Coming up in the Winter season 2010 is season two of Code Blue. It starts on the 11th of January and will air Monday nights on Fuji TV. Looks like the important characters from Season one are returning, including Yamashita Tomohisa, Aragaki Yui and Toda Erika.

I only watched the first couple of episodes of season one and found the characters dull and the story line uninteresting, but obviously it was good enough that it is getting a second season.

• Check out the Official Website
• Check out the Code Blue blog

I don’t think I’ll be watching this one unless online pressure changes my mind. Code Blue season 2 will be fan subbed both hard and soft by Querbeet

A new drama has been announced for the summer season 2008 – Code Blue. It is about an emergency service that uses helicopters to get to people in trouble quickly.

While (for me) the premise doesn’t sound that exciting, the cast make this one something I’ll have to check out. We have Yamashita Tomohisa, Aragaki Yui and Toda Erika, all staring as Flight In-Training Doctors.

This drama will air Thursday nights from July 2008.

• Code Blue’s Official Website

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 10
Rate This Episode: Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

Smart Akiyama-san figures out how Mini “Velma” Mushroom has been managing to win all the time – however, then scary Wig Man reveals he’s the bad guy who got his mother killed, and Akiyama breaks down. Akiyama’s smirk we all love has changed into anger and he seems to be acting irrationally. What is Nao and team going to do? What, sit back and do nothing? Surely not!

This episode explains why Akiyama was chosen to participate in the Liar Game – we always knew something way up, and probably even guessed 99% of the reason why, but here it all comes out in the open. And then Cool, calm, reserved Akiyama breaks down. Or does he? Ah, we should have known Akiyama better than to think that he would lose it!

OK, was it just me, or did Akiyama really sound like Grover the muppet when he says “Urasai!”. Maybe it was just me…

It would have been more satisfying (perhaps) if Nao had instead grown a brain and saved the day instead of Akiyama-man to the rescue again. Only one more episode to impress me Nao, you better work hard!

One pleasing thing with this episode was the ending wasn’t annoying! Wow! I almost died of shock.

It didn’t end crappy!

Wasn’t much wrong with this episode I guess.

Only one more episode to go.

We’re onto the smuggling game, where two teams, the “Fire Country” and “Water Country”, must attempt to smuggle out money from the other’s “country”. Nao, Akiyama, Velma, Mini “Velma” Mushroom and Chick-person are all on the water team. The others plus some weird drug sniffing dude are on the fire team. Drug dude has a white wig on which scares the water team a lot. How will the water team conquer this freak?

OK, OK, I have to admit that I am enjoying this show more and more now that Nao is getting a bit more, shall we say “worldly”. The game is getting more advanced, complex, and so more exciting as well.

Nao is using her brain a bit more which is good. She’s still not going deep enough, complex enough, but then neither is the rest of the team.

I love the “Mini Mushroom” comment, and the fact that Velma admits he is “fashion conscious”. I love that this show isn’t taking itself seriously and is taking the piss out of itself.

Drug dude is weird and unpleasant.

And Akiyama! The thing that has kept me going this series. What has happened to you? Have you actually got no ideas? He spent most of the time sitting and thinking, and not taking much action. I like it when Akiyama gives me action. Does he actually not have a solution for things this time? *shock*

And then Mini “Velma” Mushroom. I should have seen it coming after the “mini mushroom” comment. Just when Velma was becoming bareable, perhaps – dare I suggest it – likeable, Mini “Velma” Mushroom turns evil and irritating. Why do things always turn to shit at the end of an episode just as I start to like it??

Everyone working together as a team, and the fact that this show really doesn’t take itself seriously.

Mini “Velma” Mushroom. Drug Dude.

I’m going to give this episode three stars, this show really is getting better which is good.

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 8

After finally lying, and now winning the Restructuring Game, Nao must somehow make some money so that she can pay off everyone. What has Akiyama got in mind? Oh, and will Nao actually start using her brain effectively? Surely not!

