kutsuwamushi | Things I have watched lately: Jin 1-4

"But this doesn't look like a time machine at all."

Number of episodes watched: 4

Number of successful edo-period brain surgeries: 3

Number of cholera outbreaks: 1

Love rhombuses: 1

Minakata Jin is a neurosurgeon in modern Tokyo. One night, while treating an assault victim, he discovers a strange tumor in the victim's head--one in the exact shape of a fetus. He removes the tumor, and then things get weird. He's catapulted back in time to 1862, where he has to decide whether sharing his medical knowledge is worth the risk of changing the future.

Some important characters so far:

This is Tomonaga Miki, otherwise known as Jin's Tragic Past. She had a terminal brain tumor until Jin performed an ambitious operation to save her life. It failed; she's now comatose. Or has Jin somehow changed her fate? Only Stephen Hawking knows.

This is Tachibana Saki, the daughter of a prominent samurai. After Jin saves her brother's life, he ends up staying with the Tachibanas. She wants to be Jin's assistant and learn medicine, but her mother isn't thrilled about what this does for her marriage prospects.

This is Nokaze. She's a prostitute. Do you see the plot? Maybe this image will make the plot more clear:

OMG IT'S MIKI. NOT EVEN STEPHEN HAWKING CAN EXPLAIN THIS.

And this is Sakamoto Ryoma. Jin thinks he might have been the mysterious assault victim who started it all (and therefore may be the key to getting back), but Sakamoto has no idea why Jin is following him around. He thinks Jin might have a crush.

I'm enjoying the series so far--of course, or I wouldn't have finished four episodes. Despite the premise making absolutely no sense, the storytelling isn't bad for a semi-historical quasi-sci-fi metaphysical fetus melodrama. The production values are also good.

And just to cheer up

sudaki, here are some screenshots only slightly out of context: