Drama Digest
Joke- 2022 Panic Haishin! narrates the story of Sawai Ryuichi who is a part of Orenchi and plays the role of a comedian. ‘Fame’ and ‘Scandal’ are inversely proportional and Sawai became a victim of this proportionality. After Sawai gets involved in a scandal the ‘Orenchi’ duo is opted out of the television airing list. He dissolves his relationship with his agency and his partner Sakane Akira and isolates himself from the rest of the world. Whilst in seclusion he starts a live streaming comedy program titled ‘Orenchi Channel’ where he continues his profession as a comedian. As Sawai is busy streaming his AI robot does all his household chores for him, it also adapts itself into a compatible Orenchi partner for Sawai thereby completing the duo once again. The hilarious interaction between Sawai and his robot seemed very entertaining and was wholeheartedly welcomed by the audience. At this moment everything was going pretty well for Sawai, he was doing the job of his dreams and also fulfilling his responsibility by earning his keep to support his wife and daughter at the same time. But an unknown phone call changes it all. The call intertwisted Sawai’s life with an outrageous situation while putting the safety of his family in danger. To know whether Sawai was able to save his family and if the ‘incidence’ changed his life for better or for worse, binge the episode.
The Feel-Good Part
The humorous interchange of dialogues between Sawai and his AI robot steals the show making us all feel as if only we had one of its kind. The writer highly empathizes with the psychological battle one goes through while having a family to support and having no source of income in hand. The casting, acting and directing everything were of superior quality.
The Disappointing Factor
The length of the show is always a topic of debate while some find it satisfactory the other half keeps wanting more of it. The title of the show and the story are contradictory to each other. The name of the drama may attract audiences in search of humor but what one gets is a sci-fi psychological thriller with a comical approach to it.
In-Depth Analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic bought a drastic change to our lives while the majority of us were getting accustomed to the ‘new normal’ I think most of us at some point must’ve wondered what would the aftermath be once this situation becomes a history. Writer Kudo Kankuro was also amongst the ones who pondered upon this question but instead of just dwelling on it, he converted this thought into an amazing masterpiece using his writing skills. Although the title of the show acts as a mirage the engaging storyline and excellent acting of the crew keep one hooked to the screen. One cannot deny the accurate illustration of mental and emotional combat one has gone through during the tough times. Overall, this show is worth our 45 minutes.
Star Power
Ikuta Toma and his performance never cease to amaze us. He masterfully sketched the character of Sawai. The extended cast also did a fairly great job.
Overall Opinion
Recommended for the ones who want to see 2022 through Kudo Kankuro’s eyes.
