Gonzo: Densetsu no Keiji eps 5-7

Gonzo is so fucking good. I expressed my worry that leaving the investigation of the murder weapon so late at ep 5 would leave a gaping hole and the writers took that issue, turned it around and made an interesting tale about the murder weapon. While ep 5 had many jdorama cliches such as pride in one's occupation, fondness for post war Japan and misguided pride, it managed to present the story in such a way as to fit the main story of the hunt for Monami's killer. Not to mention giving the viewer's a glimpse of Gonzo's mental health and his past.

Kono sekai ni, ai ga aru no?

Ep 6 brings us our main suspect while giving hints into Sakuma and Gonzo's past. I was very worried when the raid on the suspect had like a small army. I had flashbacks to Koshonin which tried to compensate for its horrible 'action scenes' by having tons of police. Deployment of small armies to take down one person is not cool. Its a waste of time and resources. Tactical teams are suppose to be small. The hundreds of cops/SIT etc always end up doing nothing anyway.

Wow, Ikewaki Chizuru has grown since Taiyo no Kisetsu. She has really big eyes.

Good thing the real tension is between Gonzo and Sakuma. Sakuma's hatred is so fucking deep that the viewer cannot help but be intrigued by Sakuma's obssesive spitefulness. Ep 6 ends with a great cliffhanger that really made me wish I had waited for the whole series to finish before watching.

This isn't what it looks like.... or is it? :)

The writers decided that ep 7 was the right time for a flashback ep on Gonzo's past and what a great episode it is. Ikewaki Chizuru damn near steals the show as Saeki Kyoko, a woman who has deep ties to Gonzo's past. Its great seeing her in jdoramas again. The last show I saw her in was Taiyo no Kisetsu years ago. Her acting in Josee, the Tiger and the Fish really made her a good actress in my book. For such a pivotal but short role, I'm glad they got an actress of her calibre.

Gonzo in his moment of weakness...

I love seeing Gonzo before his fall. He is proud and reckless, seemingly believing himself invincible, that he can do no wrong. He treats Sakuma without respect, a minion to do his bidding and follow his whim. Still it hard to comprehend Sakuma's resentment. He doesn't show much emotion. Perhaps he is one of those quite ones who hold grudges and anger in until one day it explodes? However, it seems that his plan of vengeance is more cold hearted than one of emotion.


I love that Gonzo is imperfect. I love that he is faced with tough decisions in ep 7. I love that he is faced with a chance to right a wrong that he did in the past. Its obvious from his face when he found out who Kyoko is that it was something that has been eating him from the inside. Something that he had forgotten about but would perhaps present itself as an unidentifiable itch. I love how they finally explain what 'konno sekai ni, ai wa aru no' is all about. It didn't need to be a great twist, only to make good sense like pieces of a puzzle coming together.


Of course, it all ends in another cliffhanger while makes me so tempted to watch the next episode raw. Gonzo so far has met and exeeded my exspectations. It is a fucking crime that the ratings are lower than the piece of crap show Koshonin. Someone manages to write a good crime/mystery dorama and people would rather watch a pathetic excuse for a cop show starring Yonekura Ryoko? Can't the Japanese public watch a show because its good, not because it has Johnny's?


How good this show is going to be hinges so much on the ending. Especially Sakuma's hatred for Gonzo. How much influence has he had in the events in Gonzo's life? hhmm. Yes, there will be monologuing but as long as the writers try to keep it short and not allow the character to wallow in self pity like 99% of jdoramas it'll be fine. If there's one show to check out this season, its Gonzo!