Giri/Haji

[DoctorTwo]

I really enjoyed this first ep. Especially Taki stabbing a boy in the thigh for putting his hand up her skirt, and the comment from her granddad that he was lucky to keep his cock.

I will be watching again, I think it's great, sort of Japanese/British Noir.

Just found that they put interviews with casts. Interesting to read if you haven’t yet. www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/girihaji/takehiro

Ooh! Thanks!

They're good interviews but I was disappointed they didn't include teh actors who played Rei or Kenzo's mother.

As a proud Londoner, I feel ridiculously chuffed that so many of the Japanese actors talked about how much they liked London's buildings, parks and people

I'm so pleased that you all seem to share my taste in tv. I might even start a petition to get the BBC to repeat this ASAP on BBC1 as imo it is more than good enough to warrant an outing on the main channel, as opposed to being aired on the relatively unwatched BBC2.

. His English is much more fluent IRL, I think I read that he lived in the US for some years.

I agree, DoctorTwo. It was generally underpromoted, I think.

DoctorTwo I agree also, and DH said that he felt that it had been overlooked because it was on BBC2 rather than BBC1 (he wondered if that was why we were late to the Line of Duty party as he seems to remember it being on BBC2 originally).

We both think it was one of the best (if not the best) series we've seen this year.

PS. DH stayed awake through every single episode which is a sure sign of how good he thought it was. Even with some of his favourite programmes he still manages to 'rest his eyes' for five minutes when they're on!

he wondered if that was why we were late to the Line of Duty party as he seems to remember it being on BBC2 originally).
Yes, LoD was. That's a good point. I guess they thought it was a bit 'difficult' for BBC1?

I'm just watching this atm & really enjoying it.

Camilla Long in The Sunday Times gave this a glowing review. She had much the same view of it as us, so we're in good company .

I can't bear Camilla Long, but yes, anyone else who liked it is (grudgingly ) OK by me...

No, I'm not a fan of her either @DarlingNikita but I did appreciate her glowing review!

Well, finally finished watching!

Loved it!

Although hated that Sarah & Kenzo got together.

Thought that the rooftop dance was great, although would have been better without Sarah imo.

Will there be another series I wonder?

Sarah's boss saw Yuto in Sarah's car, so he must know that she was hiding him.

But when Ian was arrested for being in possession, did that somehow make Sarah's previously having grassed him up OK?

Does Tony Pitts ever play anything other than Detectives now??!!

Oh & Ian was Tony in Billy Elliot!!

Just started this last night, looks good

I'm so envious of anyone who's yet to watch it for the first time! I hope you enjoy it, Sparkly.

Just finished - Has to be my favourite series of last year. I loved it.
Am usually on the Strictly threads where we take the piss out of contempowaft a lot but that scene showed what good contemporary dance can be - just beautiful. I am sad I have finished it.
It deserves every acolade going - hopefully when awards season comes round it will get the recognition it deserves.

I think most of us are with you on thinking it was pure genius @IfThingsComeInThreesWhyThisNow. However, not sure the critics raved about it equally.

It hasn't been released internationally yet new - Lucy Mangan in the Guardian gave it a lukewarm reception having not actually seen it in full -she did the same to Chernobyl. Often the emmys and sometimes the tv baftas give credit where credit's due - Utopia for example.
Other critics were more effusive: Adam Sweeting, Christopher Stevens, Suzi Feay, Michael Hogan all gave Giri/Haji 5/5. When it goes global on Netflix (later this month?) it should get more traction.

We also thought it was the best thing on TV last year.

I don’t much rate Lucy Mangan; she really didn’t give this or Chernobyl a fair chance, and she loved His Dark Materials uncritically, whereas I think it was cosy middlebrow pap.

Euan Ferguson was more positive, although he only seemed to have seen one episode. He’s a much better reviewer IMO.

I think it's always tricky basing a review on a pilot or a first episode - you go with your gut/first impressions but what if the series is a slow burner? What if it goes somewhere different to expected?
I liked Russian Doll very much but not sure I felt that way in the first episode - I was very pleased I stuck with it and when recommending to DH told him to persevere (he loved it but hated her character at first).
I loved Giri/haji from the start but can see how others might have viewed it as derivative based on one episode only.
Flowers, as recommended on here, I hated the pilot. Far too in my face/blue jam - I stuck with it because I trust you lot and really really pleased that I did. Thank you

The thing about Lucy Mangan's review, though, was that she made assumptions and judged that it would just be the same as any other cop drama. A casual viewer might well think that, but a professional reviewer should be aware of those potential traps and not fall into them.

It was the same with Chernobyl; she complained about the story being 'unclear' and that the details of the situation weren't understandable enough. Again, these are things that a series builds on and reveals as it goes on, and as a professional reviewer she should know that.

Just finished,
so i can now read what you have all written.
Major Will Sharpe fan after this.
Really enjoyed this series.

@EnidBlyton I finished it last night and now depressed there's no more to watch!! I know I'm going to struggle to find something else that matches up to it. I agree Will Sharpe is a very talented young man! Have you seen Flowers?

Yes, I have seen Flowers @ladyflowers
must have a rewatch
and the other thing he is in about the young lawyer.

I wondered if he was ad libbing in GiriHaji, he was Such a natural