Spoilers and reactions to the first episode of the drama "Shiawase na Kekkon"

The first episode of the drama series " Shiawase na Kekkon " (TV Asahi, Thursdays 9pm) starring actor Sadao Abe was broadcast on July 17th. The story drew much attention for its sudden turn from a happy newlywed life to a shocking truth being revealed towards the end.

◇The following contains spoilers.

The drama is an original work by Shizuka Oishi , the screenwriter who also wrote the popular NHK historical drama " Dear Radiance (Hikaru Kimi e) " last year. Harada Kotaro (Abe), a lawyer who has always remained single, is attracted to Suzuki Nerla ( Takako Matsu), a mysterious high school art teacher, and marries her, but Nerla is hiding a serious secret. Although it is a family drama, it is billed as a "marriage suspense" that questions the love between husband and wife.

Kotaro has a fateful encounter with Nella while he is hospitalized, and on the day he is discharged from the hospital, even though it is only the second time they have met, Nella comes to pick him up and asks, "Do you want to come to my house?" and the two suddenly get married.

Although Nella is a little strange, Kotaro is full of happiness. One day, he invites her to his favorite diner. However, Nella doesn't show up, and his phone doesn't work. Worried, Kotaro searches for her, and sees her in a car talking with a stranger, Kurokawa Ryuji (Yosuke Sugino), with a serious look on her face.

Later, Kurokawa appears before Kotaro and introduces himself as a detective. He tells him the shocking truth that Nerla is suspected of murdering his fiance, Yuto Fuse (Reo Tamaoki), 15 years ago. At the time, the case was reported as an accident in which Fuse accidentally fell down the stairs, but Kurokawa is convinced that Nerla is the culprit and is obsessed with the matter.

When Kotaro hears that the case is being reinvestigated after 15 years, he cannot hide his shock...and with this scene the first episode ends.

In response to this unexpected and shocking revelation, viewers took to social media with comments such as, "Is Nella a murderer?", "A secret like that...?? That's scary...", "It's suddenly become really suspenseful", "Wow, Kotaro will be the one defending Nella, or maybe he'll be the one being defended", and "Wow, I could watch it every week. It's a great mystery and it's entertaining."

There were also comments about the Buddhist altar in the room of Nerla's father, Kan (played by Yasunori Danta), such as "Is there really a Buddhist altar like that? It feels strange", "I was curious as there were two memorial tablets on the altar", "Is that an altar for two people? Who are they?" and "The Buddhist altar is too ominous".