Cozy Mystery in 1920's Japan featuring two Cutie Patooties.
This is a lovely, earnest and thoughtful show with a heart of gold. You could double feature any of these episodes with one of BBC's Poirot with David Suchet and they would vibe perfectly together. The criminal subject matter is handled lightly, with a lot of slice-of-life around it. There are some instances of blood onscreen, but no gore or excessive 'thriller' elements. The emphasis is on the humans involved, their emotions, their actions and, importantly, their lies.
Urabe Kanoko is a young woman who can hear when a person lies. This ability has made her an outcast in her rural home, so she leaves for the city where she crosses paths with Iwai Soma, a financially strapped, but highly observant Private Detective. The two partner up to solve cases, often in and around their little neighborhood populated by an ensemble cast of characters. The cases are interspersed with Soma helping Kanoko explore her ability; her feelings about it and herself, how it affects her relationships with other people, and the very nature and purpose of lies.
Unlike Poirot, Usotoki Rhetoric is more character driven. Both Kanoko and Soma are a joy to watch, with their perky chemistry underscored with a pensive melancholy that prevents the show from becoming saccharine. The ONLY reason I popped the writing score down to a 8 is that while the show explores Kanoko's issues in some depth, the series doesn't give us a lot of concrete on Soma. While I'm assuming that happens later in the manga, and is probably planned for a future season of the show, I wish we'd gotten at least one episode with something really substantive about him. It doesn't detract from the series in a major way, but it is worth noting. Also incumbent is a romantic relationship between the two, but there really is only the faintest inklings of partiality beginning. Mostly, you're watching these two get to know each other, and that's very pleasant indeed.
Matsumoto Honoka is absolutely adorable, and really grounds the show, while Suzuka Ouji keeps things airy and moving. They are charming together, with a comfortable, warm chemistry. It's been a long time since I liked two characters and their interactions quite so much, even though they are both far from being perfect. The ensemble cast are all quite fun as well, which include the family that owns the eatery next to the Detective Agency, a police man and his reporter sister, an elderly couple who run a food cart, and an exuberant wealthy young lady and her chauffeur. Shenanigans are minimum, and this is one of the few shows I've watched where people are actually generally pretty nice to each other.
The 1920's setting is wonderfully represented in costume and set dressing- and it is 1920's, and not just the vague understanding that it's 'Gatsby'. Special attention has been paid to the make-up which is actual 1920's make up, and not just modern smokey-eye glamor. There's a great interplay between the 'modern' and traditional represented visually in clothing and possessions while being echoed thematically in attitudes and superstitions.
This world feels cozy, but not limited; there are locations, even if most of the action takes place in Soma's cramped little office, or the labyrinthine streets of the town and temple. A constant flow of extras, and participation from random characters which don't broadly impact the plot also make the world feel larger than it is on film. This isn't like a lot of drama where no matter how many extras you see, only the same five characters speak and impact things.
Overall I am excited to see more of this, but even if we never do, this is a lovely show that I recommend if you want something gently atmospheric and sweet-spirited.
Urabe Kanoko is a young woman who can hear when a person lies. This ability has made her an outcast in her rural home, so she leaves for the city where she crosses paths with Iwai Soma, a financially strapped, but highly observant Private Detective. The two partner up to solve cases, often in and around their little neighborhood populated by an ensemble cast of characters. The cases are interspersed with Soma helping Kanoko explore her ability; her feelings about it and herself, how it affects her relationships with other people, and the very nature and purpose of lies.
Unlike Poirot, Usotoki Rhetoric is more character driven. Both Kanoko and Soma are a joy to watch, with their perky chemistry underscored with a pensive melancholy that prevents the show from becoming saccharine. The ONLY reason I popped the writing score down to a 8 is that while the show explores Kanoko's issues in some depth, the series doesn't give us a lot of concrete on Soma. While I'm assuming that happens later in the manga, and is probably planned for a future season of the show, I wish we'd gotten at least one episode with something really substantive about him. It doesn't detract from the series in a major way, but it is worth noting. Also incumbent is a romantic relationship between the two, but there really is only the faintest inklings of partiality beginning. Mostly, you're watching these two get to know each other, and that's very pleasant indeed.
Matsumoto Honoka is absolutely adorable, and really grounds the show, while Suzuka Ouji keeps things airy and moving. They are charming together, with a comfortable, warm chemistry. It's been a long time since I liked two characters and their interactions quite so much, even though they are both far from being perfect. The ensemble cast are all quite fun as well, which include the family that owns the eatery next to the Detective Agency, a police man and his reporter sister, an elderly couple who run a food cart, and an exuberant wealthy young lady and her chauffeur. Shenanigans are minimum, and this is one of the few shows I've watched where people are actually generally pretty nice to each other.
The 1920's setting is wonderfully represented in costume and set dressing- and it is 1920's, and not just the vague understanding that it's 'Gatsby'. Special attention has been paid to the make-up which is actual 1920's make up, and not just modern smokey-eye glamor. There's a great interplay between the 'modern' and traditional represented visually in clothing and possessions while being echoed thematically in attitudes and superstitions.
This world feels cozy, but not limited; there are locations, even if most of the action takes place in Soma's cramped little office, or the labyrinthine streets of the town and temple. A constant flow of extras, and participation from random characters which don't broadly impact the plot also make the world feel larger than it is on film. This isn't like a lot of drama where no matter how many extras you see, only the same five characters speak and impact things.
Overall I am excited to see more of this, but even if we never do, this is a lovely show that I recommend if you want something gently atmospheric and sweet-spirited.
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