Akiyama is smart but ruthless. We can understand that this is because of his mother, but I hope it makes Nao so angry that she backstabs him.

So, in this episode Nao actually uses her brain, uses it independently of Akiyama, and it’s actually clever! Not only does she take the initiative, she is still using it for good. Now this is what I want to see!

And then they go ruin it at the very end. It was good, but then tooth guy comes along and says “They are going straight to Hell.” *eyeroll* Could you get any more LAME? OK, OK, Spiderman 3 was lamer, I do admit.

Nao not only uses her brain, she uses her brain effectively and for the good of everyone.

The lame script.

Next up, the Smuggling Game.

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 7

The Restructuring Game part two. Nao takes part in a little card gambling game with Velma, and surprise surprise loses. But wait! It’s – da da da! – Akiyama man to the rescue! How will Akiyama get Nao out of this one?

A good thing about this episode is it is starting to flesh out (slightly) the game lady. No longer is she there just to read out names and “Yes”, but has added a bit more dimension to this flat show. She has her own thoughts, perhaps even betrayal, and is in fact not a fembot with machine gun boobs. Who woulda thought.

And Nao… Oh my Nao! I had a bit of a heart attack in this episode… Nao did some deceiving. Who would have thought that this would actually happen?? Sure, sure, Akiyama is still the brains, but Nao has become a little sly and cunning. I like!

Nao deceiving! Akiyama being apart of Nao’s belongings.

Velma is still irritating.

I’m quite surprised. I think Liar Game is finally getting better. Not great, but It’s alright.

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 6

The Restructuring Game. Although it sounds like they are saying “Restore Game” in Japanese. Which is guess is also what they are doing – restoring people back to the main game so that they can play in round three. Cause yes, that is what this episode is about, getting people back into the game. I feel like I’m repeating myself and I probably am, but all well.

So how will poor Nao fair without Akiyama-sama? I’m not sure she has a brain, so perhaps this could get interesting. Or perhaps not…

When Nao gets nasty, that’s when I’ll start to like this show.

There is a difference between Nao and Akiyama even though they are both uncharacteristically nice. Who would help some strange girl in a game as dodgy as the Liar Game? Akiyama. He’s a good guy. But he’s not annoying because he has a brain. Sure, he seems very two dimensional like the rest of this show, but he’s been shown topless so that makes it all ok.

Where as Nao has no back bone, no intelligence, no personality. She was described as a deer in headlights on the Drama Addicts forum, and I think that describes her perfectly.

*sigh* And don’t get me started on Velma. He’s so unscary and pathetic. He’s just plain annoying. Give me a villain I love to hate. Please!!!

And don’t get me started on Elvis. How much more pitiful can someone be? But, to be fair, this game seems to round up the weak and pitiful and make money off their stupidity. Hell, if I had a couple of million to throw around, it’d be a good investment to make a lot more.

There was nothing new in this episode. In fact, over all it was a downer because Akiyama was featured for five seconds. At least he’ll be back next episode so he can save Nao again.

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 5

Finally Round Two concludes. Will Akiyama somehow win over Velma The Mushroom Man, No. 15 Glasses Lady and Elvis? Oh the suspense! And what will Nao do now that she is out of the game?

I love the opening sequence of this show! I will have to cut it out of an episode and post it because, I don’t know, it’s just so bouncy and…. I just like it.

They called Velma the Mushroom Man “Mushroom”! So exciting. They haven’t called him that before have they? Anyway, now we just need someone to call him Velma and my life will be complete. I wonder if he wears a wig or if his hair is really like that (but of course poofed for the show).

Oh, and it was so obvious that Glasses Gal was in Akiyama’s team. How can she not be after the obvious hot sex the two had?

Look at all the money that Akiyama wins. I guess there’s the proof that Japan really is a cash-based society. If this was America or Australia, everything would be entirely electronic. I’m sure many (most, all?) millionaires have never even seen a million in cash.

