Another day, another drama finished. And this one is a killer!
I’ve been putting off Crisis: Special Security Squad because I’ve given priority binge status to Princess Agents and Goblin. Princess Agents alone is a long watch so I didn’t want to go back and forth between shows. So long story short, finished both shows and finally able to marathon Crisis. And damnit it was sooooo good!! I need more!!
The show is pretty straightforward. Crime drama centered around corruption of government and law enforcement. Crisis is about a team who does all the dirty things that the government doesn’t want any association. Or better yet, a team that handles the cover jobs for the government. Basically, cases of corruption and/or unwanted and fishy business.
Mystery, Corruption, Conflict (all the good stuff)
TEAM. The biggest selling point of the show for me would be the actors and their character arcs. Majority of the cast are unfamiliar to me but I’ve become an instant fan of Shun Oguri. For me, he carried the entirety of the show. But I have to say that his fellow actors did a awesome job with their characters as well. Everybody utilized well and nobody overshadowed. They are a solid team, their dynamic and camaraderie is one of the best I’ve seen.
Their methods are effective but not the norm. Don’t you love a team that operates in their own way? They are interesting yet effective. They know how to get the job done but how they do it is unconventional. They don’t comform to any rules. Nothing over the top, just not protocol. Expected since they handle all the cases that cannot be done by the usual teams.
The best part of the team is the bromance between Inami and Tamaru. The dynamics between partners Akira Inami and Saburo Tamaru was great. Each has their own dark past but as a pair they’re united by a cause to change a rotten system. Their interaction with one another was delightful. There was bromance but lowkey. Given the tone of this show, I’m not surprised they didn’t go over the top with it.
STORY. Another aspect that Crisis did well is how they delivered the whole story. The side stories had their high and lows, although there were intriguing ones. The writers did a good job in tying up the side stories to the bigger picture.
I commend Crisis’ approach to their story delivery. Those dynamic camera shots and fight stunts were a joy to watch. I’m particularly astounded with their stunts because Japanese stunts are sometimes sloppy IMO. Seeing Inami and Tamaru fight made me excited and giddy. Actually everyone can bust a move in this series but Shun Oguri makes it effortlessly sexy.
I knew by EP3 this was going to be a dark story. It wasn’t solely about getting jobs done silently – its about a team trying their best to fight a dirty system. While they do as commanded of them, you’ll witness the inner struggle between belief and duty. Despite the situation they are in, they’re still a team that believes change is possible.
Another thing done right in Crisis is their choice of villains. They are inherently bad and not your usual psychotic stereotypes. My experience of japanese antagonists are not the best. Usually they’re flat and uninteresting. Either psychotic or the usual hack and slash types. Here, their characterization is varied and multifaceted. Also those baddies can fight. Makes the fight scenes more fascinating.
Cliffhanger & missing key (little things to note)
EPISODE. This is one of those instances that I wished a series was longer. Wishing with the second season uncertainty in mind. If there’s a second season, then 10 episodes is perfect. Enough to give us a taste of what they can bring and what more to expect.
ENDING. I often said this but I hate cliffhangers. Cliffhangers are a good plot device but with no news of season 2, I wanted the series to end with a resolution. The ending was great and dark but the uncertainty and unknown is killing me. I don’t want it to end just like that if there’s no season to follow. Atleast give Shun Oguri his closure.
Wrapping Up the Show
Crisis did a lot of things right. For a 10-episode drama, it did a great job. With the number of shows Japan produces, especially cop serials, its hard to pick a favorite. I’ve watched many of them but they just don’t do much for me. Not Crisis though. With its awesome ensemble and story delivery, watching it was an enjoyable experience. Its rewatch factor is also highly favorable. A show that definitely going on my recommendable list.
SUMMARY
The Special Investigation Unit is a secret force of specialists in various fields under the direct control of the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Security Bureau. Its members all have pasts they are trying to put behind them. Inami Akira sustained serious trauma in a special mission and was discharged Self-Defense Forces; Tamura Saburo is also a special missions veteran, but due to an incident was ordered to transfer to the mobile unit from the Public Security Department in the wake of an incident. Picked out by their chief Yoshinaga , they’re joined up by ex-hacker Oyama and explosives expert Kashii to form a special team that will tackle politically “dangerous” threats to the State that the government wants kept secret. However, they find themselves regularly confronting morally conflicting cases, which they begin to realize could shake up the country, depending on their success or failure.
LINKS: OW | MDL | Wikipedia
WHERE TO WATCH: Tubi
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