The sixth episode of the TBS Friday drama "Takusari Brothers," starring actor Masaki Okada and also featuring Shota Sometani, aired on May 22nd. Makiko Watanabe's performance as Sayoko, a counselor in the city hall's welfare and health department, left a strong impression.
◇The following contains spoilers.
Responding to Sayoko's plea, "Why don't you stop bearing this burden alone?", Makoto (Okada) confided in Sayoko about the suffering he had endured since his parents were murdered. Prompted by Sayoko, who spoke on behalf of the victims' families, he poured out the feelings he had kept hidden until now, and shed tears.
Sayoko said, "Why should only the bereaved families who have had their loved ones taken from them have to continue suffering?" and took Makoto's hand. She continued, "The pain the victim suffered and the pain the perpetrator suffered are equal. It evens out. If the culprit hasn't been caught, then the bereaved families shouldn't be caught either. It evens out, it evens out..."
As if to cast a spell, Sayoko tapped Makoto's hand in a steady rhythm.
Social media was buzzing with comments like, "Makiko Watanabe's chilling creepiness sent shivers down my spine," "The process of Makoto being drawn into her is terrifying. I was overwhelmed by Watanabe's incredible performance!", "Makiko Watanabe is so good that I feel like I'm being mind-controlled even from this side of the TV," and "Of course she's suspicious since the counselor is Watanabe."
Watanabe received critical acclaim for her chilling performance as Hanae Iemori, a client of the protagonist lawyer, Kenji Kujo, in the Netflix series "The Great Sin of Article 9." On social media, some commented, "Makiko Watanabe, who gave an impactful performance in 'The Great Sin of Article 9,' plays a social welfare worker who outwardly appears to be a good person, but it's scary to think that she might be mind-controlling her clients and giving them malicious instructions."
