Fan reviews: BOSS

pash · 12 Aug 2011

Having watched them almost one after the other, I can't help comparing this dorama to "Unfair" (particularly since they're both cop-shows with a female lead) and imho "Boss" wins hands down: not only the main character is much better (somebody with brains instead of a female "Dirty Harry"), but also the supporting cast is quite good, the plots are much better and the constant humour makes it much more enjoyable (all this imho of course).
I didn't have many expectations but I ended up unexpectedly liking it.

ester_grace · 13 Nov 2010

Good dorama

Sajen16 · 12 Oct 2010

it's the most fun I've had watching a Japanese police drama, not to say I don't like them, but this one was fun. Everyone was very good to great especially Yutaka Takenouchi, it's a shame he didn't get more screen time, and Yuki Amami, I had never seen her before but now I'm a big fan. I agree the last two episodes were the best were Yutaka was made out to the vilan was surprising because it didn't make sence if he was the bad guy and he thought she was incapable when he picked her to lead the unit wouldn't he have disposed of her when he found out she was very capable?

Sakebitosan · 25 Jul 2010

[Note: Possible spoilers below! Beware!]

I was expecting this to be much better than it turned out to be. That's not to say it was bad or that there was anything wrong with it, just that there was nothing particularly special or engaging about it. The acting was excellent by everybody involved and there were some nice (albeit predictable) twists, particularly in the series climax. But the screenwriting was a lot like that of a standard American television cop show - very journalistic, as in "This happened, then this, then this... The End."

Takenouchi Yutaka has been a favorite actor since his magnificent, larger-than-life role as the composer HaTa-san in the 1998 dorama "With Love," but his talent was largely wasted in "Boss." His acting was fine of course, but the Nodate character - like everybody else in this dorama - was superficial and mostly forgettable. It was actually hard to recognize him as the same actor who played Hasegawa Takashi-san - the characters in "Boss" are so shallowly written they could've been played by any competent actors and there'd have been no difference to the overall balance of the show.

The best of "Boss" was the two-part story in Episodes 4 and 5, in which Kimoto-chan (Toda Erika) is kidnapped by a serial murderer. Yet even that one is undercut by implausible suspensions-of-disbelief and internal contradictions written into the script. In the climactic scene Kimoto, who'd been freed by the team, steps out onto a rooftop, unarmed, to confront her abductor while the rest of the Countermeasures Team waits - something no police unit leader would have allowed - and talks him into giving up. So a guy who had been convincingly presented up to that point as a cold-blooded, fanatical murderer, utterly sociopathic, remorseless and merciless, is suddenly just melted by his former hostage's heartfelt words? Iye.

In addition to more cohesive internal logic and plausibility, better crime doramas - like "Joshi Deka," "Galileo" and the outstanding "Voice" - all have larger, overarching moral lessons written into them, often a new one in each episode, that touch on timeless issues: Integrity vs. pragmatism; reason vs. emotion; ethics vs. "looking the other way" from the crimes of friends/family; science vs. mysticism and irrationality; independence vs. conformity; perseverence through horrific ordeals and obstacles.

This one was only light entertainment, and that's fine, but given the quality level of most J-doramas, the lack of deeper themes was noticeable. It left me feeling a little bored and impatient with what often felt like pedestrian television that wasn't really time well spent. I found myself looking forward to finishing up this series not once or twice, but often, especially in the later episodes.

The series needed better writing - in terms of thematic depth, character development, humor (only a mild chuckle here and there despite some setups that could've been transformed into hilarious comic relief scenes.)

So...entertaining, not enlightening. If you have a lot of spare time to kill, if you've already seen all of the better police doramas and just want some light drama, go for it. Otherwise, IMO your time would be better spent on any of the better police doramas out there.

harni · 30 May 2010

i like the ending so much..

Jackykero · 24 Apr 2010

One of these good comedies.
I compare it a little to Mr.BRAIN, as a typical jdorama-ization of an American concept, in this case the CSI series. Just like Mr. BRAIN, under Japanese hands, the concept becomes more of a comedy, but structured also around cases that the heroes have to solve.
The cases make sense, the comedy is good, the cast perfect (kudos to Amami Yuki for her comedic talent), the character development well done, the pace is fast and keeps you hungry for more, and most episodes will feature an interesting twist toward the end, adding some spice to it. Even the filming is modern and interesting.
All in all, a very good time to spend in front of the TV! Can't wait for Season 2!

japanmylove · 3 Apr 2010

A product of great thinking. Interesting criminal cases. Genuine! The casts are great especially Amami Yuki as the BOSS. I heard there's BOSS part 2 coming up. I do hope so.

acit · 19 Feb 2010

I'm very very new to watchin jdorama(less than a month) n tis is recommended by 3 friends. Well, its worth e praise. Boss makes me fall in love with Yuki Amami. N dun forget e stellar cast. The best jdorama yet.

Shindou · 5 Nov 2009

A cut above most of the crap these days that pose as dramas. I was surprised with some decent character development and Amami Yuki really pulls the rest of the cast through this very well. Some things still don't make sense and that's mainly what prevents me from giving this a 9/10 but it certainly has some commendable points. Would not mind seeing another drama like this!

sevilla.aishiya · 28 Aug 2009

Boss is a very magnificent dorama, every episode is packaged with unexpected ending. Boss (Eriko Osawa) was asked by Nodate-san (Takeuchi Yutaka) to come back to Japan as a head of countermeasure unit. The current post that shefs holding now is as FBI agent in New York. At the age of 40 years old, shefs not married yet but she has a long time friend which they are gin the relationshiph for 5 years.

Team member of countermeasure unit was Yamamura who has problem with ageing balding, Kimoto - the nerd girl who is good in voice and visual analyzing, Iwai - who has personality disorder, he likes guy, Hanagata and Katagiri - who I say they are the most normal compared with others. At first Eriko-san complained to Nodate about her subordinates who will be working with her, but Nodate has no choice as to explain her that only these people that each department doesnft want them anymore.

The first case was about using people as a target bomb. The suspect is Negaki-san who works in the factory, he wants to take a revenge to people who makes his factory goes bankrupt. The negotiation done by Eriko was perfect and she did a correct profiling too. In the end, her team manages to identify the whereabouts of last victim and neutralized the bomb.

Negaki-san becomes the key person in last episode as Eriko has to negotiate with him for neutralized the bomb installed by black moon members led by Takakura Ryouhei (Takashi Sorimachi). Nodate-san was one of the persons who were captured by black moon organization and from here the story became interesting. Become the police is to protect the public and not taking for granted the position. The last 2 episodes were the best and I really shock with the ending. Happy watching! You guys also will enjoy the act by Takeuchi Yutaka, hefs so cute there.