Unnatural - Was it the first non-anime Japanese drama I ever watched? I'm not entirely sure~
It tells the story of a group of forensic pathologists at Japan's newly established Unnatural Death Investigation Institute (UDI).
Unlike novels, TV dramas don't give you room for imagination. But through visual storytelling (no mental effort required) and synchronized audiovisuals (like the theme song Lemon by Kenshi Yonezu), combined with tightly paced plotting (one standalone case per episode, ten episodes in total), it grips your heart firmly.
This is a detective-mystery genre that Japanese creators excel at, but its ambition goes beyond that.
Suicide organizations, wealth disparity, labor conflicts, family dynamics, school bullying, the role of media-all these are themes explored in the series.
Death is the ultimate question of life's journey.
Aside from this show, another death-themed piece I watched this year was the film The Breaking of the Hell, which, like "Unnatural" , uses death to reflect the chaos and struggles of the living world-those deep questions we often ponder at night.
The ending of this drama responds to a question (or perhaps an answer) that has lingered in my mind for over a decade:
Is the result more important, or the process? Is it acceptable to achieve one's goals by any means necessary?
Of course, the story still delivers a happy ending after choosing the right path. But I know all too well that the real world is often far more complicated. More often than not, what we observe is that "the noble ones have their epitaphs, while the wicked hold their passes."
So, when truly faced with a cruel moment of choice, do we still possess the courage to refuse unprincipled means?
It undoubtedly carries the aura of a masterpiece. After watching it, I personally believe it's well-deserved.
The convictions it upholds, the moments of being loved-all strike a genuine chord.
