch episode 8 for the first 6 minutes to clearly explain the plot/what is happening
- watch episode 9 7-end
- can watch all of episode 10 or start at 5:20 to focus on the guys' relationship
Content Warnings: manhandling, mental health struggles, self harm, discussion of bullying, past death
What I Liked
- that they tried for a different type of plot
- sweet/caring moments
- visuals
- good music
- behind the scenes (though it was almost as long as the episodes)
Room For Improvement
- conversation with the doctor in episode 1 took too long
- I realize they were going for more an artsy/experimental vibe but they could have made timeline jumps back and forth more clear and what was a next episode preview, also if they had removed the exes that would have made things more clear (finally clearly explained in episode 8 what the situation was)
- in ep 10, it was a well intended discussion about the important of talking to a doctor, but then the character talked about slowly reducing the medicine if stopping and it made it feel that the goal should be ending medication when some medication is life long and life saving and there should be zero stigma taking it long-term
- should have moved the 15 minute behind the scenes footage to separate videos
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This review may contain spoilers
Couple affiliated to enemy races fighting all odds to be together forever
The most striking aspect of this drama is the male character. Just like prince Su Yu in Hua Xu Yin: city of devastating love, this male lead is the best among male leads in traditional Chinese drama world. The male lead is highly loyal, persistent and ready to bend his principles, strong convictions when it comes to anything that involves the female lead.The alpha male lead may come across as a simp to short sighted people who can't appreciate the beauty of a simple relationship in a simple story. But the alpha male lead is in fact a simple man at heart who falls deeper & deeper in his love for the female lead(FL). As the story progresses, his deep love for the FL makes him more accommodative, considerate, caring, highly thoughtful towards not only the FL but also towards her race. He is even willing to face death if he is forced to enter into intimacy with the second female lead (SFL). So luckily for the ML, she gives in to his "fake marriage only" request .
This drama is worth a re-watch! For hardore fans, this drama can be seen over and over ( at least ten times!).
There are many events, details which can't be completely explained based on pure logic. So, it would be good to classify this drama under intrusion /low fantasy.
Once again, this is a simple, beautiful intrusion fantasy story. Viewers will enjoy this if they are willing to kindly put aside their cold logic & not try to relate each & every detail with what happens in real life or with physics/chemistry/biological principles that underlie life processes in reality.
This is one of the dramas where both FL and ML get almost equal importance and screen space. What happens to both characters are really, really intertwined & affects plot development.
The FL is absolutely adorable. She may appear baby-like to many, but the truth is, she is someone who slowly evolves into the best version of her self. She is a bit slow to adapt to worst scenarios and a bit slow to discover, understand all her best traits ( which explains her impulsive, cruel reactions towards the ML at first, that she deeply regrets later).
But once the FL learns to adapt well( it's not like she was well trained & well educated like the ML from childhood!) , the FL completely understands the ML & his intents.
The FL is a cute, sweet damsel in distress type , but she is one who is not to be underestimated. She is kind, sensitive, caring in all kinds of scenarios, and never runs away from responsibilities to help others in day to day situations even when her mind, heart is badly muddled, devastated, sad.
Both FL & ML aren't power hungry or obsessed with solving the problems, issues posed by worldly politics. They just want to live a quiet, peaceful life for themselves because if they get involved in politics, they will be separated forever. Still, the main leads do their best to set things right while pursuing their personal agenda for reunion.
The only slightly annoying aspects are the fates meted out to the villian and his vamp sister, and also the ending scripted for the main leads which could have been slightly tweaked , for the better, here & there.
The ultimate sad endings thrust on the villian who is actually a real affectionate, considerate brother, and
his spoilt, pampered sister seems too cruel. Maybe bitter -sweet endings would 've been better for the duo.
As for the main leads, they really, really deserved a perfect, rosy happy ending instead of a light-hearted bitter-sweet but cute, happy ending.
But overall, because the main leads end up together in a highly romantic, intense manner oozing oodles of tenderness, this drama is worth watching a thousand times. A possibility where the FL helps the ML to get back his life force is also hinted at.
Ultimately, no matter how imperfect it was at some turns & twists of the plot; the tender, sweet, unfathomably-deep, happy ending of the main leads was worth watching.
This story is so sweet, unique & special that it is impossible to compare it with Korean drama love stories. Both are too different to be compared. Otherwise, it will be akin to comparing spices ---- cinnamon & pepper. Both has its value, utility. This story is beyond meaningless comparisons.
