Dareka ga Kono Machi de jdorama review

 

WOWOW has done it again! Dareka ga Kono Machi de is small town crime thriller about a little boy who was murdered in Yokuna town 23 years ago and the disappearance of a family. Eguchi Yusuke is an investigator who works for Tsuruta Mayu who is a lawyer. 

One day, Aju Makita visits Tsuruta Mayu's office claiming that she is Mochizuki Maki, the daughter of the family who disappeared from the town and the mother was Tsuruta Mayu's family. Eguchi Yusuke investigates the disappearance of the Mochizuki family and starts to discover the dark secretes of the town.

First of Dareka Ga Kono Machi de is a very good crime thriller shot very well by Sato Yuichi who did directed Rokunin no Usotsuki Daigakusei which I just saw in Japan as well as Strawberry Night and my absolute favourite Kisaragi. It has a much more earthy, movie look and Sato Yuichi makes good use of bokeh to accentuate scenes.

If you like dark crimes stories watching Dareka Ga Kono Machi de is no brainer. It is difficult to talk about the series without spoiler so come back after you have finished!

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

Dareka ga Kono Machi de is about what happens when a community is so fearful of crime that they allow those in power to control everything and justify anything in the name peace and safety. In tge beginning of the show, Eguchi Yusuke's daughter died because of the bullying and when the teachers accused her of being a bully, he said that she had no choice but to join or else she would be bullied herself.

This describes the people of Yokuna town. The death of the boy 23 years ago, allowed the security committee to run amoke and bully outsiders in the name of peace and safety. No one tried to stop the stoning of foreigners lest they be stoned and everyone became a bully lest they be bullied. We learn that over time other people get bullied and this bullying or creating enemies for the townspeople to unite against keeps the people in power.

One of the scariest scenes is when Eguchi Yusuke catches a boy shoplifting and the whole town backs the boy because no one in the town is capable of committing crimes and only outsiders can commit crimes. Hhmm, this people getting riled up with righteous anger against outsider sounds awfully familiar.....

I enjoyed the performance of Otsuka Nene's husband. He has no one to turn his anger to except foreigners and enjoys the privilege of being in the security committee but he also realises that being in it is what is keeping him and Otsuka Nene safe. He is basically a character in a difficult situation and ended up being brainwashed and I would argue that the town people were basically hostages to the committee experiencing Stockholm syndrome. 

Great performances all around especially Otsuka Nene as the mother to a dead son trapped in a small town. So great to see Tsuruta Mayu who did Cheap Love, Seigi wa Katsu and Satorare. On a side note, I need to find a good copy of Good News since I only have a bad VHS rip of the first 3 episodes.

The one bad thing I did not like about Dareka ga Kono Machi de is when Mochizuki Maki's mother played by Hyunri so easily let members of the security committee into her house and Otsuka Nene shaking her head telling her don't do it. The fact Mochizuki Ryoko can solve the murder mystery so easily but cannot sense the danger from these people late at night is shocking.

The Mochizuki family murder scene was hard to watch and everyone is so effed up in the head justifying their actions.

Besides that, I have no complaints. Good to see Eguchi Yusuke in a leading role and I love the scene where he stands up against the stone throwing mob. Dareka ga Kono Machi de shows why WOWOW is still the best. Thanks to furritsu for subbing and you can get the raws and subs here. Must watch. Well done WOWOW.