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kaitouWhen the second movie came out in Japan I bought up a bunch of the movie tie-in books. One of the things I thought was funny about them, is that they talked about all the call backs to jokes, events and themes from the show that would be present in the new movie. There was a giant list to whet your appetite and wonder how the movie was going to represent these and tie them together.
Anyway, these are two of my favorite themes that run through the series. And there are spoilers below, though not really really important ones I don't think.
One of the main themes that runs through the Odoru show and movies is the difference between small crimes and large crimes. The Wangan force generally deals in small crimes. Pickpockets, domestic abuse, subway perverts, that sort of thing. When there is a serious crime like murder or drugs (the hemp!), Muroi and the Tokyo MPD are called in. The MPD don't care about the little crimes, and they generally don't care about who gets hurt (emotionally, financially, whatever) in the course of getting the arrest in their big case. The Wangan police care about every little thing that comes their way, even if they initially complain about it, and often let the big fish get away because they're too focused on the immediate.
This leads to interesting conflict, like, when Muroi has drafted Aoshima onto his team. It's a huge break for Aoshima, and could mean a career path for him. But Aoshima can't maintain cover when he sees someone attacking a girl. Or Muroi is doing his duty by investigating a murder...but his interrogation terrorizes the victim's daughter pretty badly.
The show's stance is decidedly Pro-Wangan police. It repeatedly takes the stance that there IS no small crime. That every picked pocket and stolen fish cake is important. It's one of the unique things about Odoru that I really enjoy. The Wangan officers are the face of the police to the public. Every time they deal with a case, they are dealing with the people, and it is these small cases, with human empathy that shape the way the public sees law enforcement in general. Aoshima's green coat was given to him for free by a shop owner, because a policeman helped him find directions when he was lost. An actress is cold and sneering about the police, until Aoshima's actions change her mind.
This isn't to say that they're gung-ho Nicholas Angel types, of course. The Wangan police are quite a bit more like the rest of the Sanford officers. They'd much rather let you off with a warning. Or brush something minor under the table, if you seem like you're sorry about it. But again, this flexibility is in contrast to the Tokyo MPD who may not care about the little fish, but they don't care about people either. They won't let you go because you're sorry and won't do it again, they let you go because you're not worth their time.
And that personal vs. strict attitude plays into the next theme...that crimes are solved in the streets and not in the boardroom. What I find especially interesting is that it's an evolving theme. At first it seems a pretty blatant, 'our street level detectives are better crime stoppers than you snooty 'career' group officers.' In the above mentioned scene where Aoshima can't help but break cover to arrest an abusive boyfriend, he is reamed out for letting the big fish get away. But the rest of the Wangan police band together and use their street level knowledge that the MPD don't have to find and catch him again.
But the theme changes as the series goes on, and Muroi learns to work with the Wangan detectives instead of ignoring them altogether. Muroi learns to depend on them and their abilities, even when his superiors don't want him to. And it's not just a good thing for him, but it helps the whole system. Aoshima learns to rely on Muroi too. He learns that a benefit to having the MPD is that they can lay the groundwork, smooth the feathers, and throw around some authority.
This is a key point in the 2nd movie, where there are anarchist serial killers out to take revenge against 'the man.' And a key point in their philosophy is that there is no leader, there is no organization. Aoshima's big speech at the end is that the organization is not bad. That having a leader isn't bad. There are great leaders like Muroi, that help you, and make things better. So in the end, the MPD needs to learn to use the Wangan force, they know the area and people better than anyone, and can get the job done. But the Wangan force needs the support of the MPD to succeed.
* When I interviewed for my first automotive job my interview was almost entirely in Japanese, they asked me if I would be ok going out onto the factory floor, which they called 'Genba.' Then they apologized and said 'oh, you probably don't know that term, it's an industry one.' I told them I knew it from Odoru... genba is also the word used for 'The Streets.' After I said this the Quality Manager laughed and he quoted the "Crimes are Solved in the Street!" bit. I'm pretty sure that's what got me my job. Thank you Aoshima!
Anyway, these are two of my favorite themes that run through the series. And there are spoilers below, though not really really important ones I don't think.
