xploring wrote:

They worked together for the first episode of the first Rikon Bengoshi, if I remember correctly.

Yup, they sure did. Good memory!!

Thanks. They were both in Toshiie to Matsu too, but don't know if they shared a scene together.

taroqq wrote:

Standard "Band of misfits/underdogs working together and succeeds against all odds" type of drama (one of the oldest cliche in JDorama). Slick direction and stylish use of montage coupled w/ a great score and decent production values somewhat compensates, and the amount of star wattage and great looking cast should guarantee at least a decent rating. The best part for me is the chemistry and witty banter between Amami and Takenouchi, who plays against type but is great nevertheless (although both can probably sleepwalk thru their roles). Ep. 1 started off with a bang, but once they started the investigation some of the characters lost their quirky personalites and it's back to your standard detective drama. The ending dragged a little as the outcome can be seen fom a mile away. Given the scriptwriter's resume (Code Blue, Iryu II, and to a certain extent Rekon Bengoshi) my expectation is low, but it's still worth watching if you're a fan of the cast. This is the epitome of style over substance in JDorama.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. That was really well-written, I wish I can write reviews like that.
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xploring wrote:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. That was really well-written, I wish I can write reviews like that.

Thx for you comliment, you made me feel really embarrassed. You should have seen some of my other comments where I just rambled on and on, not sure WTH I was trying to say. Now I'm really scared of posting another review

taroqq wrote:

Thx for you comliment, you made me feel really embarrassed. You should have seen some of my other comments where I just rambled on and on, not sure WTH I was trying to say. Now I'm really scared of posting another review

No worries - post what you think, I felt your Boss review was accurate

taroqq wrote:

Thx for you comliment, you made me feel really embarrassed. You should have seen some of my other comments where I just rambled on and on, not sure WTH I was trying to say. Now I'm really scared of posting another review

Don't be. I would do that too if I wasn't so self-conscious. On an another day, with another series, I would probably be going "eh!?" instead.
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every season there ought to be one eye candys' drama, where you just watch purely for the beauty and style. and this is the one for this season.

plot wise not terrible but neither a wow factor

entertainment value versa artistic value
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is this good?? i might watch this for the pretty girls, Erika and Michiko..
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Boss is stylish, glitzy and beautiful but that seems to be both its strength and weakness.

Ep2 was inane and hilarious in a bad way. It seems so inappropriate to laugh at the murderer but that's the only reaction I could muster.

I maybe wrong to judge so early into the season but perhaps the scriptwriter should never have ventured into the realm of investigative dramas.
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Quite true that the drama bangs on star quality to raise tv ratings.

Quite true too that some characters could 'sleepwalk' through their roles because their lines aren't emotionally demanding. But frankly, I think the lines are not engaging the audience. They're sufficiently boring that I would fast fwd to see how they trap the criminals.

jade_frost wrote:

Ep2 was inane and hilarious in a bad way. It seems so inappropriate to laugh at the murderer but that's the only reaction I could muster.

If you find yourself laughing when it's not a comedy, that's usually a bad sign.

jade_frost wrote:

Boss is stylish, glitzy and beautiful but that seems to be both its strength and weakness. Ep2 was inane and hilarious in a bad way. It seems so inappropriate to laugh at the murderer but that's the only reaction I could muster. I maybe wrong to judge so early into the season but perhaps the scriptwriter should never have ventured into the realm of investigative dramas.

Wow, after watching ep. 2, the quality of the show is falling off a cliff faster than the value of my stock portfolio. The scriptwriter seems to be running out of ideas already and had to look to the manga Death Note for some inspiration. The execution however was pathetic; it couldn't even qualify as a decent police drama as logic, common sense, and police procedures were all thrown out the window. Even though Takenouchi gets top billing, the small amount of screen time he got is criminal and he should have been qualified only as a special guest.

Anyway, here're two caps just to involve and provide a little fun for our resident gun expert:



The 1st one looks like a Colt (?), and the 2nd one is the standard Japanese issue of SS P230SL, the same one used in SP, I think.

taroqq wrote:

Wow, after watching ep. 2, the quality of the show is falling off a cliff faster than the value of my stock portfolio. The scriptwriter seems to be running out of ideas already and had to look to the manga Death Note for some inspiration. The execution however was pathetic; it couldn't even qualify as a decent police drama as logic, common sense, and police procedures were all thrown out the window. Even though Takenouchi gets top billing, the small amount of screen time he got is criminal and he should have been qualified only as a special guest.

Not a good pronouncement so early on into the series. The trailer for Ep3 doesn't offer much hope. Not sure it will be rewarding to hang on in there to wait for the rebound or to bail out quick.

I thought the same for Takenouchi too and have read quite a few grouses on the Japanese boards. Then it occurred that he certainly wouldn't be in much of the action since he's one of those bureaucrats who doesn't go out into the field.

The main cast is also too big with few that are very engaging or interesting.
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same sentiments on Takenouchi. He could jolly well joined as a guest appearance.

but this show is just too stylist to just stop watching.

if only the cases were more thought provoking. it is focusing too much on style now and lack the substance.
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^ From all the reviews, it looks like this drama is like a Chinese meal: you're hungry one hour after eating.

I agree that ep 2 was a disappointment but I'll probably still continue following this drama 'cos I want to find out what is the issue Amami's character has with that boyfriend of hers.

Finished ep1, I thought it was pretty good, obviously more style than substance but there's nothing wrong with that. I knew how every "Dirty Harry" movie was going to turn out and I still watched them.

They're going to need more than this to carry them through 11 episodes that's for sure but I managed to slog thru Rikon Bengsohi 2 and Topcaster. I already know this is going to be better than those.

I developed my strategy of watching: I'll start with the Entree (1st 5 min) and move straight for the dessert (last 10min).

Eyeyore wrote:

I developed my strategy of watching: I'll start with the Entree (1st 5 min) and move straight for the dessert (last 10min).

LOL.

You should be able to motor through the entire drama in a couple of hours.

i kind of watched ep4 accidentally (because i am still waiting for subed version to come out) and as it was out there, i started watching.
now, considering that i have not seen a single ep of before, but it seems that it does not have a proper criminal case to engage you and make you start guessing.
i seriously found it very ordinary and not storng at all. I love the cast (well, mostly Tekenouchi and Tamayama) and i was really looking forward to watch it. but watching ep4 disappointed me for some reasons. i am just wondering if the previous 3 eps were like this one or not.
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I love the cast as well and i'm a big Amami Yuki fan!
However i'm still debating on rather i'll watch this or not! I'm not a fan of criminal and investagations shows.