Don't forget to listen to the ending ost that is absolutely soulful with beautiful lyrics.
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Exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey
C’est magnifique! Le Grande Maison Tokyo IMHO is indeed grand and fully deserving of 3 Michelin stars for the wonderful French cuisine featured and also a 10/10 rating for the entire production served.Obana Natsuki is a French cuisine master chef who had always been obsessed with attaining the holy grail of his craft - the 3 stars awarded by the prestigious Michelin Guide. Unfortunately his quest for the ultimate crowning glory is bitterly cut short due to a disastrous diplomatic incident that not only upends his promising career as a celebrated chef de cuisine but also reduces him to a vilified persona non grata of both France and Japan. Fast forward 3 years later, he crosses paths with the vibrant Hayami Rinko, a talented French cuisine chef herself, who rekindles his passion for cooking and reignites his hopes of achieving the ultimate Michelin guide rating once more.
Grand Maison Tokyo is a TBS production that is directed by established directors Ayuko Tsukahara (Saiai, MIU 404), Daisuke Yamamuro (Tenno no Ryoriban, Ouroboros, Jin 1 & 2), and Takahiro Aoyama (Tengoku to Jigoku: Psychona Futari). Based on the original screenplay by one of my favourite Japanese screenwriters, Tsutomu Kuroiwa (Tokyo MER: Hashiru Kinkyuukyuumeishitsu, Unsung Cinderella: Byoin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen) with music score composed by Hideakira Kimura and the theme song RECIPE performed by Tatsuro Yamashita.
A collaboration with the international fashion magazine, Marie Claire, in which the fictional “Marie Claire dining” segment is mentioned throughout. Principal photography took place primarily in Tokyo and Paris. The 3-star restaurant L'ambroisie in Paris and the Japanese French cuisine restaurant, Quintessence (depicted as Gaku in the drama) are featured extensively. Incidentally the Japanese restaurant was awarded the prestigious 3-star rating upon completion of the drama’s airing in 2020. The dishes served by Grand Maison Tokyo were prepared by the 2-star INUA restaurant based in Tokyo, while the supervision for dessert preparation is provided by Hotel Intercontinental Tokyo Bay, which was also used as a filming location for the buffet restaurant in the drama.
The drama won 5 awards at the 103rd Television Drama Academy Awards, namely for Best Picture, Best Actor (Takuya Kimura), Best Supporting Actor (Yuta Tamamori), Best Drama Song (Tatsuro Yamashita, RECIPE), and Best Director.
What I Loved
Everything, really. I was hooked from beginning till the end. This drama has the perfect blend of all the right ingredients to produce an outstanding production with more than sufficient action, thrills, suspense and poignant moments which I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of.
The premise of the drama is straightforward but the storytelling navigates an intriguing trajectory teeming with layers of sub-plots as well as twists and turns that seemingly never runs out of steam or ideas on how to move the story forward. And moving forward it does at nearly the speed of light with so much agency and urgency during the 11 episodes of its run. The viewing experience itself feels very much like a full course fine dining adventure. A compelling narrative that continuously grabs hold of the viewers’ attention while introducing a concept mostly unfamiliar to the uninitiated - the Michelin guide to the world of French cuisine - amidst the multitude of vividly intriguing character designs that permeate this production. One of the things I love about the characterization in this drama is that none of the so-called antagonists is an outright villain - they are simply morally grey characters with their own motivations and beliefs system operating in the highly competitive and unforgiving hospitality industry.
The technical proficiency of this drama shines through, as evidenced by the high production values and top quality execution. This is particularly true for aspects concerning production and set designs, food videography element of the cinematography, the realism of the content depiction pertaining to kitchen administration, food preparation, cooking techniques and restaurant management. Even linguistics hold prominence here with French being convincingly spoken in the drama by various characters. Likewise the music of this production induces the required atmospherics of the storytelling with an infusion of tasteful classical elements that matches perfectly the cuisine that is presented.
The main selling point of Grand Maison Tokyo, undoubtedly for me, is Kimura Takuya. The character-driven narrative suits this man’s profound ability beautifully and so it proves with his award-winning performance here. Kimutaku isn’t just portraying Obana Natsuki - He IS Obana Natsuki! The depth of the characterization complements the extensive range of the actor producing a masterclass in acting, of which I’ve had the privilege to witness…no, to experience, in this drama.
