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    Almael
    Member
    Keizoku 2 – SPEC

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    the special team!

    http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag254/jashiman/JDorama/Keizoku2-SPEC/th_Keizoku2-09-029c_zpsx5rnabfb.png" />http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag254/jashiman/JDorama/Keizoku2-SPEC/th_Keizoku2-10-085c_zpsfbym7usu.png" />

    tooth; spitting tooth attack

    http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag254/jashiman/JDorama/Keizoku2-SPEC/th_Keizoku2-08-030c_zpszdcmfld6.png" />

    Saya’s Mr. pillow

    courtesy Hello! Project

    Saori masu!

    [BBvideo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyUfSRrGEPw[/BBvideo]

    Saori masu! battle

    [BBvideo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA6Jj–44P4[/BBvideo]

    Type: mystery drama

    Genre: mystery, detective, action

    Year: 2010

    Intro:

    This is the continuation of the Keizoku show but made 11 years later with a (nearly) complete new cast. Unlike the first this show is about crime committed by people with paranormal or ESP powers. It’s a remake and an alternative universe. Therefore, by all means it’s “Keizoku 2 SPEC”. Aside from the drama show there are two specials and three movies.

    Synopsis:

    While the SIT (Special Investigation Team) special commando unit went after criminals, Shimura gets separated and shoots at Sebumi Takeru. However, he is hit instead. Sebumi [Takeru sounds worse] is accused of shooting Shimura.

    Sebumi gets shunned to the “unsolved cases” special division SPEC of Public Welfare, the secret police force. It’s located in a separated corner of the MPD HQ. SPEC is tasked with cases of ESP, that can not be explained with science, to build up evidence to stand trial. In other words, handling nonsense cases and claimer complaints that are passed around departments. 😆 Then unit is always on the verged of being crushed from enemies and friends alike. (ESP ability is called SPEC in this show.)

    Sebumi’s rock bottom enthusiasm is met with Toma Saya’s hunger. The one armed woman is totally annoying to his proper and correctness as a policeman. Saya’s patronizing and ease of acceptance of shocking law breaking procedures is another annoyance. Obviously SPEC is used to do this. Yet, she has conflicting issues about lying and telling the truth.

    It’s all unacceptable but no matter how hard he tries to use common reasoning only Saya can solve them. As the cases come and go he is forced to acknowledge her expertise and skill going so far as actually asking for them.

    Unknowingly, the secret enemy organization and the old enemy have been manipulating them since the distant past. It’s a secret war between humans and “established” SPEC population. Saya is fated to face her past again and become instrumental in committing her own sinful cruel tragedy. Having lost everything she finally faces her true enemy.

    It’s a shocking revelation. Will she become the enemy’s slave or die by his hand or…?

    Critique:

    Toda Erika as Toma Saya has lots of much fun. Most of the time she makes all kinds of faces. This is actually true for many of her roles but it’s totally different from her proper public appearance e.g. Hana Yori Dango2. She’s an actress for all I know. It’s refreshing to watch, though. She usually gets bullied by Sebumi Takeru and the criminals. Sometimes she pays them back, of course, and when she does it borders on excessive. One funny thing is she studies Schroedinger’s cat and it seems she still didn’t finish it midway of the show.

    Her ex-boyfriend “Lefty” teaches preparatory physics classes for university entrance exams: writing gravitational kinematic orbital equations and continues with relativity and the twin paradox. This is a hint. This final level is normal for senior high school students in Japan (and some European countries). It’s a mystery why Saya’s stuck with Schroedinger’s. Yet, she calculates the time passed within the Hayabusa space probe because of her father’s work. This is another major background story difference as it occurred after Keizoku.

    It’s also kind of funny watching how skilled she is in handling and eating food of any size(!) with just one hand and chopstick. She eats at least as much as ten people. It’s her “side effect” (term borrowed from World Trigger). You got to wonder how she handles toilet issues. Well, Japanese controls are on the right so it should be convenient. She uses weird tools for cooking…which looks edible, probably. Sebumi didn’t die but is still ungrateful. 😆 She’s probably taste deaf.

