15 September 2008

魔王 Maō


Title: 魔王 Maō
English Title: The Devil
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Year: 2008
Episode: 11
Cast:
  • 大野智 Ohno Satoshi
  • 生田斗真 Ikuta Tōma
  • 小林涼子 Kobayashi Ryoko
  • 田中圭 Tanaka Kei
  • 忍成修吾 Oshinari Shugo
  • 脇知弘 Waki Tomohiro
  • 吉瀬美智子 Kichise Michiko
  • 劇団ひとり Gekidan Hitori
  • 石坂浩二 Ishizaka Koji



SYNOPSIS
嵐 Arashi - truth
Naruse Ryo is a kindhearted lawyer that helps his clients find justice. Although the public views him as an angel who helps the poor and helpless, Ryo is actually a devil in disguise who plots revenge against people who killed his brother and got away without any punishment whatsoever.

Serizawa Naoto is a hotheaded detective who runs after criminals and makes sure that justice prevails in all cases that he handles. He tries to atone for the mistakes he committed in the past by trying to be good at his job. Naoto's father is a director of a huge company and he is disappointed with Naoto's decision to become a detective instead of working in the family corporation.

Suddenly, people close to Naoto die one after the other in seemingly unrelated cases. However, Naoto receives a red envelope containing a tarot card every time someone close to him dies which leads him to suspect that the cases are somehow related and someone is behind all the murders.



REVIEW
Maō is a very compelling drama and it is one of the best suspense dramas I have watched. The lead actors have portrayed their characters very well, and this may be surprising to some given that the lead actors are idols. I am personally impressed with Ohno Satoshi's acting considering that this is his very first drama.

I really like the dialogues between the main characters when discussing a case, a criminal, and a victim.

Serizawa Naoto: An innocent person died. Kumada-san had a loving wife and children. Don't you understand the feelings of a person that got a beloved family member snatched away?!
Naruse Ryo: That is not restricted to Kumada-san. Whether there's a crime or not, whether rich or poor, people are a precious existence to someone. As am I... and you...

Naruse Ryo: The truth is something that cannot be twisted.



Alike:
kr - 마왕 The Devil


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魔王 Maō