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 :)
Was this review helpful to you?
♥ インフルエンス ♥
Influence is a drama about 3 girls who are friends since high school, Totsuka yuri the main character is the most innocent while her friends kill some people. When Yuri becomes older she goes to a novelist who writes book to write about her story.Back when Yuri was a high school student, she lived in an apartment complex in the province. She was aware that her classmate Satoko was sexually assaulted by Satoko's grandfather, but Yuri could not do anything about that and they became estranged.They lived in the same apartment complex. One day, Maho was about to be attacked by someone holding a knife, the story becomes very dark but it's really good, I got so addicted to this drama. Young Yuri is sooo cute and great actress ♥ ♥ ♥
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This one has entered my list of favs
I started watching this dorama because of Hashimoto Kanna and I'm so glad I did. Not only she did an amazing job playing Yuri, but the dorama itself was just the best thing I watched this year.For the whole course of these 5 episodes I was 100% engage and captivated, thinking about not only what could happen next but more importantly, how these three girls would live their lives.
I still wont call them friends because what they had is something else.
Also, I really want to read the book sensei wrote. I like that she went the Tarantino route and rewrote history gave them a happy ending in the book. Like she said to Maho in episode one, she writes fiction.
This is definitely going to leave a everlasting impact on me. That is the power of good stories.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A very underrated and overlooked J-drama
Though Influence is centered on multiple murders committed by the three main leads, it isn't a high-octane thrill ride but rather an observation on friendship and how it crumbles and rebuilds itself in the midst of heinous acts committed with good intentions.Not only is the story intriguing and takes many unexpected turns in its short 5 episodes run but it's also very well produced and well-acted. Admittingly, I haven't watched very many J-dramas, but I was glad that I took a chance on Influence because it really raised the bar for me. I especially loved the effort that the production team put into making the 1980s flashbacks look real. The set and costume designs along with the exterior shots were all top-tier.
The only places where the story fell short was minor plot inconveniences. It annoyed me to no end that Maho was at the crime scene of Yuri's murder. Thematically, it makes sense because Yuri starts to realize in that moment that Maho deceived her but in context, Maho should not have been anywhere near the crime scene. Frustratingly, it was later revealed by Detective Natsume that Maho has an alibi, which was not only false but obviously a thoughtless plot contrivance by the fact that they never specified what Maho's "alibi" was.
There was also the instance in which Yuri seems surprised that Satoko didn't know that Yuri killed her husband, despite Maho specifically telling her that Satoko didn't know. These scenes were written in simply for dramatic effect but thankfully, they didn't come aplenty. Just a few head-scratching moments that takes away from an otherwise EXCELLENT series. However, there is concern that since the show is very much dramatic and lacks humor or romance, there's little rewatch value. The most exciting parts were the plot twists but during a rewatch, you'll already know everything that's going to happen. The best thing to gain from a rewatch would be the handful of genuinely sweet/heartwarming friendship moments between the three girls.
I highly recommend Influence.
Was this review helpful to you?
A fantastic character study
Japan is very good at making short dramas that still pack a punch hand this is no different. This drama is a rare gem; very few shows take such a deep look into female intimacy and desperation, and as much as I love romance, I was really grateful that this drama didn't really have much of it. The main focus, from start to finish, was the twisted story of our three main leads, and they were more than enough. The tension is there, and although I did wish the show was longer, I was also glad it wasn't because the pacing kept me on my toes.Was this review helpful to you?
Nuance
This is one of those stories that is sure to grab your attention from the start and keep you both guessing and in suspense until the vey last scene.As we meet Yuri, a girl that at an early age already lives with regret and does pretty much all she can to compensate the regret of her childhood. Trying to become a better adult than the ones she met as a child by getting rid of the problem and making sure the predators wont be able to act agin . Some would call it a vendetta, other murder, self defence, protection others defence works too.
However unlike many other vendetta stories out there this one comes with a bunch of messages, consequences, the guilty conscience and a whole lot of nuance and suspense.
We also get a window in to lives of her two friends/non friends (its complicated) . Those who kill together may not always be able to physically stay together, but no bond is stronger than owning crucial evidence of the crime.
Watching this you may wonder how many people will get killed by the end of the story, but it is not the numbers that count but the suspense of not knowing who will kill (and why) next that keeps you in suspense (plus a bunch of other stuff) .
A powerful story, that is easy to binge but not so easy to handle.
