Fixer season 1 was an ok Karasawa Toshiaki show about a political fixer trying to solve the case of how the Prime Minister of Japan got into a car accident which left the Prime Minister in a coma. It was more of an investigative dorama than political fixing but it was an watchable.
Season 2 of Fixer feels different. A lot of times when there is a season 2, you are wondering if they can replicate the feel for season 1 again or if there is more story to tell. It feels like season 1 set up a bunch of characters and season 2 we are seeing where the story is taking them.
In season 2, the reporter Watanabe Tatsuya is framed for attempted murder of the wife of the Tokyo Governor and Karasawa Toshiaki has to bail him out. Joining the cast for season is Suzuki Honami playing the defence lawyer of Watanabe. She acts the same as she did in Suits and I can't complain because I love every moment she is on screen, especially with Uchida Yuki.
There is a lot more political manoeuvring in season 2 although same as season 1 it is a whodunnit but the criminal is obvious and it is more about the court case and Shitara going up against legendary fixer Goichi Hongo played by Nishida Toshiyuki
Where Fixer lets me down is that the writing is not as sharp. The details aren't as good. The attempted murder frame up was way too flimsy. For someone as powerful as Shitara Kenichi having just one bodyguard is not enough. He needs a team to do what he is doing. I guess my complaint about the writing is that the world of Fixer doesn't feel real enough. Maybe its for budget reasons since Fixer has so many great actors but details help ground a story and make it real for the audience.
It is still fun though. Fixer has so many of my favourite actors including Kaname Jun, Kobayashi Kaoru, Ishiguro Ken and Yasuko Tomita. Kobayashi Kaoru is such a good actor that he can play such a conniving politician in Fixer and the warm master in Shinya Shokudo. Yasuko Tomita I have been a fan of since Suzuki sensei and I really like her as the Prime Minister. As for Kaname Jun, I wish I had time to rewatch Akuma no Bengonin because that was such a fun show.
If you are a fan of the actors in Fixer, you should check it out. Season 2 is better than one. Unfortunately only the first episode of season 2 has been subbed but I managed to get Japanese subs from avistaz which made it easy to watch. After the cliffhanger surprise ending of season 2, it is on to season 3!
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