1. A New Discovery in the OTT Era: ABEMA and the State of Japanese Drama With the sheer volume of content being released recently through platforms like Netflix, viewers now have more opportunities to encounter works that differ significantly from traditional broadcast dramas. One such standout piece is Scandal Eve. Usually, when one thinks of Japanese dramas, productions from major terrestrial broadcasters like Fuji TV or TBS come to mind, or perhaps large-capital Netflix Originals like Alice in Borderland. However, this work piqued my curiosity as it was produced by "ABEMA," a Japanese internet television platform. Due to the nature of the platform, it is less constrained by subject matter than public broadcasters, and one can sense an attempt to break the mold in terms of expression and direction. Having consumed numerous Japanese dramas, encountering an original series from such an unfamiliar platform felt like discovering a hidden gem.
2. The Reality and Distance Created by Unfamiliar Faces Having enjoyed Japanese dramas and films for quite some time, I usually recognize at least one or two actors in most works, even if they are famous supporting cast members. However, Scandal Eve was filled with actors who were quite unfamiliar to me, from the leads to the supporting roles. Although names like Shibasaki Kou and Kawaguchi Haruna are mentioned, perhaps due to their specific roles or styling in this show—or simply because they differed so much from the images I knew—it was initially difficult to match the faces to the names. Paradoxically, this "unfamiliarity" served as a device that heightened immersion. I wasn't relying on the actors' previous images or stardom but was forced to look strictly at the characters themselves. It gave the show a strange sense of reality, as if I were watching a documentary unfolding somewhere inside the actual Japanese entertainment industry.
3. The Deep Hues and Unique Atmosphere of Japanese Drama From the very beginning, this work strongly exudes the feeling, "Ah, this is definitely a Japanese drama." If Korean dramas pursue sophisticated cinematography, fast pacing, and trendy styling, Scandal Eve is dominated by the somewhat static and heavy atmosphere unique to Japan, along with an acting tone that feels simultaneously exaggerated yet restrained. This might be a bias, but it is also a distinct "color" that Japanese content possesses. This conservative and authoritative atmosphere becomes even thicker when older, veteran actors appear. The lighting is somewhat dim, and a strange tension and polite distance exist in the conversations between characters. This direction works effectively to portray the dull, dark struggles hidden behind the glamorous entertainment industry, adding a noir-like shade to the drama.
4. Not an 'Agency', but an 'Office': The Power Structure of Japanese Entertainment The main stage of the drama is an entertainment management company. While terms like "entertainment agency" or "company" are common in Korea and the West, it is interesting that in Japan, it is often translated as "Office" (Jimusho). Beyond a simple difference in terminology, this represents the unique hierarchy and system of the Japanese entertainment world. The drama depicts structural limitations where the influence of the "Office" is far stronger than in Korea, and affiliated actors struggle to go against the company's policies. The sight of casting being dictated by the office's political power and lobbying, rather than the actor's individual capability, shows a level of intensity different from other markets. Actors are managed thoroughly as products, and the office controls even their private lives under the pretext of protecting these products; the drama provides a naked glimpse into this unique business ecosystem.
5. 'Public Opinion' Over Truth: The Culture of Scandal The core theme penetrating Scandal Eve is "Crisis Management." What left the deepest impression while watching was that the "direction of public opinion" is treated as far more important than the "truth" of the incident. While public opinion is crucial everywhere, Japan has a culture that obsessively demands apologies and self-restraint for causing "social disturbance." The society reacts more sensitively to the fact that someone caused discomfort to the public or trouble to broadcast officials than to the adultery or crime itself. As the line in the drama goes, " The truth doesn't matter; what matters is how it looks," the process of planning an apology press conference—almost akin to showmanship—to launder images and quell public anger vividly illustrates the cross-section of Japan's "Meiwaku" (nuisance) culture.
6. The Sorrow of Independence: A Lonely Fight Against Giant Power The protagonist, Saki Ioka (played by Shibasaki Kou), is a character who chose independence, leaving behind the shadow of a large entertainment office. However, her path is thorny. The president of her former agency views her independence as a betrayal and persistently tries to block her way. The nuance that the scandal occurring in the drama might not be a simple coincidence but a trap intentionally planned by someone heightens the tension. Saki is in a situation where she must pour everything into a new drama she has prepared with her life on the line to keep her new office alive. Her desperate struggle to protect her actors and company with her bare hands amidst checks from her former agency, which possesses vast capital and connections, resembles the survival stories of independent business owners, evoking strange empathy and support.
7. A Ticking Time Bomb Before the Launch: The Reporter's Secret Offer The conflict of the drama explodes at the most critical moment, just before the production presentation of the new drama. A single phone call from Hirata (played by Kawaguchi Haruna), a reporter for a weekly magazine, shatters the peace. She contacts Saki claiming to have evidence of a fatal scandal involving Kansei Fujiwara (played by Kodai Asaka), the lead actor on whom Saki has staked everything. Saki tries to meet the reporter in person to settle the matter, but the photo the reporter presents is undeniable evidence. For Saki, who dreamed of a successful debut and resurgence, this single photo is not just gossip but a ticking time bomb determining the survival of her company. The scene depicting the suffocating psychological warfare and transaction between the manager and the reporter realistically shows the dark dealings behind the scenes of the entertainment world.
8. Crisis Management on the Brink, and a False Belief If the scandal breaks, it is a desperate crisis where she must face not only the cancellation of the drama appearance but also penalties and a drop in the company's credit. Saki starts running with all her might to prevent this. The actor in question, Kansei, pleads his innocence, saying, "I went to the hotel, but I really just slept. Nothing happened." Saki decides to believe her actor and chooses a head-on breakthrough. She devises a strategy to dispel suspicions of an affair by mobilizing the actor's wife to hold a joint press conference and display marital trust. This is a typical yet highly calculated media strategy often seen in the Japanese entertainment industry, aiming to gain public sympathy by showing a united front in protecting the family.
9. Adding Insult to Injury: The Ghost of the Past Attacks However, the drama does not flow so easily. Just when they think public opinion has calmed and the crisis is averted, a bigger wave crashes down. It is revealed that Kansei had drinks with a 19-year-old minor five years ago. While a scandal between adults might be dismissed as a private matter, issues involving minors are on a different level. Furthermore, the weekly magazine releases decisive photographic evidence, driving Saki and Kansei into a complete corner. The sense of betrayal from the actor she trusted and the despair of a situation with no apparent escape... As a simple affair scandal crosses into the realm of crime, the psychological pressure Saki experiences reaches its peak.
10. The 72-Hour Time Limit: A Short but Intense Sprint Scandal Eve adopts a mission-centered structure where the scandal must be resolved within the limited time of 72 hours before the drama begins airing. Thanks to the relatively short length of 6 episodes, the pacing is very fast with no filler. Although the subject matter or direction might feel somewhat old-fashioned, the urgency provided by the time limit more than compensates for it. The ceaseless events exploding like a rollercoaster and the protagonist's brain games to patch them up give the viewers no time to be bored. It is a drama optimized for binge-watching over a weekend or holiday, and for those interested in the backstage of the Japanese entertainment industry and the theme of Crisis Management, it can be rated as an enjoyable masterpiece for killing time.
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