Was this review helpful to you?
A short, female-centered, mystery drama. Truly a rarity
This is a very interesting mystery drama; it took me just one night to finish watching it (it’s a very short drama with only five episodes).Influence is about a Yuri, a mysterious woman who approaches a novelist to tell her the story of how (and why) she and her two best friends committed three murders. Yuri asks the novelist to write a story about them.
The premise is fairly simple, but each episode offers a series of intense twist and many heartbreaking moments that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The drama deals with some pretty heavy issues and isn’t easy to watch at times, especially in the first few episodes. Even so, I found the first half of the drama more gripping than the second, perhaps because the actions of the female leads made more sense because, after all, they were just teenagers. About the second half of the drama, I have mixed feelings; after some of the plot twists, I was expecting something more sinister to be at play, but that didn’t happen - this is not that kind of story. It’s simply the story of the deep bond that binds three women together and the twisted sense of friendship they share. It was fascinating to watch.
That said, it's not without its faults, for example the thing about the button was beyond stupid (there’s no way a single button could possibly open a whole ass case that was already closed) or the part where one of the female leads tries to play the “he had a rough childhood” card after her boyfriend viciously attacked one of their classmates. It made sense for her to think that way, but the thing that angered me the most is that no one called her out on her bullshit. I was fucking livid.
Nevertheless, the drama is definitely something different and I would recommend it if you can handle some darker themes.
Was this review helpful to you?
I think this show could have benefited from being a little bit longer, but the story doesn’t feel too rushed. The actresses are all solid, and the way their characters’ relationships evolve over the course of the story is interesting to watch. I enjoyed the framing device too. I honestly think the best parts were when they were in high school, and while it stayed solid throughout there were a few things that bugged me at the end. But overall, it is an intriguing, compelling, well-written, and well acted show. The cinematography was nice as well. It’s definitely a solid thriller.
P.S. this reminded me a tiny bit of the novel OUT by Natsuo Kirino, so if you liked that book you might like this!
Was this review helpful to you?
Worth the watch!!
It was my first time watching a Japanese drama, and I'm delighted I came across it via the Viki app. Every episode of this drama keeps you on the edge of your seat. I knew it was going to be an amazing ride from the first episode; it gave me chills! As you watch it, your excitement grows, driving you to want to see the following episode. It's that good! It hits the heart with its sound effects, actors' emotions, and plot. I'd watch this drama again in the future since I'm definitely going to miss the suspense and characters' relationship.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful flowers grow on trees with strong roots.
"INFLUENCE" is a truly impressive title.Despite its short length of only five episodes, the drama deals with themes such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and guilt in a nuanced, respectful manner. The three main characters, Yuri, Satoko, and Maho, feel multi-faceted and three-dimensional. Although they all clearly have their flaws, the drama still manages to evoke sympathy and understanding for their actions through its immersive and detailed storytelling.
It carefully crafts each character's personality and background to give the viewer an insight into the girls' motivations and intentions, yet it never seeks to excuse any of their actions for pity points from the viewer. The goal of the drama was never to depict three "badass murderous women." Instead, it shows three morally grey women who made poor life choices due to parental neglect and the expectation to "mind your own business" and "keep face" that is so ingrained in the Japanese society. Now, they not only have to carry that guilt until the end of their lives, they are also stuck in a perpetual cycle of murder and death until one of the characters, Yuri, eventually chooses to break said cycle by sacrificing her own future.
At no point did I feel like the friendship between Yuri, Satoko, and Maho felt unnatural or inauthentic or found myself wondering why they chose to do the things they did. The writing, acting, and production are incredible and I can highly recommend this drama to anyone who wants to see a female-led mystery that also addresses heavy topics and offers up valuable criticisms on society.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Slow Burn Mystery
INFLUENCE was a very interesting Japanese mystery drama. Japanese drama's often have a very tasteful, classy and tender sense about them and this one is no exception. An author is contacted by a mysterious woman, in order to share her past story, in hopes of becoming a subject of the author's next novel. The mystery woman tells the story of three girls, one being herself, in their younger years, who were involved with each other at some point in time and ended up committing a string of exchange murders.This drama was very well done and although slower paced for a mystery thriller title, it was very compelling and really brought you into the characters experiences in a realistic way. It was a very beautiful and moving story that keeps you on edge and ever guessing. Kudos for also being a femme-centric series, as well. Definitely memorable and worth the watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
