Drama Digest
Kojima Akari and Shimada Shugo receive a compelling case to solve. Shugo is an ex-police officer turned private detective, and Akari is his assistant. Together, they run a detective agency and solve ordinary investigations of their clients. One day a wealthy older woman visits their place and proposes a captivating request. The woman, Sato Kazuko, conveys the dying wish of Omatsu Mickie. She suffers from a terminal illness and is currently hospitalized. But before taking her last breath, she wants to visit a special place. Accompanied by her nurse, Haruki Teramoto and Kazuko, they venture out to link the meaning of life to inevitable death and define their perceptions. The drama eventually becomes an adventurous quest to uncover a past and take Mickie to that place before it’s too late.
The Feel-Good Part
The drama evokes sheer moments of happiness, anger, tears, gratitude, confusion, and a lot more while also encapsulated within an enthralling search. The drama paves through the pressure of the situation, withholding all these heart-warming elements.
The Disappointing Factor
Precise editing could have enhanced its aesthetic vision despite having a good storyline.
In-Depth Analysis
Japanese dramas and movies explore the idea of creativity in infinite possibilities of blending form and content. Whether it’s experimental or an average show, it always carries that fondness for sprouting something new, juggling some ideas and voicing it on screen. This drama is originally from Sumio Omori’s ‘Natsuzora’. ‘Tenshi ni Request wo’ holds death as a theme and enlarges the viewpoint on life through the unavoidable end. This thematic expression is integrally connected to the movie’s plot and ruptures through different stories while also providing an insight into the enormous life. It shows how everything crumbles down to almost ignored, tiny moments in routine life when faced with death. Even though the plot builds around Mickie’s story, there are individual characters’ stories that add to soulful moments in each episode. It enables to pose different perspectives and stories in every episode. It also makes the viewer understand and sympathize with the characters wherever necessary. This way, it leaves a moral note lingering at the end of each story. The characters go through a development arc because of these plot points. Compared to most mainstream Japanese detective mystery dramas and movies, it carries less action and nods more toward a slice-of-life approach. Such as teaching the importance to loved ones. Its humanistic outlook emanated through little twists on the roles offers a perception.
Star Power
Eguchi Yosuke, Kamishiraishi Moka, Shison Jun and Baisho Mitsuko explicitly portrayed depth in their roles. Shimada’s role was apt as a hectic, short-tempered but kind-hearted detective. Omori Sumio’s writing and vision, with Kataoka Keiji’s direction, held the picture in place. Supporting casts Shiomi Sansei, Yamamoto Gaku and Saigo Teruhiko made the drama noteworthy.
Overall Opinion
Whether you’re a mystery lover or appreciator of a good storyline working out into a tremendous dramatic narrative, this is a must-watch.
