rambles & mumbles...

Beginning 2012 is a busy year for Arashi, and we have Lucky Seven to start our 2012. It’s another overhyped, overpromote, overrated drama just because FujiTV thinks that casting Arashi brings in ratings, particularly when it’s Matsujun. Well, they’re right this time because at the end of the season, Lucky Seven beats Strawberry Night *what!?!!!?* in the rating department. So, what’s the hype about Lucky Seven is all about? Fans must have seen the fighting scene in episode 1 before the drama even started, well, it’s everywhere from news, magazine, VS Arashi, and I believe wherever FujiTV could think of. Yes, it’s because the director (or production team?) is the same one who made Gantz, but does it work the same way as Gantz?

Lucky Seven is about a detective agency Lucky. It initially has only 6 members and it has 1 more member thanks to Shuntaro, a neet who’s having affair with a married woman (this is the very first scene in Epi 1, latest gimmicks to get fangirls’ hearts aka ratings) and alas, he got caught by the detectives who later become his colleagues. As a newbie detective, Shuntaro tends to stick his nose more than necessary in cases, and Nitta, his senior in the agency, often disagrees with his way, but in the end Shuntaro has his way because he’s the lead in this drama. So, what are the cases that this drama will present to us?

I have problems with this drama that resulted me watching the whole series first before I can write an objective review. Why? Because if I just base my review on the first episode, it’ll be a very brutal review and I feel it’s unfair to dear Matsujun. The boy worked so hard for this drama, I mean, look at his toned body in episode 1, he must have worked hard to build it for our eyes’ pleasure :p. The thing about Gantz is that it has solid story telling and there’s no break in it, and I can’t even call Gantz as action packed movie because there’re more stories than the action itself. But with Lucky Seven, after episode 1, I was left with, so, what is this drama about again? Detective agency? They got a case, OK. Then they went out to investigate it, OK. Then when the agency decides to consider the case is done aka close, Shuntaro will go above and beyond to close it for the client in a more humane way. Extra perks? Fighthing scenes, OK. Matsujun kicks ass in every single episode? OK. Other than that? I don’t see anything else. That’s a problem for detective theme drama because it doesn’t make me to want to know more. This drama doesn’t focus on how the agency solve the case like normal detective drama. They’re more focus on funnies eg. The team ganging up on Junpei in nitpicking his comments (well, he’s asking for it) and the fighting scenes. I have to make myself watch this drama because I feel bad for Matsujun and don’t have the heart to abandon his drama, though I’ve dropped some of his in the past. I’d say the drama just become more interesting on the last 3 episodes, which when I look back, the rest of the episodes look like fillers. Off course, the last scene with the 5 colored Tokyo Tower will be the highlight of the final episode, so this is another way for FujiTV to get the ratings again, well it works, but it doesn’t mean the drama gets a plus point though.

When we talk about the characters in this drama, we’re looking at characters that are not well build. If you take out one of the characters in this drama, I don’t think the story will change a lot because the characters are there just for the sake of being there. Yes, I’m especially talking about the girl with the glasses and windbreaker. I totally have no idea on her character except that she’s just being there. Even when you look at the main character, Shuntaro is just there making noise but by the end of the series I don’t really get what kind of person this Shuntaro is. Yes, he did get more motivated in doing his work and got confidence that he’s actually good at being a detective, but so what? Instead of more venture in Shuntaro’s character eg. What makes him a womanizer (any trigger?), we get Shuntaro to be around in almost every single scene and he must kick ass in every single fighting scene except when he had his ass kicked by Nitta. Why? Because FujiTV need to remind the audience that Matsujun is the main cast here, not Nitta. This pattern will go around couple episodes until they cut Nitta off. Why the cut off? Probably it’s because Eita has other work, this part I’m not really sure, I just happen to come across some comments in some forum and don’t intend to do more research, so I’ll just leave it at that. And, Shuntaro spending time with his family doesn’t mean a character building. What about other characters? Compare to the main character, I’d think Junpei got more presence and though he’s a goofy character and relatively loud and exaggerated in almost every scenes, at least we know that it’s just his personality, and he can be serious at times. I don’t think this setback is the actors’ fault. They actually have a great casting, but it’s the script and plotting that have problem.

The only consolation for me on this drama is the OST, Wild at Heart by Arashi (go figure). It’s another pick me up type of song, typical Arashi song, but it comes with full blast of sparkles, glitters and rainbows that they just spark in your head every time you listen to the song. And yeah, from the PV to the performances, they all come with the shiny glitters and sparkles until you have to cover your eyes *mabushii*.

So, I’d think you’ll only pick up this drama if you’re a fan of Matsujun or Arashi fan in general that feels obligated to watch it. Other than that, if you’re into the fighting scene in the drama, you can just fast forward to the scene because I have to be honest, they’re done quite crafty and neat especially when we’re talking about drama here.

But fear not, this drama is just the beginning of Arashi invasion to your TV in 2012. Next? We have Mikeneko Holmes and Kagi no Kakatta Heya.