The TBS Sunday drama "Reboot," starring Ryohei Suzuki, will air its final episode on March 29th (Sundays at 9 PM). The story, which has become more exciting with each episode, was written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa. Let's explore the appeal of "Kuroiwa's scripts," which have led to the success of numerous works such as "VIVANT," "TOKYO MER ~The Running Emergency Room~," and "Kingdom."
After working as a television writer, Kuroiwa made his debut as a screenwriter in 2008 after winning an honorable mention at the 20th Young Scenario Awards. He has worked on numerous hit dramas, including "The Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de" and "Welcome to My Home" (both on Fuji TV), and won the 5th Ichikawa Moriichi Screenwriting Award for "My Dangerous Wife" (Kansai TV). He has since worked on many other hit dramas, such as "Grand Maison Tokyo," "Last Man - The Blind Investigator -" (TBS), and "All-Area Abnormal Case Resolution Room" (Fuji TV).
One of the most frequently cited appealing aspects of Kuroiwa's work is its unpredictable, driving energy. Not only are the endings of each episodes incredibly suspenseful, but the developments leading up to them are often thrilling as well. In particular, as seen with Gido (Suzuki) in this "Reboot," main characters and unexpected characters are often ruthlessly "departed," making it impossible for the viewer to take their eyes off the screen for even a moment. While the protagonist's suffering is a classic trope, it's also common for his companions to suffer even worse fates, drawing the viewer in completely.
On the other hand, a characteristic of Kuroiwa's works is that, in addition to the relentless and harsh plot developments, the bonds of family, best friends, and teammates often drive the story forward. From "My Family," where a father whose daughter is kidnapped is forced to participate in a kidnapping for profit, to "TOKYO MER" and "Grand Maison Tokyo," where teams work together to overcome various difficulties, the heartwarming developments are also a major draw.
"Reboot," which airs its final episode today, is a crime suspense series set in the underworld, but it also features the families of both allies and enemies, making "family" a major theme. This series, which can truly be called the epitome of Kuroiwa's scriptwriting, is something to watch out for until the very end to see how it concludes.
