Jin (2009– ) User Reviews

From Tokyo To Edo And Back With Love

[aghaemi · 7/10 · 13 September 2014]

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.

Ignore the low ratings

[goken_mamak · 10/10 · 18 October 2013]

Just as the title says, I recommend you ignore the low ratings. This is because I truly believe those who have rated this drama as under 7 have either a) never watched a Japanese drama or b) truly did not understand the story.

Without containing any spoilers, I will try to summarize what I believe to be the primary motives, or rather the point of the whole story. Please keep in mind that I'm also accounting for Season 2, which doesn't seem to be recognized in the actor credits here.

Jin (or Time Slip Dr. Jin in the manga) is the primary protagonist of this story but he, like every good protagonist is fundamentally flawed. He can't forgive himself for his mistakes and it plagues him throughout the story; whether it be with reference to Miki, or any other patient he attends to, this uncharacteristically good nature of his inevitably disables him as a person, especially a relatable person.

For those who have felt as if they haven't made a difference in the world, or what you do is not enough for others, HE is your character foil. But the story isn't about how flawed he is, it's about understanding one's limitations, and accepting the fate that has been handed to you -- in essence, accepting that you, like any other human on this planet, has their limits. Does that mean that fate is inescapable? Not necessarily, it simply means that we sometimes have to realize that whatever paths have been laid out for us, fate, or destiny is drawn out by those who surround us just as much as it is effected by us.

Ultimately, this story does raise questions (perhaps religious ones), but allows us as the viewers to draw conclusions for ourselves. If that isn't your "cup of tea" then I suggest you watch something less thought provoking... like a Twilight movie.. maybe that'll be better suited towards your tastes.

Masterpiece

[bimdeptrai · 10/10 · 8 April 2018]

This TV series is truly a masterpiece,full of emotions in every episode.The plot is amazing and the actors are wonderful. It's meaningful and it brings tears to my eyes a lot of times. I strongly recommend everyone to watch this at least once.

Drama masterpiece

[claude6543 · 14 September 2019]

This is a gem. Captivating story, endearing characters, superb acting, superior production values and fantastic music. A treat not only for those with an interest in Japanese history, but for anyone looking for thoughtful, engaging drama.

Ruined by a clown actor

[AntiFakeReviews · 5/10 · 9 February 2023]

The character Seiyô Uchino, played by Ryôma Sakamoto was a disastrous cast. If the whole drama series without his involvement, it could be a great one. But sadly, with his constant overacting like a clown, sometimes even more like a jerk, the viewing had become almost a torture. Every scene with his presence, the exaggeration of his facial expressions, his unnatural body movements, his hands gestures, the delivery of his overblown dialog, suddenly, this supposed to be sincere and touching drama, would become a farce-like practical joke! I don't know how the director or the screen writer(s) would have allowed or even encouraged him to play such important role. Seiyô Uchino is suppose to be a very serious ronin samurai, what Ryôma Sakamoto performed only degraded him as a half-crazy unstable jerk. All the characters in this drama looked normal and acted normally. It supposed to be a quite serious time-traveling sci-fi drama, mixed with Japan's historical background and historical figures, but allowing this Ryôma Sakamoto to freely exaggerated as he liked, this drama series has become an almost unbearable viewing experience. I have to fast forward whenever this jerk-like clown appeared, even it's critically important.