Strawberry Night 2012

Strawberry Night. This is very serious police drama. The crime is very cruel and bloody but I find the director make the crime in beautiful and elegant way. Well the title of the drama tells itself. For those who cannot stand such as crime, think twice. But I find the crime is real and alive and somewhere we must know for our knowledge. The real villain is unexpected.

I like the character of Himekawa Reiko there. She has strong side, but the other hand her weaknesses showed which balances her personality. As she being the leader of the team in young age, clever, and yes she was not prefect and sometimes a bit emotional, but what makes it perfects is how the important the teammates for her.  Kazuo Kikuta- a nice guy work under her, crush to her- yeah I am love in him and their relationship, become protective and respect to his leader. Other is Hiromitsu Ioka that plays funny character, just like him in gokusen plus what more he likes Himekawa too where the misunderstanding moment with Kikuta is funny. He is funny-relieved subject in this drama. And her chief Ishikura which very understands Himekawa and always advise her to bring justice. All their teamwork and cooperation makes the story great.

Tekeuchi Yuko plays young detective Himekawa Reiko with very complex character. So far it was the best performance from her.

Other police character that may be annoying but I find attractive – Mr Kensaku Katsumata, which very strict and always irritates himekawa by his word.  Katsumata for me is real police; the actor plays the role smartly just wearing a coat with big voice, represent how egoistic the character is. And the police of Kusaka that very neat and traditional in his work, but I find he is funny too besides he’s serious face.

There also sad moments where Himekawa subordinate die, the story of the murderer that also sad, and the feeling of people that losing their loved one through crime cases. But for me the unforgettable episodes are the pilot (episode 1) where the victim dies at the train scene, is so cruel, and episode eight where Kimura Tae revealed the story behind the plot. It is so touching.

There are some murderer words that you may find very irritations but deep to Himekawa career as police,

“You look at gruesome corpses every day. You must felt glad to be alive then.”

The music. I like how the music put at certain climax scene. Horror and thrill but very elegantly in way. Only two music that I attached – The Main Theme that play in tv opening and Strawberry Night reprise. The piano of the ost tell the story itself. And the tv opening video at the beginning, the cinemagraphics just play three colors – black, white and red. It summarizes the face and pain of the victims involved in each crime case. I like how this tv opening is dark and the music suits well, where the image of strawberry showing at the end, the red color may represent blood and pain. Only for 10 seconds tv opening enough to say that this drama is serious, police, dark, crime and mystery.

Totally recommend. 10/10

Memorable quotes

“If I struggled, I might be stabbed, or even killed. When I thought that is stop resisting. Why was it taken as consenting?”- Teen Himekawa