The End of Uselessness?

Who would believe that Maruo on Tokyo Dogs is actually ending his streak of uselessness?  Not that he was totally useless before, but he certainly didn't do a lot aside from hitting on ladies and believing in people.

Well, he's still up to his old tricks--but now he's also busting gambling rings all by himself, going undercover, and even saving Detective So.  Oh my God, how did that happen?  (Granted, Det. So only needed saving for like 30 seconds and could totally have gotten himself out of it...but he didn't!)

As if all that weren't enough, Maruo's adamant belief in other people proved to be more than just another stereotypical element of Japanese storytelling.  It actually 1. helped solve a blackmailing case and 2. infected Det. So to the point that he was unnecessarily nice to two whole people.  Holy crap.

PS:  Guess who wore a suit for a good three-quarters of an episode?  The tables have turned, my friends. 

Tokyo Dogs: Now for Ladies

If Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro's law-enforcing shenanigans weren't enough to get us ladies to follow Tokyo Dogs, the plot has decided to incorporate some female-friendly elements of its own.  In short:  Love triangle.

Episode four saw "Nice to Every Girl" Maruo develop quite a crush on female lead Yuki.  (This also lead to some cute "I'm going to impress you now" moments.  Who knew Mizushima was so good at being embarrassed?)  Even if he won over the audience, Maruo failed to win the girl:  She likes stoic Detective So.  This would normally demonstrate a severe lack of judgement on her part, but Det. So is pretty awesome.  Det. So has yet to let us know where he stands on this issue, but we can all take a guess.

So!  Down to the speculation:  Who will she choose?  If past J-dramas are a good indicator (and we all know they are), Maruo is going down in a ball of second-male-lead flames.  Of all the dramas I've seen him in, Mizushima Hiro has only managed to get the girl once.  (He's even lost to a robot.  Come on!)  

Further plot developments should be interesting--and not just in a hilarious police love stand-off kind of way.  The writers are playing a little bit with first and second male lead stereotypes.  Usually it's the straight-laced, reliable guy (So) who ends up on the losing end of the love triangle.  Of course, Det. So will likely follow the first male lead pattern of being a jerk at first, but changing because of the female lead's love for him.  (He's already showing signs of softening:  Not shooting anyone in the knees and talking about his feelings only semi-grudgingly.)

What I'm really interested to see, though, is how this whole thing is going to affect Maruo and So's budding partnership.  Gene Wilder said that any buddy movie is really a romance between the two friends, and I think that applies to Tokyo Dogs as well.  Maruo and Yuki spend a good deal of episode five trying to figure out Det. So.  As Yuki starts to like Det. So more, so does Maruo.  Hopefully this will lead characters to reevaluate their opinions of each other and lead to some actually complicated relationship dynamics.  

Cross your fingers, people!  So far, the writing could go either way... 

The Day That Would Never Come

Tokyo Dogs episode three was posted earlier than I expected.  The show continues to be lots of fun, even if no one got shot in the knees through a door.  (You're going soft, Detective So.)

I've got to say, though I thought this day would never come, I am so in love with Oguri Shun.  He's beaten out Mizushima Hiro, largely because of this:

 

I am still laughing, people. 

Mizushima Hiro's hobo-chic and penciled-on facial hair do not stack up, even when judging solely on hilarity.

Their characters' roles this episode also influenced my change of heart.  Detective So (Oguri) managed to save the day at least four times.  I didn't even know there would be that many days to save in one episode.  Maruo (Mizushima) was pretty much stuck angsting and/or loudly declaring his belief in other people.  This is nice, but proved pretty useless as far as accomplishing the character's goals.  Detective So accomplished his goals, Maruo's goals, and had dinner with his mom.
PS:  Please don't take it too hard, Mizushima Hiro.  I know my opinion means the world to you.  Don't worry, your mad English skills are still impressive.

A Shot to the Knees...?

It's a joke between my friends and me that Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Joss Whedon's Firefly guarantees there will be a punch to the face in every episode. (Feel free to keep a tally; he doesn't disappoint.)

We may have to start saying the same thing about Oguri Shun in Tokyo Dogs--but replace "punch to the face" with "shot to the knees through a door." I'd have thought this instance too specific to repeat, but the show's creators seem to disagree with me. It would be pretty awesome to guess who'll get shot in the knees through a door next, so let's hope the implausible trend continues.

PS: Check out what a Google image search for "Tokyo Dogs" brings up. Isn't that adorable?!

Awesomeness: Confirmed

Tokyo Dogs totally lived up to my expectations. I tend to zone out during action sequences, but these were funny/plotty enough that I could still pay attention. Things weren't hurt by a ridiculous shopping montage that actually did a nice job establishing character.

(Just a note: Moderate, but awesome, spoiler ahead.)

However, I can't help but wonder what the Japanese think our American police force is like. Oguri Shun shoots a guy in the knees! Through a door! Without provocation! Mizushima Hiro has this weird "what a typically American thing to do" response. Really? Is that what the world thinks we're like? Also, apparently no one here likes fish...

Knowing America's world reputation is not at its highest right now, I have a hard time just chalking this up to "Japan is crazy." Anyway, please enjoy the further adventures of a hobo, a banker, and their niece.

Remember Dragnet?

And I mean the Dan Aykroyd/Tom Hanks Dragnet. Japan remembers, too. Tokyo Dogs is the super-promising j-drama reminiscent of that 1987 classic.















So far only part of the first episode is up online, but it already has me rolling off the couch laughing. There's a New York police shoot-out with real Engrish, the ins and outs of where not to buy a suit in Tokyo, and two of my favorite actors. Mizushima Hiro has a strong comedic side that's coming into play, and Oguri Shun actually cut his hair to play the mildly grumpy straight man. From what I've seen so far, this show should be some awesome "odd couple" fun.

PS: Mizushima Hiro's new hair is only marginally better than before--with some penciled-on facial hair added for good measure. Hair and make-up artists of Japan, can we please go back to the days of Zettai Kareshi?