Iryu Sosa 2 Review

Title: Iryu Sosa 2

AKA: Iryu Sosa Season 2/ CSI: Crime Scene Talks Season 2

Genre: Police, Mystery, Crime

Episodes: 8

Broadcast period: 2012-Jul to 2012-Sept

Cast: Kamikawa Takaya, Saito Yuki, Yashima Norito, Tanaka Tetsushi, Okada Yoshinori, Masana Bokuzo and Mashima Hidekazu.

This is the second season of the drama series.

After speaking up and undermining the ranks of the force, as he usually does, during an investigation at the First Investigation Division, Itomura Satoshi (Kamikawa Takaya) is demoted to work in a smaller station, in the outskirts of the city. This Investigation Team is led by Mizusawa Kyoko (Saito Yuki), and has few members, as well as small sections, such as traffic and guarding. Here Itomura isn’t tasked with the personal items, but he prefers to look at them, and investigate based on them. Though his team find him weird and occasionally annoying, they let him focus on the items left by the victims and have him investigate. This creates teamwork, as Itomura focuses on the families left behind, and his colleague focus on the crime…

Compared to season 1, this one I like way better. Not that it is much different: the premise and lead actor is the same. But I liked the supporting cast more in this one. Even if the characters didn’t support the lead, I felt that there was more teamwork in this season, compared to the first one. The characters are really likeable, and the side stories are good. Also, the guest stars were good actors, so an upgrade there…

This season has a bit more humor as well, and honestly, it is much more relatable, though I have to say, I am very surprised of how Itomura manages to find all those thigs out - but that is TV for you.

All in all, a good season, but better than the first one.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

CRISIS Review

Title: CRISIS

AKA: Crisis: Public Security Mobile Investigation Unit Special Investigation Team

Genre: Police, Action

Episodes: 10

Broadcast period: 2017-Apr to 2017-Jun

Cast: Oguri Shun, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Tanaka Tetsushi, Nomaguchi Toru, Araki Yuko and Nagatsuka Kyozo.

This drama follows an elite squad focusing on the national security, the Special Security Squad (SSS)

Inami Akira (Oguri Shun) is a former SDF (Special Defense Force), but due to a traumatizing event he was discharged. His partner Tamaru Saburo (Nishijima Hidetoshi) is a stoic character, specializing in undercover work. These two are the 'legs' out of the quintet group, containing the chief Yoshinaga Mitsunari (Tanaka Tetsushi), a biochemist Kashii Yusuke (Nomaguchi Toru) and hacker Oyama Rei (Araki Yuko). The group deals with terrorists, bomb threats and other national emergencies.

Soon a terrorist group called the "Heisei Restoration Army" begin to unveil their plans of political ideal, and it is up the SSS to stop them...

I started this drama because of Oguri Shun, and I finished it because of him. When I started it, it was very exciting as I hadn't seen any Japanese dramas with such a quality fighting – but unfortunately, I felt bored towards the end. Not the fighting or even the story, but the overall progress and direction. I was a bit hopeful halfway through, but noticed very fast how it would end, and which way the narrative went. This ruined the experience for me, but it might not be like that for everyone. The action and acting is good, and the dialogues were good as well. So it might be your cup of tea.

All in all, a good drama, but not a favorite of mine.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts