Jin could be just another Japanese TV drama with all the corniness that goes with it. However, Jin stands out thanks to an original story, several decent actors and the period's setting. The story is so because the serial combines medical criminal and jidaigeki period drama, historical elements, romance, bushido, science fiction and a good dosage of soap. Too many cooks usually spoil the broth, but for the aforementioned reasons Jin's recipe works.
It is the Tokugawa period in Japan and change is afoot. A young doctor – accomplished but due to recent events unsure of himself – has literally fallen back in time after interacting with a patient in modern Tokyo. He has left a life and love behind. His contemporary medical skills are astounding and valuable in Edo, which is where he has landed. From there the drama moves quickly and never gets bogged down. While basically a soap opera, the many innovative elements, period pieces, action and love propel the multi-genre series to a higher plane. The serial also teaches the viewer a thing or two. Otherwise, Jin is a treat for admirers of Edo of the period and Japanese culture.
Jin explores consequences of one's actions. For my personal tastes, there is one too many mentions of God, spirituality and the oddity of a school of medicine, which implausibly is more advanced in breast cancer and surgery than the doctor. The implicit love of the lead female character for the sensei is not a surprise, but his ignorance of it is. In fact, the attractive and dedicated Saki (played by Ayase Haruka) spends a lot of time soul-searching while being inquisitive and longing for love – perhaps not a surprise given how she has just met someone from another time – while Minakata Jin (played by Osawa Takao) looks confounded and confused. Speaking of Saki-san's attractiveness could Doctor Jin be stalking her? After all, aside from sharing the screen in Jin the two were leads in Ichi one year before Jin. They were both in one of the Jam Films' segments, albeit not together. Facetiousness aside, it is not until episode ten of Season One that the good doctor catches on regarding Saki-san's love.
TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) offered eleven episodes for Season One of Jin including an extended season finale. Due to the series' success a second season with eleven episodes appeared two years later and a Korean version was also filmed.
It is the Tokugawa period in Japan and change is afoot. A young doctor – accomplished but due to recent events unsure of himself – has literally fallen back in time after interacting with a patient in modern Tokyo. He has left a life and love behind. His contemporary medical skills are astounding and valuable in Edo, which is where he has landed. From there the drama moves quickly and never gets bogged down. While basically a soap opera, the many innovative elements, period pieces, action and love propel the multi-genre series to a higher plane. The serial also teaches the viewer a thing or two. Otherwise, Jin is a treat for admirers of Edo of the period and Japanese culture.
Jin explores consequences of one's actions. For my personal tastes, there is one too many mentions of God, spirituality and the oddity of a school of medicine, which implausibly is more advanced in breast cancer and surgery than the doctor. The implicit love of the lead female character for the sensei is not a surprise, but his ignorance of it is. In fact, the attractive and dedicated Saki (played by Ayase Haruka) spends a lot of time soul-searching while being inquisitive and longing for love – perhaps not a surprise given how she has just met someone from another time – while Minakata Jin (played by Osawa Takao) looks confounded and confused. Speaking of Saki-san's attractiveness could Doctor Jin be stalking her? After all, aside from sharing the screen in Jin the two were leads in Ichi one year before Jin. They were both in one of the Jam Films' segments, albeit not together. Facetiousness aside, it is not until episode ten of Season One that the good doctor catches on regarding Saki-san's love.
TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) offered eleven episodes for Season One of Jin including an extended season finale. Due to the series' success a second season with eleven episodes appeared two years later and a Korean version was also filmed.