ST: Scientific Task Force Impressions (Ep 1-4)

I just finished watching episode 4 of ST: Scientific Task Force and the ending took me by surprise. If you're a regular viewer of Japanese detective dramas, you'll know that the storyline always consists of cases that typically fill up one episode. If its a bigger case then it might take up two. But behind all the case by case episodic format, there is always a central mystery surrounding a certain character or group or character. In episode 4 of ST, two central mysteries were revealed. When the first one was hinted at, I felt normal because I expected it. Jdramas typically don't have two central mysteries so when the second one was hinted at the very end, it was like a rock was being thrown at my face. I was surprised in a good way and that prompted my desire to blog about it.

First off, here is a general plot summary of the drama:

The ST team at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department consists of highly skilled but eccentric members who come from different backgrounds. Akagi Samon works as a forensic analyst and acts as a leader on the ST team. He is skilled but has a phobia that causes him to recluse himself. Yurine Tomohisa is given the task to manage the ST team and serves as the chief. He experiences difficulties in dealing with the team. The ST team often comes into conflict with other detectives at the police department due to differences in opinion and deduction methods. 

Before this drama, there was a SP that aired in the summer of last year that introduced this Scientific Task Force while solving a case. I haven't watched that SP and was completely unaware of it when I started watching this drama, so I'm just going to assume that it doesn't have any connections with the drama other than the characters and such.

The best part of this drama would have to be the relationship between Akagi (Fujiwara Tatsuya) and Yurine (Okada Masaki). Whenever they interact I just get a tickle in my stomach. I love love love their bromance which consists of a love hate relationship. I was a bit wary in the beginning since I never really liked Fujiwara Tatsuya. My reasons were shallow and I do regret it. In fact, I'm thinking of changing my ways and not avoid dramas just because I feel like the leads aren't appealing visually. After watching all the Death Note live action adaptations, I still didn't like him. He was also in Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu (original J-drama version of That Winter, The Wind Blows) which I loved but his character didn't appeal to me at all. This drama was really the game changer for me. I was instantly drawn in by his cute reclusive character and his low voice was like a deep-voiced hot man-angel to my ears. I have no idea why I never paid attention to his voice before, having watched him in two movies and a drama. Anyhow, the past is not important. I love him now.

Okada Masaki is as cute as a button in a role that's tailor made for him. This sounds pretty evil but I love his character Yurine when he's frustrated and angry. His also has the cutest grin ever. I've always liked Masaki and I'm glad he is in a new drama after doing his impressive little stint in Legal High 2. His hair is just off the charts lately! I feel like he's never had a hairdo that I hated (SUPER RARE FOR AN ACTOR). He kind of looks like a clown with his curly hair but it just makes me love him all the more.

I ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT SHIDA MIRAI. WHO GAVE HER THAT WIG AND MADE HER WEAR IT?!?!?! Sigh. I love Shida Mirai but this fake hair is just making it so hard. You're making it so hard, stylists! Hideous wig aside, her character Aoyama Sho is a profiler who has skipped a bunch of grades and has a PhD in criminal psychology from America. She also has this phobia of order (like the opposite of OCD) and needs things to be messy or she can't think. I'm like her character but I need a new drama from her pronto with normal hair.

The cases in this drama have so far been just a little above mediocre. The best part about those cases are how they're solved. The whole ST team is filled with quirky characters that just make you giggle with their interactions. There have also been a few heartwarming moments where we see past the weird and realize all of them have their own struggles.

As for the central mysteries, the one hinted with Watabe Atsuro made me the most curious. He plays Saegusa Toshiro, the MPD counselor that created the ST team and was responsible for it. We see him leaving the police department in the first episode to become a coffee barista. I knew that Watabe had a bigger role other than just being a barista who guides the officers but I didn't expect him to have his own mystery arc. Anyhow, I'm still excited about it and cannot wait for the drama to start leaving hints about him here and there.