The final episode of the TBS Friday drama "Takusari Brothers," starring actor Masaki Okada and also featuring Shota Sometani, aired on June 19th. The final episode revealed the "position" of Koike (Goro Kishitani), who had divided viewers as to whether he was an enemy or ally of Makoto (Okada) and Minoru (Sometani), and it garnered a variety of reactions from viewers.
◇The following contains spoilers.
Koike had previously taken the restored data from Tsuda's (Kazuki Iio) notebook, which contained information about the connection between Karashima Metal Factory and the Igarashi Group, from Makoto and Minoru, and had also helped Karashima Sadao (Hidekazu Nagae) and his wife Fumi (Atsuko Sendo) escape, thus hindering the brothers from getting closer to the truth of the "Takusari Family Murder Case."
In the final episode, Sasaoka (Yuurei Yanagi), who had previously worked with Koike on the "Takusari Family Murder Case," turns himself in. Facing Sasaoka, Koike recalls, "At that time, I was aware of the collusion between you and the Igarashi Group. But I did nothing. I pretended not to see." As Sasaoka bows his head and says, "I'm truly sorry," Koike tells him, "You will be questioned by the First Division regarding the incitement to murder against Mogi (Takashi Yamanaka)."
Afterward, Koike told Miyato (Ayami Nakajo) and Ishizaka (Kaito Miyachika) that the Tagasari family murder case was not over and instructed them to find Makoto, who had gone into hiding with a gun in order to seek revenge. He then expressed his feelings for the brothers, saying, "It's the police's fault that the case reached the statute of limitations. This time, I want to protect those brothers."
On social media, comments such as "I'm glad Koike is on our side," "Sorry for doubting Koike (lol)," "Maybe Koike let the Karashima couple escape because she knew the Tagasari brothers would come for revenge and didn't want them to commit a crime," and "If Koike is on our side, she should have acted sooner!" spread.
On the other hand, some questioned the statement, saying, "'This time I want to protect those brothers' - don't say that after sheltering the Karashima couple for so long," "Koike's actions are somewhat incomprehensible. Disposing of documents and sheltering and protecting that couple," and "If Koike had just exposed Sasaoka's crimes and brought them to light, wouldn't the bodies of Sakutaro (Masato Wada) and the others have been properly examined, the cause of death had been clarified, and he had been properly punished legally!? I think Koike is the most guilty of all."
The drama follows Detective Makoto and Medical Examiner Minoru as they investigate heinous crimes that occur daily and pursue the true culprit in the murder of their parents, a case that expired just two days before the statute of limitations was abolished. This is the latest work from producer Junko Arai, who has worked on hit crime suspense works such as the film "Last Mile" and the dramas "Unnatural," "MIU404," and "Saiai."
