The first episode of the TBS Sunday Theatre drama "Caster" starring Hiroshi Abe(Sunday 9pm) was broadcast on April 13th. The drama is a socially conscious entertainment drama set in a TV news program, where the truth buried in the darkness is pursued and evil is punished. This is Abe's sixth time starring in a Sunday Theatre drama, and his first time in three years. On social media, there were many comments such as "Abe-chan's dramas are never a disappointment" and "It doesn't disappoint".
◇The following contains spoilers
Soichi Shindo (played by Abe), a man of conviction who believes that "the truth moves the world!", was a reporter and news anchor at a public broadcasting station, but was poached by the president of the commercial television station JBN and became the main anchor of the news program "Newsgate," which was struggling with low ratings. He uses any means necessary to convey the truth, interviews and investigates according to his own rules, and draws in those around him with his overwhelming presence.
"I've been asked by Chairman Kunisada (Takahashi Hideki) and I've come to ruin this program," Shindo said in a message to the staff.
In his message, Shindo wrote, "First, a news program without scoops is not a news program. In the first place, as a caster, I have no intention of reading out a tasteless script that does not differentiate the program from other stations. Second, I do not need cue cards. They are an eyesore and only distract from the actual program. Third, I will be removing my in-ear monitors during the program. I will speak in my own words so that viewers will not mistakenly think that I am speaking at someone's instruction. Fourth, please do not discuss the budget in front of me. Five, I don't know what this is about work style reform, but I am freelance. Please leave station issues to the station."
She continued, "Sixth, there is no value in watching predictable interactions. Seventh, we will not be biased. Not reporting on something because of so-called adult circumstances is something that should never happen. Eighth, if it's for the sake of a scoop, then anything goes. If it would restrict me for compliance reasons, then I will not appear. Those are my warnings, or rather, my conditions."
Shindo's attitude made "Newsgate" editor-in-chief Ichinosato (Emma Miyazawa) indignant, saying, "If you're going to say it, let's see the results!" Producer Yamai (Takuma Otoo) also said, "That's right. How far can a person who was frozen out as a newscaster at a public broadcasting station and picked up by Chairman Kunisada go?"
On social media, comments such as "It was so fun! Abe-chan's dramas never disappoint," "The anchor is funny! As expected, dramas with Abe-chan in them never disappoint," "As expected of Abe-chan! The pace was good and it was interesting - this is how Sunday dramas should be," and "Abe-chan never disappoints. I now have something to look forward to on Sundays." were spreading.
