The Hot Spot

Deliciously quirky-but-gentle comedy of manners about a nerdy fifty-something alien working as a hotel desk clerk in Mt Fuji.

Mr Takahashi, who looks totally normal, comes out as an extra-terrestrial to his co-worker - 40ish single mother Kiyomi Endo - after he had to use his powers to save her from being hit by a truck while cycling home. Ms Endo lets a couple of her close friends in on the secret, but the neurotic Mr Takahasi pleads with her to keep it quiet beyond that.

Of course, any other program about aliens living on earth with superhuman strength and speed would be the cue for plots about planet -saving escapades. But the twist here is that Mr Takahashi has otherwise very human attributes. He's a lazy, vain middle-aged man with a bad back and often skives off from his work post on the nightshift to use the hotel onsen, insisting he needs to bathe in the hot mineral waters to 'restore' his powers.

The other twist is that Ms Endo and her friends plead with him to use his powers, not to fight injustice, but to attend to mundane tasks like recovering stolen bikes or dislodging basketballs from gymnasium ceilings or replacing screen protectors on smart phones. In each case, Mr Takahashi (like a put-upon husband) makes excuses and tries to wriggle out of doing any work. Of course, ultimately he gives in begrudgingly and saves the day.

It's this juxtaposition between the alien's shear ordinariness and the extra-terrestrial nature of his powers that ignites the comedy.

Being Japanese, the show also derives much of its humour from social embarrassment and discomfort - as well as by highlighting the contrast between the rigidly polite codes of Japanese culture and what the characters are really thinking.

Altogether, the low-stakes situations and social tensions together with the deadpan delivery of the lines - in particular by the delightful Mikako Ichikawa (who plays Ms Endo) - makes for an almost Seinfeldian mix. Like that classic US comedy, ''The Hot Spot' is a 'show about nothing' except for one detail - the central character comes from another planet.

It works brilliantly as a satire of indulged male malingerers in Japanese culture who are superheroes in their own heads but who have to be brought down to earth by busy, practical women who just need a few chores done.

The fantasy 'fish out of water' element of a supernatural being living awkwardly in the human world while trying not to blow their cover also is rich in comedic potential and recalled for me classic 60s US sitcoms like ''Bewitched' and ''My Favourite Martian'.

In summary, this charming and sweetly affectionate comedy is just the tonic I needed in an increasingly crazy world.

A very interesting storyline idea about an alien living a regular life in a small town in Japan. That gets you started on the series.

In a few weeks, you realise the interesting storyline is only an "idea" you have told yourself !! You quickly realise the bunch of Director: Itaru Mizuno, Nobuyoshi Yamada, Kento Matsuda have done the very worst work ever in the history of TV series, creating the most boring program ever.

The story revolves around a half-alien man and 3 human women. All 4 living nondescript lives stuck in boring careers.

Each of the actors trying their best to convey dead pan emotions with their voices, face, body and in all other ways an actor conveys a story to the audience.

For 8 weeks now I have watched, hoping they would somehow made it better. Every week keep getting duped.

A soviet era documentary would be more refreshing.

Deadpan comedy and the juxtaposition between mundane every day life and a half alien helping out results in a wonderful storyline of human interactions. The dialogues are funny, the plot surreal and refreshing. This is not your typically alien sci-fi. No breathtaking action or saving the earth. The subject of each episode is much smaller, much more mundane, which makes it mundane and human. In particular the way in which each character reacts to the revelation there's an alien sitting at the table is brilliant. It takes a story about aliens to give us a very real and fun story about humans.

I'm hoping for a season 2.

The story starts with a single mother who works at a decent hotel with her co-workers one of which she didn't know at the time was an alien or half alien since his mother was human. So after almost getting hit by a truck that is when she knew of takahashi's powers and secret. She then enlisted him to do menial things for her to make her and her friends life a little easier. Towards the end of this series it is discovered that the hotel is being sold and the one that would be most affected would be their alien friend. My rating of an 8 reflects that so if there is a second season where the outcome of the hotel is settled and what happens to the alien is revealed then I will come back to adjust my rating. One thing I would appreciate it if this website not alter my review except for grammar if I misspell something. I will be awaiting a second season for a conclusive ending and to adjust my rating accordingly.

I don't really have much to say so I don't know that I'll be able to write enough to reach the required minimum. That said if it kind of stayed like the way it's been the eight episodes so far I think I could watch a lot more. It's so low key but at the same time funny and in this interesting way so "on point". I also wonder if the way the dialogue has this funny charming melodious quality sounds as striking to people who speak Japanese as it does to my ear ? Okay now I'm just filling up space. I like it. I like that it just seems so kind of intimate in the way that it does to me and I hope that there will be more at least for awhile. It's been awhile since I wrote my review, maybe I've seen three or four more episodes, and even if it would probably be undesirable for the actors I just want to say that I don't want it to ever end and now when I watch new episodes I'm filled with the bittersweet awareness that with each new one the last one draws closer. "We were wearing the same jacket. So I wanted the conversation to end soon." Tarantino eat your heart out . . ..