Puzzle (2008)

Story: Each episode has it's own mystery story, some are better than others.
-Some of the prizes/rewards got predictable, and by the 7th episode, I could guess what would happen (pertaining to the 'treasures' or 'prizes', at least).
-There are several deaths in this drama, but none are very graphic. (The 'example' imaginings with "X" are cute and funny)
-the antagonists are easy to guess in some of them, but rather obscure in others, it's episode/mystery dependent.
-That being said, you may need to be familiar with the language to truly follow along with this and keep up with the characters. References to kanji and radicals are in abundance.
-I didn't like the last episode, it didn't have an "end" feel to it at all. It left me rather unsatisfied.

Acting/Cast: The acting really saved this drama. The scheming girls make you want to hate them, the teacher is funny and oddly endearing, the boys are hilarious, and the relationships between all the characters seem to be very real. Even the background characters that appear for one episode are completely submerged in the perfect roles.
Sometimes the teacher can come across as being cheesy and fake, but those are mainly during the times her character calls for it.

Music: The background music during the drama was suiting and didn't stand out, so it was fitting and appropriate. I really don't focus on the music in dramas, because that's not the important part to me. If I don't notice it (yet don't notice the lack of it), it's doing its job perfect. I did feel anxious and jumpy during some parts of this drama (much like the feeling of a thriller/scary movie), and that was probably thanks to the music.

Rewatch: Might be worth it, to be able to focus more on the acting and relationships than the mysteries. Possibly seeing things previously missed that could be plot holes or something... But I'd rather watch something new with Yamamoto-san in it.

Overall: I liked it. It entertained me and ate about a day out of my life (just like a drama should). I feel it could have been better, somehow... but that could just be because the last episode is running through my head and I didn't like it much (again, no "end" feeling to it. Very open). I would say it's worth a try, if nothing else~

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While this show lacks any real continuing story, it's still a great watch. Especially if you're looking for a break from some of the more intense dramas out there. If you're a Yusuke fan, it is definitely worth the watch, especially if you liked him in Ouran.
The episodes have little connection to one another and there is minimal character development throughout, but if you can appreciate silly comedy this is a great show. The acting is a bit overdone, but I felt that it fit the show as a whole very well. The extremes in acting keep the show interesting even though some of the stories get predictable.

Also, if you're a student of Japanese, this show can be great for learning. There is a lot of kanji and word play that could be very interesting for students that can understand them. The abundance of word puzzles was interesting for me and actually a highlight of the show. I enjoyed seeing them worked out and learned a few things in the process.

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