In Suzuki Kyoka, viewers have the pleasure of seeing a veteran actress that matches the excellence of Kimutaku to enhance the flavours of this drama even further. Having seen her in Okaeri Mone, she exudes similar vibes but there is a wider scope to her portrayal of the co-lead Hayami Rinko here. Her characters have a way of building an emotional connection with viewers and I find myself developing this connection from the very first minute of her appearance. What an inspiring and moving performance from this lady indeed.
Tamamori Yuta’s take on Hirako Shohei catches the eye due to the complexity of the characterization where he is allocated quite a significant portion of screen time. It’s worth mentioning that he is the central character in the spin-off drama, Gura Gura Maison Tokyo. I’m also intrigued by the performance of Onoe Kikunosuke V who plays Tango Manabu, the chef of the rival Gaku restaurant. Tominaga Ai as the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire dining, Linda Machiko Richard, dazzles the screen every time she appears.
Final Thoughts
The highest rating awarded by the Michelin guide is 3 stars, which means exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey. All things considered, watching Grand Maison Tokyo has been an extremely worthwhile experience personally and represents a special journey in and of itself. For that reason, I’m giving it the highest MDL rating that I believe it deserves. This drama is absolutely “Subarashii”!
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Bad-Ass Bloody, Beautifully, Bloody, Blood, Blood... with a side of cuteness and a lot of REVENGE
Prepare yourself for a lot of blood splatter as you get up close and personal with some of the underworlds most gorgeous and interesting people...This drama surly has it all from hot steamy bloodbaths to hot and steamy other stuff... twists, suspense and gorgeous visuals. Making it hard to know who to root for and seemingly blurring the line between the usual good-guy bad-guy type of deal. I found myself hoping some pretty bad criminals would get away and actually think oh no how how are they going to make up for that loss of pretty dangerous drugs that are really bad for you...
I also found myself thinking oh he is so cute... accompanied by aww that must hurt... and oooh they are so cute... and awch, awww, how the ***** did they survive that... and D*** she is so cool... still human but oh she is so cool... and WTF happened here...
in only 8 too short episodes, my nails have been bitten, my heart has fluttered, I have laughed, yelled and almost cried and looked a way a lot...
The characters are well casted, well written and have 0 annoying tendency's. I would not say this is easy to watch because of all the raw fight scenes but it is highly bingable (even though I watched it with my husband in the evenings after my kid had gone to bed)...
I defiantly recommend this to any action lover who does not mind some blood splatter...
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Steamy with a perfect cast in a fun setting!
(I rate vertical dramason their own sliding scale.)Even though I've seen this plotline a bunch of times, I didn't fast-forward. The focus remained on the leads, and it was a bit refreshing to see this plot set in the Republican era for once; the melodramatic plot shenanigans tied in very well in this setting. And totally worth it for Chen Si in uniforms, and that long cape!
Great acting, especially by the two main leads. They also had great chemistry and seemed perfectly comfortable woth each other. So steamy! And the FL kisses back too. Lots of sexual tension moments and kisses throughout the show (and very realistic, passionate kisses). And the longer makeout scene in bed is memorable. While the FL chooses to give herself to the ML and gives consent multiple times, there are many moments with a strong forced-seduction feel to them as the FL wants to keep their physical relationship a secret and the ML wants to claim her even in risky situations. Very satisfying and, I would say, guilt-free for those who enjoy that trope. It's also clear to the audience pretty quickly, though it takes a long while for the FL to understand it, that the ML wants more than just her body and has loved her for years.
In this version the ML is more ruthless and domineering (also works well for the era it's set in). There are a couple of slightly softer moments with the FL, but the ML retains his edge.
In this version the ML and SML (FL's god-brother) say they are "friends" but it sure doesn't come across that way, lol. More like they tolerate each other. And when the ML starts pursuing the FL, he starts subtly provoking/taunting the SML (because he's jealous and wants to lay claim) and it grows less subtle over time. Chen Si's face is so fun to watch with all of this.
I really liked the SFL's (ML's cousin) reaction to her engagement being called off. She wants real love for herself anyway and won't hang onto someone for less. Her attitude towards the FL afterwards was great and refreshing.
