Liar Game Series (Japanese Drama) Review

"Liar Game" Series (2007)

*This review will be focused on “Liar Game”, “Liar Game 2”, and the film “Liar Game: The Final Stage”. It will not cover “Liar Game: Reborn” nor “Alice in Liar Game”.

Some people believe that they would do anything to get their hands loaded with money; specially a good 100 million yen. Would you include yourself as one of those people? For this drama all you have to do to get that 100 million yen is to know how to lie- and lie well. And I must say that watching people lie to each other, and step on each other to get some money turned out to be an entertaining and fun game.

This drama is about a very innocent -if not naïve- girl called Nao Kanzaki who suddenly gets involved in a game called Liar Game. In this game all she has to do is lie her way into getting her opponent’s money. If she fails to do so she will end up in debt. But there is one problem -a mayor one; she can’t lie and she honestly believe in everyone. That is where Akiyama Shinichi, a genius con artist, comes in to help her win the game and not end up in debt. Akiyama witnessed his mother die after being conned, and so he decides to help her avoid end up like his mother. I really like Akiyama’s reason for helping her because, let’s be honest, he didn’t have to.

In general, the drama, the first two seasons and the movie, are pretty interesting. The story, which is based on a manga series by the same name, is different and focused on each game. This drama had a very thrilling effect that made the audience feel part of the game, as if trying to guess the answers and solve the problems from the comfort of their home. The games go from stealing to the Russian Roulette and more. Sadly, for those romance drama lovers, love does not play a main role in this drama, although in the movie it the growth of Nao and Akiyama’s relationship can be seen. Throughout the series, the games get trickier and more ruthless, and so do the antagonists. The antagonists were like crazy people; they were so obsessed with winning and being the best that it was kind of scary.

In terms of the acting, I must admit that in the first season Nao’s attitude almost drove me insane. I mean, she was so…naive that I found it hard to believe there could actually be someone, out there, like her. Thank god that changes later on and she actually learns how to lie *me celebrating*. For Akiyama, besides being a genius, he is really good looking. And the partner-relationship with Nao gets better bit by bit.  A couple of episodes in, one starts to realize that every player in the game is an extreme character -almost right out of the manga. Although annoying at first, I grew to like the secondary characters; besides the games wouldn’t have been as fun as they were without them.

In the end, the movie “Liar Game: The Final Stage” was prepared as the last one, a conclusion to the games and the revelation of who was behind such terrible game. Yet, I felt a bit disappointed as it seemed like it was possible the games would never end. In addition, the last game, although simple, was very nerve wracking. The characters had to guess who was player X, Nao still feeling betrayed till the very end, and the possibility of Akiyama losing was always there.  

In some way one could see to what extent people would get to win money. Pass the whole stealing and deceiving, I’m glad that in the end Nao learned to lie and still be her kindhearted self- of course she wouldn’t have lasted an hour in the game without Akiyama’s help. Even so, if you want to believe in others after watching this drama is up to you. 

My rating for this drama series is:
Liar Game = ♥♥
Liar Game 2 = ♥
Liar Game: The Final Stage = ♥♥♥