Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange

Rollercoaster

+Fast pace, no fillers
+Every episode has something unpredictable happen
+Memorable and likable cast of characters
+Good acting from mains, especially the ML
+Humor mixed with serious moments
+Good soundtrack

-Soundtrack is occasionally too loud and in your face
-Some of the overacting and dramatic camerawork fails and gets cringe instead
-The overall cartoonish style of characters talking to themselves, punching walls and being overexpressive might not be for everyone

It is, however, fine with me and I enjoyed Tengoku to Jigoku a lot.

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Thrilling psychological drama, with awesome acting!

A drama with really good acting by Issey Takahashi and Haruka Ayase, to the point where I started reading their Asian Wiki profiles to find more of their dramas!

Loved the music, great acting and plot!
While the plot features the switching of souls between a police detective and suspect, a troupe used before, it is the good acting of both leads, which brings out the intensities of their emotions, subtilties of expressions. The viewer goes on a ride with both leads, experiencing Haruka's frustration to catch the suspect while facing suspicions (she's now in Issey's body) and Issey's desperation and desire to thwart the police efforts

The overarching mystery itself however, was not much to shout about (I remember feeling disappointed at the eventual conclusion, as it felt heavily rushed and a damper to the end of the drama).... but the psychological play and tension held between both leads was fantastic

Spoilers ahead:
Japanese dramas enjoy linking matters of the heart/relationships to the moon and red thread, and the use of the Moon as symbolic story point is awesome here. How it was used was unconventional, and it was nice it took the leads a while to find out how it affected their soul exchange!

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Psychopath + Body Switch + Light Comedy!

They switch body faster than I thought, so it starts off on a fast pace. It keeps me wanting to watch next episode. Somewhere near the end, I find it a bit messy but it surprises me with plot twist after plot twist

I really enjoy the show, especially ML's acting!! The FL was a bit annoying, even after the body swicth lol, but come around okay towards the end. So, stay on!

While I agree with how it ends, but I wish it's a little different. I think the ML's sense of justice to protect others are quite twisted. It's not as touching or heroic as the drama makes it out to be

For someone who is so kindhearted, talented and bright, I can't understand why he made all the decisions he made at all. In fact, it's quite frustrating and disappointing

That's just more like my personal opinion.

Putting that aside, the show is really exciting to watch, and it's really funny too. We've quite a sidekick too!

The mix of detective + psycho path + body switch somehow works really well

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One of the best written Jdramas!

I've just finished this after randomly watched this through my Netflix recommendations and I must say, it was really really good!! Didn't really expect to be hooked on this drama but frrrr, almost every episodes made you full of curiosity. This show is really intriguing and full of mystery, I really enjoyed this!!! And the actings are so so good!!!! The ml is so so charming! Especially, when he's back to himself, so I gotta listen to his deep voice hahaha and the fl is soo prettyy and really good too!! Yamaki and Riku made me frustrated a bit but they still helped the mc a lot hahaha and the Sexual-Hara detective was really annoying but I'm just still impressed how good of a detective he actually is, minus his dirty tricks lol this show has quite minor flaws and all of them are not really big, so I don't really have any issue with them. And I know this drama is already amazing as it is, but a little part of me hoping for something more of the mc(?) hehehe because I love their chemistry!!! They're more to platonic bond but lowkey hoping for something more especially, when the ml still wanted to protect her even when he'll be labeled as a murderer and also, the fl wanted him to just tell the truth even tho it means she'll get punished. Their bond is 🥹 Anyway, this might be one of the most well-written Jdramas, if not the number 1. So so recommended!!!

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The mystery wasn’t the crime—it was the script

I know I’m in the minority here, but this is just my opinion. 

After trying to watch a couple of episodes of this drama, it ended up frustrating me, and it’s no fault of the actors.  

First of all, I can’t comprehend why anyone, especially someone who is supposed to uphold justice, would jeopardize an investigation by tipping off the suspect, so that the latter could escape, just because she didn’t get to handle the case. I know Ayako is sour about her not getting the credit for her hard work, but this being selfish on her part. She prioritized her feelings first and not being objective in the matter. 

Secondly, I’m not denying the existence of misogyny, particularly in a patriarchal society, but the way she was treated by her colleagues and superiors was infuriating.  

Thirdly, Am I supposed to believe that after swapping their bodies, that somehow their personalities also changed? What happened to the non-nonsense attitude that Ayako had? It seems that she lost her bravado once she lost her body. Granted, anybody in that situation will probably be fearful of the sticky situation she found herself in. 

Fourthly, the way Ayako’s “partner-in-crime” quickly figured out that she swapped bodies with Haruto, as if this is an everyday occurrence, is beyond me. I know I have to suspend some disbelief in a supernatural drama, but even then, I can’t ignore all the loopholes. Sorry, dropped.

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Interessante e divertido.

