Un-Go...
I have a soft spot for detective dramas, so, Un-Go seemed like something I might enjoy...
Early on, Un-Go establishes the idea that Shinjurou is a great detective, along the lines of Sherlock Holmes, operating in a corrupt world where his achievements are often usurped by his rival, Kaishou Rinroku, a highly-placed authority who uses the results of Shinjurou's efforts to help the authorities conceal misdeeds while simultaneously claiming the credit in the public’s eye, thus leaving Shinjurou with the nickname "Defeated Detective". After watching Un-Go in one sitting, in my humble opinion, Shinjurou does not always succeed as a great detective as he seems to rely heavily on Inga to expose truths and some of the truths he does manage to expose are not always supported by what we see on the screen.
As a pure detective drama, Un-Go fails to live up to its own hype, but, once again, Inga, single-handedly lifts the series out of mediocrity and into something quite enjoyable. Inga's child form is a treat to watch as you’re never sure what odd statement Inga might make or what action Inga might take. Inga seems rather aloof and, at times, detached from reality. Inga's child form is often used for comic effect to lighten up what would otherwise be quite a boring series. Inga is very sensitive to people who are concealing a truth. Inga often reacts uncontrollably to expose the truth and, at key moments, Inga will transform into an adult female form that takes an almost sadistic pleasure in drawing the truth out of her victims. Inga is, by far, the unquestioned star of the series.
Of course, in the latter half of Un-Go, where Inga is not as helpful to our wayward great detective, the series, in my humble opinion, strays too far from Inga and so, I found the latter episodes a bit less enjoyable than the initial episodes. My favorite scene is where Shinjurou and Inga make their first appearance on an elevator and are greeted coldly by Koyama Izumi of the prosecutor's office. Then, naturally, there’s a scene in the following episode where Inga chases Umezawa Yumeno and follows her into the ladies room to extract a truth.
There are quite a few people who found Un-Go somewhat disappointing. With its shabby detective work, stock transformation sequences, rather lack luster episodes in the latter half of the series, and supernatural elements which require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief to be effective, many people, were justly underwhelmed by Un-Go. And, while there is a modest amount of red ink, Un-Go is by no means gory. Likewise, there are no naughty bits to speak of. Overall, Un-Go has more than its fair share of flaws, but, despite its flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed Un-Go. I would give Un-Go a 4 out of 5.
Un-Go is a series of detective stories adapted from early 1900’s stories which were updated to the modern era and given a supernatural twist with the introduction of Inga, a being with the power to draw souls from people. Normally, the process of removing a soul in its entirety would kill a person, but, due to an understanding between Inga and the so-called "Defeated Detective", Shinjurou Yuuki, Inga collects only the portion of a soul that concerns a hidden truth, but, leaving the victim very much alive. The collection process involves Inga asking the intended victim a question and compelling that victim to answer truthfully. As one might expect, the supernatural aspect of the series, in order to be effective in the context of this series, requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief.Some call him the "Last Great Detective." Others call him the "Defeated Detective." What's certain is that he's Shinjurou Yuuki, a young man with a passion for mysteries and a talent for solving them that has made him the target of dark forces now stirring within the sinister underworld of a near future Tokyo.
That could prove lethal, given that not even the other "good guys," including the police, are exactly on Shinjouro's side. Fortunately Yuuki's not completely on his own, and with the aid of his uniquely talented associate Inga, he's ready to cut a swath through the veils of secrecy that have been laid before him.
Early on, Un-Go establishes the idea that Shinjurou is a great detective, along the lines of Sherlock Holmes, operating in a corrupt world where his achievements are often usurped by his rival, Kaishou Rinroku, a highly-placed authority who uses the results of Shinjurou's efforts to help the authorities conceal misdeeds while simultaneously claiming the credit in the public’s eye, thus leaving Shinjurou with the nickname "Defeated Detective". After watching Un-Go in one sitting, in my humble opinion, Shinjurou does not always succeed as a great detective as he seems to rely heavily on Inga to expose truths and some of the truths he does manage to expose are not always supported by what we see on the screen.
As a pure detective drama, Un-Go fails to live up to its own hype, but, once again, Inga, single-handedly lifts the series out of mediocrity and into something quite enjoyable. Inga's child form is a treat to watch as you’re never sure what odd statement Inga might make or what action Inga might take. Inga seems rather aloof and, at times, detached from reality. Inga's child form is often used for comic effect to lighten up what would otherwise be quite a boring series. Inga is very sensitive to people who are concealing a truth. Inga often reacts uncontrollably to expose the truth and, at key moments, Inga will transform into an adult female form that takes an almost sadistic pleasure in drawing the truth out of her victims. Inga is, by far, the unquestioned star of the series.
Of course, in the latter half of Un-Go, where Inga is not as helpful to our wayward great detective, the series, in my humble opinion, strays too far from Inga and so, I found the latter episodes a bit less enjoyable than the initial episodes. My favorite scene is where Shinjurou and Inga make their first appearance on an elevator and are greeted coldly by Koyama Izumi of the prosecutor's office. Then, naturally, there’s a scene in the following episode where Inga chases Umezawa Yumeno and follows her into the ladies room to extract a truth.
There are quite a few people who found Un-Go somewhat disappointing. With its shabby detective work, stock transformation sequences, rather lack luster episodes in the latter half of the series, and supernatural elements which require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief to be effective, many people, were justly underwhelmed by Un-Go. And, while there is a modest amount of red ink, Un-Go is by no means gory. Likewise, there are no naughty bits to speak of. Overall, Un-Go has more than its fair share of flaws, but, despite its flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed Un-Go. I would give Un-Go a 4 out of 5.