Watched 8/10/25 with very good English subtitles on licensed channel 浪漫短劇社Romantic Drama:
https://youtu.be/LIfcfX7wyMg?si=xmyxn2uOTh-8UF6b
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Mildly frustrating but not a bad watch
This is such a unique concept and could have been great with better writing and directing. Some characters' words/actions felt awkward or were frustrating at times, particularly Prakan and Metha, and I feel like this is no fault of the actors.Their characters are simply portrayed as somewhat immature which I don't think is fitting for two respected doctors running for the director position. As two highly intelligent individuals they seemed to lack common sense or reasoning half of the time.
But on to the good things:
- The pacing was good with Prakan's slow realisation of his feelings for Tuaphee, though I do wish they made the passing of time more obvious in some places.
- Since the actors have worked together before their chemistry is pretty good. The couple scenes were cute and enjoyable and without any of that weird shyness depite dating for a while that a lot of BLs have.
- A realistic, bittersweet ending. I feel like the impact would have been lost had this had the perfect fairytale ending.
- Boy Sompob doing the most with the OST.
Overall a good watch despite a few minor frustrations. Definitely recommended if you like supernatural things or want something a bit heavier/more mature than highschool romance.
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the problem starts when they introduced new characters that you haven't been introduced yet and and left you confused on whether or not you've known that character during the short brief intro in their highschool lives.
But it was still fine when they decided to sprinkle the backstory of some of the new characters as the episodes progress...the only issue with this sort of approach is to have us the audience to keep up with the story with no connection to start with so either you get confused and disinterested on these characters or you decide to filter them out because they aren't relevant..
Some of these characters were used once and never again and for me, it's kinda a waste of time to introduce them as a prominent character (old friends/long lost mother/etc) but having no impact on the story whatsoever...If you change these said characters having no correlations with the main couples, you wouldn't even notice the difference. .
Honestly, the side couples had better story to tell than the main couple...their conflict could've stupidly be avoided if they told the truth from the start instead of hiding it for no reasons, but at least their objectives in their love life is relatable (one wants small happiness, the other aim for bigger long term happiness)
Regarding the main couple, I thought their confession to like each other could've done better than how it ended up...for me, there's quite a few times before that they could've confessed to each other which could've been better and more appropriate in terms of emotional impact but it didn't, so kinda rather disappointing
The villain here is a bit petty and kinda thuggish and not worth mentioning..they could've make him a bit better but they decided to make him weak and simple minded...so it doesn't make me wanna root for the main guy, but it made me wanna things to get done as soon as possible so i don't need to see how it ended up because it's already been decided by how weak the villain is
OST isn't anything unique, it was something you heard hundredth of times already
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review of bl episodes
overall:this is a sweet mini-series and my only complaint is that i want to see more of the couples.
stepbrother's secret kiss:
this concept is... odd. if we were to ignore that, the boys are very cute and their story is sweet and simple.
secret idol kiss:
a couple bits felt a little unrealistic but i think that's to be expected with the premise. overall very good chemistry. this couple had the best kiss(es) in my opinion.
last kiss:
the title definitely hints at the mood for this episode. i found myself quite sad and unemotional in all honesty. this couple had the best plot in my opinion.
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Story: 8/10
One of the things that I loved most about this drama is how much I learned from it--all of the historical events were incorporated very well into the story. I'm sure the show took liberties with some details, but the majority of the characters and events were real (based on my research while watching it). It gave a wonderful insight into the introduction of Western medicine, Joseon era social classes, and the international relations of Korea at the time.
The story's progression felt very natural throughout and moved at a good pace. All of the main characters had intriguing stories that converged in their efforts to become doctors. Hwang Jung struggled with hiding that he was born into the "untouchable" class of butchers, Yoo Seok Ran struggled with sexism and the limitations of being a woman in 19th century Korea, and Baek Do Yang struggled mostly with himself.
Near the end of the drama the focus started to turn more and more to events with Japan, and less on medicine. This is the main thing I didn't like so much about the drama--I wish they had kept the politics a secondary theme through to the end. Because of this I became a little disenchanted with the final episodes and while I wouldn't say the last episode ended with a whimper, it certainly didn't end with a bang either. The most climactic events in my opinion came some episodes earlier.
Acting + Characters: 10/10
Quality acting all around in my opinion, Park Yong-woo in particular. In the beginning episodes I wasn't a huge fan of how Baek's character was done (so much sneering!), but that quickly changed and he ended up being my favorite character.
One thing I have to say I really appreciated was that they found white people who could act well, since that seems to be a rarity in Korean dramas. Dr. Allen in particular was a very memorable character. While I found it a bit odd that a man born in Ohio in the 1850s looked clearly half Asian, I still find that preferable to white actors with little acting ability.
