Unnatural

Satomi Ishihara strikes gold again. Is it too early to claim Drama of the Year? Probably.

Unnatural follows the lives of the forensic pathologists of the UDI, or Unnatural Death Investigation Lab, who are passionate professionals driven to uncover the truth behind the deaths which are glossed over.

The structure of the show is done often with procedurals, crime, and thrillers. The case of the week is juxtaposed with an overarching mystery, which progress is slowly made on as the finale draws near. It's easy for this kind of format to go wrong - you could focus too much on the cases and ignore that mystery until it's too late (Mystery Queen), or make the cases slightly duller than the main mystery (Hello Monster). Unnatural struck the perfect balance.

  What made it so different from a classic murder mystery or crime drama is that having the cases skewed to the perspective of forensic pathologists and their colleagues is something we've never seen before. Often, murder cases rely on circumstantial and external evidence - looking into how much a body can give away is fascinating. And that's just the murders! The drama showcases a whole range of unnatural deaths, from homicide to road accidents. Whatever it was, it was always compelling.

  I don't know how Akiko Nogi managed to make each case massively interesting, whilst remembering to keep it grounded and emotional. No-one ever forgot that UDI existed on the basis that victims deserved to know how their loved ones died, and when the show was at it's best, it was devastating. It tackled hard themes in sensitive ways.

  I love Ishihara Satomi, and she was my driving force behind choosing Unnatural. Thus, I was surprised to find the writer opt to leave her on the sidelines of the bulk the character development and emotional growth. Rather, Mikoto's resilience and determination inspired that in others - despite hard beginnings, she moved on, and her inquisitive and cheerful nature drew others to her. Props to Aruta Iura here for making something out of a difficult character that could easily have been disengaging. I loved the misunderstood bastard from day one. And I really appreciated Masataka Kubota's inclusion in the cast; it was through him that the audience was capable of slowly coming to love the UDI and everyone in it. The potential attraction hinted between him and Mikoto was mostly played for laughs, but was nevertheless endearing.

  There isn't much more to say - I can't capture this drama's genius in words. Just make sure to watch, and prepare to be amazed.