A David Lynchian Trip To Atami

Joe Odagiri and Chiaki Kuriyama in Atami No Sousakan

Just like the disappearance of Laura Palmer brought Special Agent Dale Cooper to the eccentric small town of Twin Peaks in the David Lynch classic of the same name, so does the disappearance of four High School girls who were on a bus ride to school send Agents Kenzo Hoshizaki (Joe Odagiri) and Sae Kitajima (Chiaki Kuriyama) of the  “Wide Area” Department (“We’re like the Japan version of the FBI”, says Kitajima) to the odd little town of Atami.

And just like Agent Cooper before, Agents  must deal with the town’s meager police force 

Not even kidding, So much stuff in here is lifted directly from Twin Peaks as to almost seem like a Japanaese reboot! Dancing Waitresses, Red Velvet Curtains showcasing freakish entertainers, quirky townsfolk and of course a heavy does of the supernatural to top it all off!

They even had a riff on Dale Cooper’s signature quote “this is, EXCUSE ME, A DAMN fine cup of Coffee”, with Agent Hoshizaki gushing similarly on a piece of bread.

 They even had Hoshizaki constantly talking on the phone to an unseen woman back home named Motoko, much like Agent Cooper did with a woman named Diane.

Must say, I was THOROUGHLY entertained throughout the show, even in the parts where things got boring or confusing, there was always those crazy characters to elevate any scene into something fun to watch! 
As the show got more and more "out there", somehow I knew it wasn't going to end in any "regular" way, and indeed concluded in just about the same eccentric way that the rest of the show did...still can't say I wasn't entertained!!!

Loved Chiaki Kuriyama as Sae Kitajima in this one, very kakkoi and smart character who didn’t take no guff from no one! In the first episode, she struggles to bring her heavy luggage up into the inn, where she gets there, Kenzo whines, “Hey, where’s MY Luggage? I NEED my suitcase!” I was thinking, “Oh great, this is going to be one those shows where the one guy bullies the young partner”. Bt then she gives him this look and says “You can go get your luggage yerself!!” And I was like, “YESS!!!!”

Also a BIG  thumbs up for Fumi Nikaido’s absolutely delightful character of Remi Amari, the rascally high school girl who spends her time either fawning puppy love all over Kenzo, or rebelling out in school! Easily one of the best characters I’ve seen Fumi play!

 Also was particularly captivated by actress Ayaka Miyoshi who played one of the girls who had disappeared.Very sombre aura about her, she reminded me at once of a young Riko Narumi, surprised I haven’t seen more of this girl in recent dramas. Think the only other drama I saw her in was Angel Heart!

EDIT: In the happiest coincidence, Nao Kanzaki 's LATEST post gives us a wonderful update on what Ayaka's been up to the past few years!
Mmmm, she grew up into quite a gorgeous young woman!!!