Erased

I accidentally found Erased on Netflix when I was searching for shows recently added and I gotta say, this show really impressed me. That was my first time ever watching a japanese live action and it only took me a few minutes to not mind having to read subtitles, because that is really the only thing I could complain about.

Great acting and plot. The characters all have noticeable and distinguishable personalities (even the ones that appear in a short time span), helping the viewers understand their ambition and choices.

The show's progression also felt really well detailed for a 12 episodes series, leaving it with little to no holes left after watching.

And I don't even need to talk about the photography, the winter scenes from when they were younger are astounding and they really make the show even more beautiful.

I know nothing about the manga or any previous tellings of this story. I was pulled in during the first episode and binged the entire series. I thought the younger actors were nothing less than phenomenal. The secret of the evil doer was kept until the script demanded. I loved the fidelity the characters portrayed to the very thought of doing good. I rate this high because more people need to watch it!

Half way through the first episode and I am starting to have deja vu feelings. Have I watched this one before? Yes, this one is the live action of the anime, probably the manga too (?), erased. And it does follow the anime plot wise, up to a certain point at least. One thing I have to comment about this drama was the ability of the leading actor to look older at times and like a teenager in other scenes. That gave a good time progress for the story. Also, the kid actors and actresses were extremely good! When it comes to the story, it is a mystery-fantasy plot with great performances and a gripping mystery.

This twelve part series is centred on Satoru Fujinuma, a man with an unusual ability. If he is near the site of an accident he will find himself projected five minutes into the past, enabling him to avert it. One day he gets home and finds his mother, murdered on the floor... he soon finds himself wanted for her murder! As he tries to get away from the scene... then he is thrown back in time. It isn't five minutes though; it is eighteen years! He is a child again, back in his childhood home in Hokkaido. Here he tries to do things that may prevent his mother being murdered; this involves trying to save three children who were kidnapped and murdered at the time. Satoru has no idea who the killer is but is convinced that the man who had been sentenced to hang for the crime is innocent.

I watched the anime version of this but it was long enough ago not to recall key events. I really enjoyed this version. The story progressed well with the concept of Satoru's time-travelling abilities explained early on. Things pick up even more as the action moves to 1980s Hokkaido; its snow covered urban landscapes creating a create atmosphere. The cast, particularly the youngsters, do a really fine job making the story tense and believable despite its fantastical premise. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who likes a mystery and wants something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Once you get past the fact you're watching a Japanese show, and have to read the subtitles -- which doesn't take long -- Erased becomes addictive.

It's a drama/mystery/science fiction series involving Satoru and those around him. I won't include any spoilers. As is the case with many shows, the less you know about it, probably the better.

Binge-watched the first six episodes.