Ah, finding out who is behind the Liar Game sounds exciting. I love a good conspiracy. But for some reason they really want Nao in the game. They seem to be going out of their way to get her in. I think it is so that Akiyama doesn’t just have to think and worry about himself, but will also have to “save” Nao.

As you already know, I find this show way too verbose and the characters (besides Akiyama-san) annoying and unlikable (I want a loveable heroine and a villain we love to hate – but oh they are just irritating!) I’ll keep soldiering on, mainly for Akiyama and the hope that Nao suddenly turns bad arse and steals everyone’s money…. So, I wonder how Nao will fair in a round without Akiyama?…

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 4

Continuing the story of round 2. At the last moment Nao and Akiyama swap the way they are going to vote, and so Nao is eliminated from the game. Left are Akiyama, Scooby Doo’s Velma, No.15 Glasses Lady, and some other dude. Nao comes back to the mansion to view the final round and discovers who X really is.

LOL at the S&M joke. Good too see some humour in the otherwise bland show.

I do like Akiyama. He’s mysterious yet smart, a good combination. And not bad looking either, but he needs a hair cut. Just a little bit off. But what’s with the shirtless scene?? Not that I’m complaining. It was cut to make it look like he had sex, especially since you see his hair all ruffled. But even if it was just messy from waking up, what was he doing with his shoes on??

I admit my heart was racing a little bit in the third round, which is good, but all the anticipation and excitement was soon dissolved. Velma the Mushroom Man was just waaaay over the top and ruined any suspense or…. well, credibility of the show. As soon as he starts his little (or, long, drawn out) performance, my eyes roll back into my head. It’s the old “let me explain my plan before it’s completed – and now because I’ve explained it will inevitably go wrong” trick. Of course we knew he was the bad guy, it was all too obvious. And of course we knew that Akiyama had changed his vote so that this dick didn’t win. All the exposition in this episode could have been condensed to two minutes, instead it went on and on. The show talks down to it’s audience and that is not good.

I like Akiyama’s strategy at the end. It’s really interesting and creative. I do like Akiyama, yay for Akiyama.

I’m wondering… what happens if the last episode/game is Akiyama vs Nao and only one can win? Of course Akiyama is smarter and would win, but it would be really interesting if perhaps Nao is acting all sweet, innocent and trusting and in the end turns out to be a huge con. That would be cool.

As it is, Nao is really irritating nice. I wish we had a bit more character development. Atleast Akiyama with his flash backs has a little bit of history, but I’m hoping that’s not just there so we “understand” why he’s helping Nao. Cause that would suck. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it was so, as this has felt really one dimensional so far.

I’m thinking that perhaps this show isn’t to my taste at all. i really love psychological thrillers, but this isn’t deap enough for me. I’ve never been a fan of light thrillers (unless they are really funny) but I’m thinking perhaps this is what this is. Some people seem to be enjoying it for what it is, but I can’t seem to.

Liar Game
ライアーゲーム
Episode 3

This episode is round two of the Liar Game. Someone will ask a question and the contestants will have to answer either yes or no. The group (i.e. the yes group) with the smallest amount of people wins – minority rule. Akiyama uses his smarts to come up with a plan to make he and Nao guaranteed to win.

The show is getting a bit better. A bit. We again get to see how smart Akiyama is. Yay us. We get to see how trusting Nao still is. Groan. She still hasn’t learnt how to lie yet.

Mushroom head has made himself very suspisious – is he Mr. X or are we just being steered to think that? Well, I don’t trust anyone who looks like Velma from Scooby Doo.

Still loving the shifty cameras and the colour filters. It gives this otherwise bland show a little bit of an edge.

I’m curious about the use of English in the video. Can the average Japanese person actually read what it says – “Question: Decision of Minority”?

Anyway, it’s ok, but this series hasn’t really grabbed me.