Esse é um drama com uma proposta bem interessante, a troca de almas, que não costuma ser tão explorada. Os personagens são apresentados e tem sua evolução de maneira sutil, além de terem suas fortes convicções de vida que é sempre reforçada, como o senso de justiça da personagem principal.
É uma história de investigação e cada vez mais vai ficando interessante, sempre nos deixa um gosto de quero mais para saber qual será o próximos passos do assassino e como a protagonista lidará com tantas dificuldades que cruzam seu caminho, enquanto continua a investigar e nunca deixar a policial dentro de si fraquejar.
enfim, eu me diverti assistindo, gostei das músicas e os enquadramentos de câmera. Tem alguns plots na obra que deixam ainda mais legais.

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Le soleil a rendez-vous avec la lune

Le retour de la plus "dangereuse femme au foyer" du Japon, Ayase Haruka, dans un thriller policier ne pouvait qu'attirer mon attention. J'ai donc regarder le premier épisode de Heaven and Hell sans vraiment lire le résumé et je dois dire qu'au bout de 40 min j'étais prêt à abandonner l'enquête. Celle-ci étant menée de manière bien trop classique, voir ennuyeuse, avec en plus un montage des plus étranges. Entre paysage de claire de lune onirique et scènes animés hors sujet. Sans parler d'un choix musical d'un autre âge avec un "pom, pom, pom, pom" que même Beethoven ne supporte plus. Et pourtant il est sourd.

Tout est fait, en plus de cette introduction de plus d'une heure quand même, pour nous faire détester l'environnement de l'héroïne. Malmenée par ses supérieurs ultras machos voir caverneux quant au statu de la femme, qui touche à la parodie tant l'unique femme enquêtrice peut faire faux dans ses bureaux bourrés à la testostérone. Mais en même temps, les dernières déclarations du patron du commité olympique japonais nous rappelle à quel point les situations de drama sont encore la réalité des femmes japonaises de 2021. Certains diront que ce sont des banalités sur le Sekuhara et autres Powahara dans les entreprises, mais on se convaincra que c'est pour les besoins de la série et le changement de personnalité en sera que plus marqué. Vous devrez donc attendre les 5 dernières minutes pour comprendre le pourquoi de tant de lourdeur dans ses situations, qui ne sont pas pour autant excusables, tant au point de vue du fond ... que de la mauvaise mise en scène. Si vous avez lu cette critique jusqu'ici, vous aurez donc la patience d'apprécier la série à partir du deuxième épisode.

Le body swaping n'est pas nouveau et mainte fois repris dans beaucoup d'œuvres. Entre mère et fille pour que chacune comprenne les difficultés générationnelles de l'autre ou pour des échanges de vie que chacun trouve merdiques, mais une fois échangée, elles sont géniales ... jusqu'à regretter l'ancienne. Mais ce qui a été peu exploité dans les séries, c'est l'échange Cop-Serial Killer. Ce n'est pas dans la tête, mais littéralement dans son corps que l'héroïne se plonge, donnant ainsi une leçon d'acting particulièrement réussit. Devant jouer les deux rôles, son magnifique sourire devient un inquiétant masque quand cet Elon Musk japonais prend possession de son corps.

Takahashi Issei, joue ce beau gosse surdoué, aux tiques étranges, richissime et patron d'une firme ultra cotée qui vous veut du bien (Elon Musk donc) n'est pas en reste dans le jeu d'acteur. Il me ferait même oublier Ayase Haruka, tant son personnage féminin est touchant. Même si les tiques, des deux côtés d'ailleurs sont un peu forcés, pas de problèmes du côté du jeu une fois l'échange fait.

Les scènes de crimes sont particulièrement gores, ce qui dénote avec le reste de la série. Mais de la légèreté fait son entrée dès le deuxième épisode, puisque comme tout bon body swaping, une scène de levé de drapeau surprendra notre enquêtrice. Et malgré mon statu de fan incontesté de Your Name je peux encore être amusé par ses légèretés et sûrement vous aussi. On ne se refait pas. Et heureusement d'ailleurs, car la fin du 1er épisode laisse vraiment présager de scènes d'une rare violence perpétrées par une femme psychopathe assoiffée de sang.

Des acteurs merveilleux, car même la lourdeur de Kazuki Kitamura habitué des rôles de flics balourds fait mouche (et oui !). Un scénario qui semble tenir la route pour l'instant, du suspense haletant et du fantastique qui surgit de nul part. Seules certains choix musicaux sont à revoir. Excuse-moi, Ludwig, mais tu ne fais pas le poids face au Tadaima de Teshima Aoi. Mais ne change pas d'apparence qui veut. Il faut savoir se contenter de ce qu'on a et on a là un bon thriller-fantastique qui va vous tenir en halène jusqu'à que le soleil reprenne sa place à la lune.

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