Influence

No spoilers :)

Influence follows the lives of three girls–Yuri, Maho and Satoko. Yuri and Satoko have been friends since childhood but they were estranged after Yuri’s parents forbade her from visiting Satoko. At that tender age, Yuri was unable to help Satoko who was being sexually abused by her grandfather.

In high school, Yuri meets Maho, a girl who is ostracized for her wealth and her “difference” from other girls.

To protect each other from abuse, the three girls commit a string of murders and such is the story related by Yuri to the author Oikawa Tomomi, tto get this story written and shared with the world. But wait, there’s more.

Influence is true to the title and talks about the "influence," the effect which these hideous events have had on these three girls. Right when the viewers begin to wonder “why do these girls keep murdering the assailant everytime,” the title reminds us the answer. That these girls have been shaped and moulded by their pasts, their mindset has been influenced by the experiences where nobody stood up for them.

“I want children to be in a world where they can trust adults.”

—Totsuka Yuri, Influence (Ep. 5)

Influence tells a story of an unconventional friendship born out of gruesome circumstances but one which can withstand any storm for the other.

Beautiful flowers do bloom out on strong roots but Yuri, Maho and Satoko have had to rely on themselves to spread roots, but eventually they bloom with a strange wild grace (and the occasional homicidal tendencies).

With a well-paced storyline and unexpected plot twists that make sense, Influence is a wild journey which I loved to be part of. 8.5/10» An awesome show which impressed me. (My rating scale is on my profile :)

Read More

A story about Friendship? Not really, more of a story about a story about being bound by a secret.

When I finished watching this drama, I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I mean as a story and the way it was executed is excellent by all means. The characters were multidimensional and intriguing. What didn't sit well with me though was the ending. Not the actual ending, but how it was viewed? Like condoning what those 3 did?

I find this story excellent at showcasing the wrong in being in a world where it's all about gossip and being afraid of the law alone without having a sense of values to believe in and follow. Basically, as long as I don't get caught, I'm free to do as I please. There is no owning up and taking responsibility. Because society's opinion is their God and true law. And that is what makes Maho and Satoko the worst type of "friends" you can have. What they had there wasn't friendship but a bind.

As for Yuri, it's a bit of the opposite. Very early on, her sensible little self took on the burden of someone else's pain and lived the rest of her life feeling guilt over something that had nothing to do with her. That guilt lead her to take each and every action she took later on in life. And no one seems to notice her pain, not her family, not even her so-called friends.

Other than the main trio, I also enjoyed the writer's character, and how she was doing her research instead of just depending on a biased point of view of the story. The detective was interesting as well, smart in some cases, and really stupid in other times.

Directing of the drama is great. The pacing is great. What surpasses it is how lighting and colour were used. Present-day colours were vibrant, while when we go back to the past, particularly to scenes with Yuri, it gets dimmed. It's a notable contrast that helps you both immediately know where we are in the timeline, as well as portray the characters' psyche at the moment.

In short: I never thought a story about 3 high school girls would have so many twists and turns that kept me intrigued till the last moment. Depressing but a good and solid drama.

Read More