After two years, Matsumoto Jun comes back to the drama scene with 99.9 Criminal Lawyer.
The story revolves around Miyama Hiroto (Matsumoto Jun), a criminal lawyer who makes little money. He is scouted by Madarame Law Firm, a big-shot law firm in the country, and works with a team comprised of leader Sada Atsuhiro (Teruyuki Kagawa), female lawyer Tachibana Ayano (Eikura Nana), and paralegals Akashi Tatsuya (Katagiri Jin), Fujino Hiroki (Magi), and Togawa Natsuko (Watanabe Makiko).
With Japan's 99.9% conviction rate, the team works together to pursue the remaining 0.01% truth in the cases they handle.
As a Matsujun fan, I was personally excited when this drama came out. His last drama was Shitsuren Chocolatier way back in 2014 which I didn't enjoy as much as I did his other dramas. 99.9 Criminal Lawyer, however, was something I really liked.
It piqued my interest when it was said that this would be a legal and crime drama, as I enjoy crime series very much. I also dreamt of being a lawyer once, until I shifted on to foreign affairs instead. Part of why I enjoyed the drama was the chemistry among the team. Miyama, Sada and Tachibana were like siblings (or possibly father and children) who got on each other's nerves just because. The whole team itself seemed to click, which was enjoyable to watch.
The acting was, as usual, on point. It still encompassed the usual exaggeration found in Japanese acting, but it was also relatable in the sense that some of their quirks and interactions were something a normal person would do. And the cooking! I was close to salivating whenever Miyama went into this "thinking cooking" mode he usually speeds off to, ignoring everyone else.
One thing I did not like, however, was the editing at some parts. Particularly when the dialogue is fast-paced, the camera flips from one person to the other in seconds, it almost gave me a headache. I could think of ways that would show the extremely fast-paced exchange without giving the audience an aneurysm.
My Verdict: A-
I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. It was fun and fresh, and Matsujun certainly did great by choosing this as his comeback drama. Despite not enjoying the editing in this drama, I found the drama to be something to be enjoyed. It reinforced once again that people should always look at something from different perspective, not letting something box you in.
Overall, I recommend this drama if you want something light yet still want to see a crime or legal drama.
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