    Kase Ryo as Sebumi Takeru is the stiff, soldiering detective. Being stiff with a poker face his acting hardly influences impression. He starts out as ignorant, proper policeman, but due to lack of power falls to the dark side. He basically fails as the perfect counter or sheath for Saya which is all too human. It’s only hinted in the show Saya being some kind of monster. When volunteering for unit Zero, the secret police within Public Walfare, Sebumi pulls a tooth bare-handed! He also has extreme defense reflexes to throwing/flying attacks from the side, e.g. outside FOV. Is he even human?

    Ryu Raita as Nonomura Kotaro is one of the old cast (aside from chief clerk Kondo-kun). This old chief is (still) two timing with an idol police woman, Miyabi! They are there for comic relief and or from time to time make some insightful comment. Miyabi joked once she was pregnant which for some reason is taken as given later on. Further confusion was made with her having a relationship with another young detective. This side story is completely irrelevant to the story.

    There are a number of recurring names from Keizoku which caused some confusion. The show has a reference to Sakai Masato (as Date Kazuyoshi) in Joker where he plays a detective who secretly makes untouchable criminals disappear. It’s a good cruel show with similar things going on, hence, the reference.

    At one time it was mentioned using a PHS phone was alright in a hospital. This is certainly not true at least not in all hospitals. In the same episode there’s a whole listing of Japanese specific diseases.

    As the story progresses it gets clear our two protagonist are just a play-ball in a war between two secret all-powerful all-present organizations and society. Even dogs are serving agents. Yet, both sides, for some reason, need our protagonist as actors in the war. The most trouble some issue is in the later quarter of the show where things suddenly escalate into chaos. Both sides get partially or in whole wiped out and two boss showdowns happening one after another. It’s makes sense watching but having it suddenly explode and end is awkward. In case you are confused, Youta did die. The show is just preparing for things to get resolved with the Special and the 3 follow-on movies, though. I’m not happy about this scripted dependency.

    Saya makes some nice statements after recovering from her overwritten memories saying : she’s who she is. Or rather her super deductive brain cannot be deceived. It’s like when you understand a theory or the matter things you can always recreate the equations. Hence, you actually don’t need to remember an equation if you understand it all. Well, I’m not so sure a personality won’t change when memories are changed, though, e.g. split personality. After all memories, experiences, and meetings make what we are. If the wiring don’t change it should be alright but who knows. Surprisingly, Sebumi manages to recover, too. In his case, it’s sensory / draumatic memory e.g. smell. He’s a hound! Saya further says suffering and pain changes (people) into kindness. This is certainly true that is if revengeful fallen people are discounted. Therefore, facing and accepting pain is important.

    The final episode leaves you wondering what actually happened in the end. Saya used her secret SPEC power “which” independently acted to save them. At least that much is obvious but watch the Special for the answer.

    In the Special, an enemy appears who collects SPEC DNA to gain and control SPEC powers not his own. This is obviously an idea taken from the anime DNA². Saya’s power is finally revealed, too. Don’t be shocked. There’s a reference to Turn A Gundam and Gundam. It’s a leap in thoughts. There are more unimportant references. The Yakuza cop (see Neko Samurai) has actually cool skillz but fails on any other account!

    Saya reveals an interesting cue: the Kanjis for reading Ku-on can be read as Que-en in frenchgish (as Kuon does with Maman instead of Mama). Kuon’s acting is great. Too bad she’s so evil.

    Btw., there’s a new poster on the walls for every episode or instance. I dunno about their connection if any.

    The difference between the two shows is based in time, characterization of the protagonists, and story. In other words, it’s mostly a generation based difference or taste if you will. I think both are good in their own respect and do have their own awkwardness and issues. Keizoku is ordinary but has twists while Keizoku 2 is more (weird) fun and less serious. There are some good stuff in this show, though.

    Verdict: 7.8

    Cast: 8

    Cast performance: 8

    Script/Directing: 7.5