Jdrama - ATARU review

This is the first drama I watched with "Nakai Masahiro". This drama was both comical as well as emotional. I like it because it shows how everyone can be useful if they were put into a correct space, also, never underestimate the power of love.

Plot

The story all begins when there is an explosion at a chemical factory which left one person dead. The investigation team concludes that it is merely an accident, but Ebina Maiko has her doubts. When she goes to the site to investigate, she finds a person there who introduces himself as "Chokozai" (in the version I watched they translated it to something silly like a nickname). After blurting out a series of words that Maiko cannot understand, he suddenly falls asleep. Maiko decides to look up the meaning of these words. She is taken aback when she discovers that when put together, these words provide the key to solving the case. -- TBS

I won't give out too much of the plot, you can watch it if you are interested (it is much more interesting when you watch it, I was in tears, hope you will be too). 

SP Ataru: The First Love, The Last Kill

(Side note: I hated the second SP: Ataru: The First Love, The Last Kill, it totally ruined not only Ataru's character but also the whole Ataru series and storyline... I understand what they were trying to do, but instead of making the story more interesting, it a bit repulsive. I am hoping they will create a second season of the drama *fingers crossed )

Characters:

the main cast in Ataru

Ataru (played by Nakai Masahiro ) has a very pure heart and always wants to help others, he suffers from "Savant Syndrome". Savant Syndrome gives a person the power to  discover, observe, see through, and deduct microscopic evidence of unsolved cases, because of this "disability" the FBI recruited him 20 years ago and trained him to solve difficult criminal cases. After staying in New York for so many years, he felt home sick so he returned to Japan. His sad past will be revealed as the story unfolds.

Ataru accepts missions to start investigation, once completed he says "mission accomplished

Ebina Maiko (played by Kuriyama Chiaki) is a police, but the reason she was hired was because she looked pretty and could be a spokesperson for the police force. She was never respected for her doubts or investigation as she was never considered to be a "real cop". But despite all the misery and disrespect, she is determined to find the truth behind every "accidental" death. She believes that there is no such case as non-criminal and that every unsolved case must be solved. (This is the result of her mother's accidental death). Ataru decides to follow Ebina and she takes care of him while he helps her solve cases.

Ebina and Sawa arguing to solve a case (Ebina's poster can be seen)

Sawa Shunichi (played by Kitamura Kazuki) is Ebina Maiko's senior officer, he is responsible for her actions, he is constantly the sandwich between Ebina Maiko and his superior (Youji Nakatsugawa (played by Kyusaku Shimada)), because while Maiko tries to solve accidental cases, the investigation team would rather have them closed and unsolved. At first Sawa Shunichi  was suspicious and reluctant to listening to Ataru's "hints" but later on, under Ebina Maiko's determination and success he follows her and listen to Ataru for clues.

a typical scene where Ebina Maiko always ask Ataru for help

Together: Ataru, Ebina and Sawa change the way the Investigation team looks at every case. They help the victims and their loved ones find the truth to their deaths. Each episode contains a meaningful story and each episode you learn more about the characters.

Ataru loves to eat

Thoughts to take away

• Give the opportunity to meet someone and take time to understand them
• a pure heart is the most important
• determination is the key to success
• Everyone is useful in their own unique way
• Everyone loves, they just have different ways to express it
• When you ask someone for help, make sure you are asking as a friend and not using them as a tool

official website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/ATARU/