Title: Liar Game
Genre: Drama
Director: Matsuyama Hiroaki, Oki Ayako, Ueda Yasushi
Format: 11 episodes
Dates: 14 Apr 2007 – 23 Jun 2007

Synopsis: Kanzaki Nao is an honest and trusting college student who is the last person you would expect to get thrown into a game known as the “Liar Game”. After accidentally opening a mysterious box that contains 100M yen, Nao finds herself in a dangerous competition full of people who will say and do anything (within the rules of the game) to steal your money. Desperate for help (and a way out of the game), she seeks ex-swindler and convict, Akiyama Shinichi. However, they’ll soon learn that once you’re in, it’ll cost a lot more than 100M yen to get out.

The Highlights
Akiyama Shinichi: “Smart and intelligent” do not begin to explain the complexity of his character.
Kanzaki Nao: On the other hand, Nao is simple and flat for a protagonist.
Plot: Fast-paced, and interesting, featuring four rounds (games) in 11 episodes.
Ending/Finale: For a three-hour finale, this was the weakest episode in the series, but still… it’s an ending.

“Doubt them.” A comment made by Akiyama Shinichi to teach Kanzaki Nao how to doubt others in a game of deception and lies. But how do you teach an honest person to lie? And how does 100M yen influence the minds of others?

Liar Game starts off its first few moments with this very question in mind. And within the first ten minutes of the show, Nao has already lost all 100M yen to her opponent. In fact, Toda Erika manages to portray Nao in such a way that ten minutes are all you need to see everything that is her character. However, Nao is not all stupid and her one lifesaver is her luck in recruiting the help of ex-criminal Akiyama. Played by Shota Matsuda, his character steals the show away and is probably the dominant reason anyone would continue watching till the end.

Not to say that the plot isn’t important, it’s probably one of the most original psychology thrillers I’ve seen. The main plot is driven by a series of games that the characters are forced to play and win (or risk a 100M yen debt). I found each game to be extremely intriguing and creative (aside from the first one) with the second one being my favourite. The plot twists and game manipulations were ingenious along with the psychological analysis used to explain situations. This only reinforces my statement that Akiyama Shinichi is the sole reason to keep your eyes glued to the screen. Even when all the answers were laid out in front of you, watching his master plan unfold was what made it so captivating.

As much as I love watching Akiyama though, this story is about Kanzaki Nao and it’s her role that makes this series seem lacking in certain areas. Her character is well-defined but flat and unrealistic at the same time. She has great intentions but is never able to carry them out without the help of Akiyama and his influence. In the end, her character development is not nearly as amazing as Akiyama’s (given his back story). In a series about trust and honesty, I also have to give extra points to Shota Matsuda and Toda Erika for having very good chemistry onscreen. It’s far from being a romance series, but their ability to rely on one another shines through, which is a plus for fangirls!

Finally, the lacklustre ending is what brings me great pain to lower the rating after a brilliantly developed series. It airs as a three-hour finale, but don’t let that fool anyone else. Roughly two hours is devoted to recaps with few short new scenes in between just to keep the viewer watching. As for the actual ending… it seems very unfitting for a series with so much build up and it’s definitely the weakest link in the Liar Game. In an attempt to have a clean cut ending, a lot of the characters’ actions feel forced and out of place.

Which makes me wonder… why season two? The answers are all clear and set, so what else will season two have to offer? I’m a huge fan of the on-going manga and will undoubtedly watch the next season. However, as a standalone series, I definitely recommend Liar Game as a good psychological thriller even with its mismatched ending. If not for the intriguing mind games that the dealer introduces, the insight into human behaviour is always fascinating for those interested.

The Rating: 8

Reviewed by: Buttercup