Famille en flammes

This is a bit of a predictable series, made quickly with TV-style lighting rather than movie subtlety. But it's the cartoonish music in the background that drives me nuts. Why is it there? The 90's are long over; why the cheesy synth sounds. Cheapens the whole shoe.

I've enjoyed two Korean comedies recently, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and "Mr Queen," both of which are wonderful shows, complete with excellent translation and tight scripts. Not so with "Burn the House Down." It's definitely not as finely-tuned as "Kingdom"

Still, I enjoyed it for what it is. But while I was watching it, I couldn't stop thinking about the Korean "The Housemaid" and how it ended with a house (and living room/staircase almost identical in both) burning down. Weird how close these shows are.

Japanese Drama " Mitaraike Enjou Suru " is a revenge family drama.

The story is pretty basic and, in theory, it is enjoyable, but it goes astray in the second half. Plus, things get out of hand and the result is so-so, kind of unsatisfying and anticlimactic, but okay overall.

The performances, on the other hand, were pretty enjoyable and everyone handled their characters masterfully. The characters, in addition, were interesting, especially the side characters that really did great and supported the main ones that often were too stereotypical melodrama characters.

So, overall, five out of ten.

Overall, it's a show worth watching. The plot, acting and structure are great. From the beginning to the end, there is no bad episode, no fillers and a total of 8 episodes is sufficient to enjoy this. The star of the show is definitely the stepmother, she played an excellent role and acting was excellent.

However, it does suffer some drawbacks, like parts of the plot could have been expanded on some characters, parts of the plot felt a bit rushed and lacked build up, and the background music could be better - it doesn't blend in with some scenes.

An extra episode or two would have been perfect and I would probably given it a 9.

I watched this all in one setting and each episode kept me hooked. I recommend anyone to give this a go, you won't be disappointed.

"Burn the House Down" is a solid slow-burn thriller that combines mystery and family drama. While the pacing can drag at times, the story still manages to keep you engaged. Mei Nagano's performance as Anzu is a standout, bringing emotional depth and intensity to the role. The tension builds gradually, with a sense of unease lingering throughout, although the twists didn't hit as strongly as anticipated. The family dynamics and dark atmosphere enhance the experience, but the film doesn't quite deliver a mind-blowing payoff. Still, it's a decent watch for thriller fans who enjoy a more deliberate pace.

Anzu Murata (Mei Nagano) applies as housekeeper for the wealthy Miratai family that owns a hospital. Unknown to the mistress of the house, celebrity homemaker Makiko Mitarai (Ren Hanami), Anzu is her estranged stepdaughter who is trying to find out who burned her family's house down 13 years ago.

Back then, Anzu lived with her father Osamu Mitarai (Mitsuhiro Oikawa), mother Satsuki (Elyse Dinh) and younger sister Yuzu (Yuri Tsunematsu) happily and luxuriously in a mansion.

While their house was mysteriously engulfed in flames, Anzu saw Makiko, her mother's friend, among the bystanders, smiling triumphantly as she watched the house burning. Anzu therefore harbored suspicions about the tragic event.

Satsuki became depressed with guilt about being the culprit, thinking she left a stove on and caused the fire. At the same time, Makiko became close to Osamu, comforting him as needed. Eventually, Osamu and Satsuki divorced. Osamu married Makiko and abandoned his children. Satsuki developed amnesia and has been bedridden in a hospital. Anzu believes that her mother's guilt caused her health problems and that an apology from the real culprit would heal her.

This is an interesting watch. There is twist after twist towards the end that leaves one feeling breathless at the ride the writer takes viewers on. The romantic angles are not bad, either.