One of the main themes that runs through the Odoru show and movies is the difference between small crimes and large crimes. The Wangan force generally deals in small crimes. Pickpockets, domestic abuse, subway perverts, that sort of thing. When there is a serious crime like murder or drugs (the hemp!), Muroi and the Tokyo MPD are called in. The MPD don't care about the little crimes, and they generally don't care about who gets hurt (emotionally, financially, whatever) in the course of getting the arrest in their big case. The Wangan police care about every little thing that comes their way, even if they initially complain about it, and often let the big fish get away because they're too focused on the immediate.
This leads to interesting conflict, like, when Muroi has drafted Aoshima onto his team. It's a huge break for Aoshima, and could mean a career path for him. But Aoshima can't maintain cover when he sees someone attacking a girl. Or Muroi is doing his duty by investigating a murder...but his interrogation terrorizes the victim's daughter pretty badly.
The show's stance is decidedly Pro-Wangan police. It repeatedly takes the stance that there IS no small crime. That every picked pocket and stolen fish cake is important. It's one of the unique things about Odoru that I really enjoy. The Wangan officers are the face of the police to the public. Every time they deal with a case, they are dealing with the people, and it is these small cases, with human empathy that shape the way the public sees law enforcement in general. Aoshima's green coat was given to him for free by a shop owner, because a policeman helped him find directions when he was lost. An actress is cold and sneering about the police, until Aoshima's actions change her mind.
This isn't to say that they're gung-ho Nicholas Angel types, of course. The Wangan police are quite a bit more like the rest of the Sanford officers. They'd much rather let you off with a warning. Or brush something minor under the table, if you seem like you're sorry about it. But again, this flexibility is in contrast to the Tokyo MPD who may not care about the little fish, but they don't care about people either. They won't let you go because you're sorry and won't do it again, they let you go because you're not worth their time.
And that personal vs. strict attitude plays into the next theme...that crimes are solved in the streets and not in the boardroom. What I find especially interesting is that it's an evolving theme. At first it seems a pretty blatant, 'our street level detectives are better crime stoppers than you snooty 'career' group officers.' In the above mentioned scene where Aoshima can't help but break cover to arrest an abusive boyfriend, he is reamed out for letting the big fish get away. But the rest of the Wangan police band together and use their street level knowledge that the MPD don't have to find and catch him again.
But the theme changes as the series goes on, and Muroi learns to work with the Wangan detectives instead of ignoring them altogether. Muroi learns to depend on them and their abilities, even when his superiors don't want him to. And it's not just a good thing for him, but it helps the whole system. Aoshima learns to rely on Muroi too. He learns that a benefit to having the MPD is that they can lay the groundwork, smooth the feathers, and throw around some authority.
This is a key point in the 2nd movie, where there are anarchist serial killers out to take revenge against 'the man.' And a key point in their philosophy is that there is no leader, there is no organization. Aoshima's big speech at the end is that the organization is not bad. That having a leader isn't bad. There are great leaders like Muroi, that help you, and make things better. So in the end, the MPD needs to learn to use the Wangan force, they know the area and people better than anyone, and can get the job done. But the Wangan force needs the support of the MPD to succeed.
* When I interviewed for my first automotive job my interview was almost entirely in Japanese, they asked me if I would be ok going out onto the factory floor, which they called 'Genba.' Then they apologized and said 'oh, you probably don't know that term, it's an industry one.' I told them I knew it from Odoru... genba is also the word used for 'The Streets.' After I said this the Quality Manager laughed and he quoted the "Crimes are Solved in the Street!" bit. I'm pretty sure that's what got me my job. Thank you Aoshima!
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no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 08:52 pm (UTC)I'm pretty sure that's what got me my job. Thank you Aoshima!
Awesome!
no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 09:30 pm (UTC).....I feel like I'm coming out of this looking even more obsessed than I am. >.>
no subject
Date: 2010-03-08 10:41 pm (UTC)I'm seriously considering doing something similar for my top five cop shows. Maybe a post each.
...I...I have no detective icons
Date: 2010-03-09 02:19 am (UTC)Re: ...I...I have no detective icons
Date: 2010-03-09 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 02:20 am (UTC)