SP

Title: SP
English Title: SP (Security Police)
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2007
Episode: 11
Cast:

• 岡田准一Okada Junichi
• 堤真一 Tsutsumi Shinichi
• 真木よう子 Maki Yoko
• 松尾諭 Matsuo Satoru
• 神尾佑 Kamio Yu
• 飯田基祐 Iida Kisuke
• 野間口徹 Nomaguchi Toru

SYNOPSIS

V6 - way of life

SP or Security Police have the duty to protect. It is a group of professional bodyguards that safeguard important people, even if it means sacrificing their own lives at times.

Inoue Kaoru works as a security police and he is exceptionally good at his job. Together with his team, he tries to protect his charges to the best of his ability and he intends to keep his charges alive as long as he is responsible for their safety.

He lost his parents at a very young age when a terrorist killed them in a public place. Due to the trauma, he developed heightened senses and a photographic memory. Kaoru's special skills help him in doing his job responsibilities well but the stressful nature of his job aggravate his special condition, which is harmful for his health and well-being.

REVIEW
Security Police or SP is a special division of the national police that is assigned to guard VIPs. I would just like to point out that I'm simultaneously amazed and bothered at how organizations (in this particular context, the national police)  are very structured in such a way that different departments or teams have very specific jobs and responsibilities.

I was bothered because apparently, the security police have the duty to protect but they cannot arrest criminals. Superiors of the security police team are always on their backs, criticizing them for overstepping their duties. I think although their primary duty is to guard their charges, they have the related responsibility of arresting criminals and terrorists who intend to harm their charges. So whenever the security police are being reprimanded for making arrests while on active duty, I honestly do not understand where the superiors are coming from.

It's an action-packed drama and I think the fight scenes are choreographed well. However, I didn't think it was fast-paced enough for me. It takes about two to three episodes to discuss a particular crime, which is about one to two episodes too much.

I was initially impressed with Inoue Kaoru's special skills but when it was revealed that his special skills are superhuman and are a result of trauma that he experienced in childhood, I was somewhat disappointed. I don't know, I think his character would be more impressive if he is an ordinary human with heightened senses rather than someone with supernatural characteristics. 

I also didn't like that the nature of his job aggravates his special condition and is harmful to his health. It seems that Kaoru takes pride in his job and I think it's sad that he has to leave his current job in order to remain healthy, or rather to become healthy.

Related:
SP (2008)
ＳＰ　野望篇 SP Yabō Hen
SP (2011)
ＳＰ　革命篇 SP Kakumei Hen


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SP