Rounding out my drama reviews for this season, we finally make our way to perhaps the drama with the most buzz. With a prime cast, a decent concept, and good production, Lucky Seven seems to be the must watch for most general Japanese drama fans. The show should be able to pull in viewers pretty easily, but will it be lucky enough to hold on to them?
Lucky Seven stars Matsumoto Jun as Tokita Shuntaro, a rookie private detective working for the titular agency. Among his coworkers are veteran funnyman Oizumi Yo, ikemen actor Eita, and relative fresh face Naka Riisa. MatsuJun doesn’t start as a member of the team, but rather as a target. Lucky Seven starts mid-job with the other three stalking Jun and a young lady in his company. It isn’t until Jun finds out later that Eita set him up to lose his girlfriend that he becomes an employee at with the other PIs. He’s accepted by the owner and boss of Lucky Seven, played by Matsushima Nanako, almost immediately, but the rest of the gang aren’t too warm to him. The hot headed and determined Shuntaro joins the gang on job locating a local firefighter. Since Jun is the star of the show, he obviously joins the team permanently (or at least for another 10-11 episodes).
The show is set up pretty well. Matsumoto and Eita play off each other with ease and decent comedic timing. They are the rivals for this drama, trading both insults and fists. Both characters seem to be pretty versed in martial arts, though Jun’s style is a little more unorthodox. I have a feeling they will work physical fights into just about every episode to show off these two. I’m not sure if Jun and Eita are doing their own stunts and fight choreography, but if they are, kudos to them. Also, Eita is pretty ripped (nohomo). The tension/chemistry between the two reminds me of Tokyo Dogs a couple years ago, with Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro. Naka Riisa is the necessary female presence on the show. She’s pretty, in something of an old fashioned kind of way, and smart and isn’t afraid to give her male coworkers shit. Oizumi Yo gets the role of exasperated leader, having to deal with the bickering between Eita and Jun, the complaints of Naka Riisa, and basically maintaining order amongst the team while on jobs.
If Japanese dramas are anything, they’re structured. Any fan of this kind of show already knows where the plot is heading. Each episode the crew will get another job. Jun and Eita will bicker about how to handle it, whom is suited for which role. Oizumi Yo will tell everyone to do something a certain way and they’ll listen for the most part, until Jun realizes he can accomplish something on his own. A possible problem will arise, but ultimately everything will work out in the team’s favor. Throw in maybe some romance with Naka Riisa, a feel good moment/overlaying moral lesson along with each job, and a finale that challenges everything the team knows—and you’ve got yourself Lucky Seven. I’m not knocking the style; I enjoy these kinds of dramas. Just because there’s a set structure doesn’t mean every production can pull it off well. But, I have a feeling this one will do just fine.
Lucky Seven has the cast and production value to pull off a good action comedy. With comedic actors like MatsuJun, Eita and of course Oizumi Yo, the funny should be there. If the first episode is any indication, the action should be there as well; the fights were very well choreographed (for a tv drama?). This is the kind of drama I can watch mindlessly because it’s just good enough to keep me entertained. The one thing I can really hope for to break the cycle is some interesting cases. Lucky Seven is worth the time to check it out, and after you get a feel for the vibe of the show, maybe you’ll stay on through the season.
