Gaiji Keisatsu + Mister X on Johnny's and the state of Jdrama

[alexandral]

I need a good Jdrama to watch, to balance my Kdrama viewing. Gaiji Keisatsu attracted my attention.
Anyone has seen it? Is it any good? I am in a mood for something dark, but I am not in a mood for something extremely naive under a surface of dark, as the majority of police-related Jdramas are (SP, I am looking at you).

Comments

[blueocean80]

Well, his wording comes off as too strong (understatement of the year!), and that makes me want to 100% disagree with him on principle, but he has a point. I wouldn't call singers/dancers turned actors "vermin" and "the cancer" of the industry -there are many a instance where idols have done an amazing job with their dramas and movies- but nobody can't deny the fact that these days most jdoramas use idols to attract viewers and that can be detrimental to the drama, if the idols were cast JUST for their popularity without taking into account their acting skills. Are other drama industry free of that behavior? Of course not, look at how many kdramas have cast idols just for their names and popularity, but IDK it seems it seems more of a widespread and acceptable occurrence in the j-entertaiment.

BTW, I'm biased: when an idol, esp one I don't know or I'm not a fan of, is cast in a drama/movie, no matter if it's a Korean/Japanese/Italian/French/whathaveyou movie-tvshow-drama, I'm usually wary of that just like I'm cautious whenever someone whose ability in a particular field is not proven is hired to that a job that it's not his/hers to begin with, if that makes sense? Cos I've seen that IRL, too, so to speak and, well, as I said, I'm weary of that. But that doesn't mean that that person can't do a good job. Sometimes I'm impressed or pleasantly surprised by idols (ie Taecyeon in Cinderella's sister, Yamapi in Buzzer Beat, heck even Hongki in YaB).

My point is, I think Mister X has a point, but he expressed it in such a way that I do want to disagree with him because it seems like he looks down on Johnny's or people like them just because of who they are and I? don't like that kind of attitude. I also don't like the implied message that idols' fans, as viewers of dramas in which their idols act, are bringing down the industry and/or lowering its standards. IDK, it seems such a condescending I'm holier-than-thou attitude to me. People like what they like and the industry will follow what viewers demand. That doesn't mean idol-free jdoramas/movies will disappear imho.

PS: and to answer your question, I have no idea if Gaiji Keisatsu is any good.

PPS: sorry for the multiple edits, but whenever I post, I think of something else to add. *facepalm* As you very well know, I do have a problem with jdoramas and how TPTB cast people for them. I think we've discussed this before and I don't think it's a problem related to idols only. Thing is, jdoramas are focused on storytelling more than anything else and sometimes acting and actors are just an afterthought and THAT is the core problem of this whole debacle. If you're focused on the story itself and everything else is secondary then of course the quality of the product IS going to be less impressing. Of course, I may be reading jdoramas all wrong and getting a wrong impression from them...IDK. I don't claim to be an attentive viewer.

[alexandral]

My point is, I think Mister X has a point, but he expressed it in such a way that I do want to disagree with him because it seems like he looks down on Johnny's or people like them just because of who they are and I? don't like that kind of attitude

Exactly, I agree. The way he/she worded the whole rant is a bit over the top, and to add, it sounds like he/she meant every word. This is a kind of post , and in a widely visited media, that starts big wanks.

I don't like Johnny's entertainment at all, but I would never say the same about the actors and singers in there, especially not in such a strong way. For one thing, Takuya Kimura , one of the best Jdrama actors, is from Jonny's and I like many others. It is not their fault that they are put in those circumstances - be with Johnny or never reach popularity.

Then objectively, Jdrama is not exactly going down the drain, with Johnny's boys or without. Didn't they just have that article in The Chosun Ilbo that Jdramas seem to be winning Korean public?

I do have a problem with jdoramas and how TPTB cast people for them. I think we've discussed this before and I don't think it's a problem related to idols only. Thing is, jdoramas are focused on storytelling more than anything else and sometimes acting and actors are just an afterthought and THAT is the core problem of this whole debacle.

I don't think I agree with you on this fully. In my view, Jdramas do focus more on storytelling, they have better varied stories over all. But their actor casting never seemed to me as is afterthought. I think there are some very good example of acting in jdrama?

[blueocean80]

This is a kind of post , and in a widely visited media, that starts big wanks.

yup. Well, I tend to stay away from long posts cos they tend to be ranty or spoilery, both of which I want to avoid. Heh.

It is not their fault that they are put in those circumstances - be with Johnny or never reach popularity.

that's another problem I have with some aspects of J/K-entertainment. The way they hire kids and overwork them to make them become idols while the kids/young actors have little or no say in the projects they have to do rubs me in thw wrong way. And that also happens AFTER they've become idols, but I think that's beside the point of this conversation? Or not. XD

Didn't they just have that article in The Chosun Ilbo that Jdramas seem to be winning Korean public?
I think kdramas started getting popular with Winter Sonata and from then on, they gained popularity. Now kdramas and k/celebs are big in Japan. I do think one of the reasons why this happened is because kdramas tend to be more romancy than jdoramas and happy endings are more common.

I think there are some very good example of acting in jdrama?

Yes, that's true, but that was not what I was saying. Gah, I need to elaborate on the "afterthought" line. Sometimes I have the impression that the way the script is written (more focused on the story of the character rather than the character itself and how the story affects him/her) affects the casting and the acting. I mean, sometimes I feel like any 2 j-actors could have been cast for the same role and that wouldn't have changed the drama in ANY way. I'm not saying casting IS an afterthought in jdoramas, but I'm saying it feels like it is and I'm also NOT saying j-actors who get cast do a bad job: I'm saying that because of the way the script is written, the casting is sort of almost non-influential. Casting is important for the ratings, IMHO, but it's not as important as in other industries whose stories are more character-driven and in which actors can drastically change the way the drama is. If that makes sense? Mind you, I'm not saying the acting is bad in jdoramas.

FYI, I choose the kdramas I watch based on the summary of the plot and the casting is only secondary for me because I know that if the summary appeals to me, chances are I'll be happy with the casting and the acting too, but I DO choose jdoramas based on the actors in them regardless of the synopsis because I know that story will be well-structured and interesting and if I like someone's acting that it'll follow I might like the story he/she chose.

[alexandral]

I think kdramas started getting popular with Winter Sonata and from then on, they gained popularity. Now kdramas and k/celebs are big in Japan. I do think one of the reasons why this happened is because kdramas tend to be more romancy than jdoramas and happy endings are more common.

Yes, this is true. But I have seen an article that Korean people seem to watch more and more Jdrama: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/12/29/2008122961001.html

I'm saying that because of the way the script is written, the casting is sort of almost non-influential. Casting is important for the ratings, IMHO, but it's not as important as in other industries whose stories are more character-driven and in which actors can drastically change the way the drama is. If that makes sense? Mind you, I'm not saying the acting is bad in jdoramas.

Oh, I see what you mean. I think many of jdramas are story-driven, but I know some really psychological ones, where the casting is important.