While Hwang and Yoo were interesting for their stories, the characters themselves were more straightforward: they were both good-hearted, strong-willed, and progressively minded. Baek, on the other hand, I found to be a much more complex and interesting character, not to mention the one that undergoes the most development on a personal level.
At times I hated him, and at other times I loved him. Baek was a character that took a long time to figure out, and once you think you understand him, he does something to turn that upside down. He's driven by jealousy and rivalry, but at the same time he's driven by a desire to save people through medicine and to modernize his country. He struggles with his feelings of inadequacy and jealousy when he's constantly sidelined as "second best". His ruling class status more than once proves to be an obstacle during his medical training, which causes him to be conflicted between maintaining his superior position in society and fulfilling his ultimate goal of becoming the best doctor in Korea. He is enigmatic and unpredictable, and in my opinion it's his character that doesn't make Jejoongwon simply a good drama, but rather an outstanding drama.
Jejoongwon has its faults, but the rest of it is so well done that I can happily ignore the imperfections. It's a superb drama that deserves far more recognition than it ever got.
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I shake my head and roll my eyes throughout the drama - Messy and Too much going on
If this were a full-length drama, I would have given this a less than 5 rating. I am going to be a little more forgiving as this is a low budget drama. But this drama still cannot be compared to another web drama, “Provoke”. “Provoke” is so much better.The plot here is ridiculous and full of plot holes and unrealistic ‘twists’. They try to jam too many things into this short drama. I think a fake/contract marriage + enemies-to-lovers + revenge should be more than enough. But no, they added politics. The acting is decent, and the leads are a good-looking pair. The chemistry is pretty good in the beginning but the leads got together way too early and then the chemistry is gone. We do have a couple (not enough) shirtless hot abs scenes, but not passionate or good kisses (FL needs to work harder). The cinematography and production value aren’t that great, more on par with “Maid’s Revenge”. I am blinded by the super bright/white backlighting and camera flashes.
I can’t help but shake my head and roll my eyes when watching this. The good-looking male lead and the pretty female lead are not enough for me to recommend this drama. I have to force myself to finish watching. I enjoy watching this LESS than “Maid’s Revenge”, even though it’s about the same quality. So, I feel I need to rate “My Everlasting Bride” a 6.5 and not a 7.0.
Completed: 9/19/2023 - Review #356
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The show demonstrates that there is a much larger gray area than black or white. Take the main and titular character, Keita Kurokouchi. He acts more as an antihero than a true good guy. He straddles the line between what's deemed right and wrong, and still finds a way to look like a hero while doing it. His ultimate goal is to solve the unsolved case of a robbery of 300 million yen that happened almost 45 before the start of the story. His motivations aren't completely explained, but you can that it's something that he's completely dedicated to once you have a look at his apartment.
The thing I found most entertaining was how well the story progressed. It's full of surprises. Murder, betrayal, and conspiracies are the lifeblood of this show, and it delivers plenty that will keep on your toes and constantly thinking, trying to figure out who truly has the advantage in the game of chess between Kurokouchi and his adversaries. The ending is one that completely fits the scope of the show, and was something that almost makes you laugh at the end after seeing the final climax.
The cast was great as well. They pulled an all star cast that each played their roles to perfection. Nagase does such a great job as Kurokouchi, from his yakuza-like speech to his over-the-top mannerisms and catch phrases. He'll even throw in a rap verse or two. Gouriki was a great 'straight-man' as Seike. She was very much by the book and the typical straight-laced cop, until the things Kurokouchi began saying turned out to be true. That's when you see her character start to blossom as she gets down to solving her own personal mystery and how it relates to the 300 million yen heist. They both work great in tandem to deliver a funny experience while still maintaining a great level of suspense and action.
This is a show that you can't regularly rewatch because of how high-impact the suspense and surprises are. They're best saved for once you've forgotten much of the story, otherwise they lose their pop. But the funny moments of the show are watchable over and over again. I fount myself going back and rewatching parts because of how funny they were. And this isn't even a comedy based show!
Overall, I found this show probably the most enjoyable crime show since I watched the first season of Galileo a couple years ago. This didn't have as many creative crimes as much of the Japanese crime shows do, but it had the suspense and edge of your seat thrills to really push this show ahead of many others. A definite must watch if you want a good ride.
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