Start of Monsters!
I'm about to finish watching the first episode of Monsters, right before the second episode airs. I know it's late, later then I'd usually like to watch dramas that are currently airing, but I was caught up with watching Smile as well as the subs aren't as fast as other dramas I watched airing at the time.
I must say the first episode has me impressed. It's long, an hour and a half, but once I got past realizing that it was long, I am enjoying it. Yamapi's acting has improved since Saigo no Jinsei no Owarikata ~Ending Planner~, and you can see the amount of work that he has put into the role. I do enjoy the character, I forget that it's Yamapi, a recurring trend in what I expect in an actor. If I forget that it's an idol acting, my expectations for the drama are pretty my fulfilled. The character towards the end is a teeny bit annoying, but it was scripted that he's naive so Pi plays that well.
Katori Shingo has taken me buy surprise. Truthfully, I haven't watched very many dramas outside of those acted by Arashi, and I stick to the actors I know and love (i.e. Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, Yamapi), so he's come out of no where (maybe not no where, but no where for me) and impressed me. As expected from a veteran. :) He plays creepy well, and I respect him for it.
I haven't found out who the killer is yet, so chotto matte while I find out ne~
And so I have finished Monster Episode 1. I think the storyline is definitely lacking in the mystery area, they could learn a few lessons from Criminal Minds. Then again, I thought some of the crimes in Kagi no Kakatta Heya was flimsy, and I guess it just needs a little suspension of belief. It is a drama after all and I'm actually looking forward to seeing how this pans out :D
XOXO