This is an experimental drama that implements several brilliant ideas but commits too many story-telling sins.


3 Nen A Gumi was produced by NTV for a time slot reserved for low budget experimental dramas such as Anata no Ban Desu and Todome no Kiss. These dramas are youth oriented so they aim both to entertain and to educate. While education value of the drama's message may vary, an action-driven plot and the most popular actors of the hour are a 'must have'.

An entertaining experimental drama with a strong message often polarises the viewers. Is imperfect execution forgivable if the message is important? What can be overlooked for a chance to see a brilliant (or gorgeous) actor performing dramatic scenes with a flourish? The answers to these questions determine whether the drama is worth watching.

3 Nen A Gumi, in particular, features arguably the most talented actor of his generation, an unparalleled Suda Masaki. He clearly gives his all to a performance of the character he also helped create. Watching him act is a pure pleasure.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to Suda's heavy involvement in the script. While he gets to act many dramatic scenes that showcase his ability, his character is also a classic Mary Sue. Self-righteousness of the main character and his omnipotence are a hard sell and no amount of fainting spells or tears can change that.

There is only one person who is capable of standing up to the main character - the local police officer - and the confrontations between the two are among the most tense moments of the whole drama. The fact that Shiina Kippei can keep up with Suda's acting really helps. And here lies another problem of this drama - inexperience of the young cast.

Suda's acting, unfortunately, obliterates even the best efforts of the students' actors. Suda is not someone to dial off his acting just to make costars look better even at the best of times. Here, with no young actors of Kamiki Ryunosuke's calibre in the cast, Suda remains unchallenged throughout the drama.

Another problem of the story is heavy-handed moralisation. The message of the drama is brilliant and timely. But it's delivered in a way that puts the viewer in the position of a student who has long since figured the problem out but has to listen to an overdrawn explanation given by a self-important smug teacher.

Many trappings of the drama (hypocritical levity of the people outside of the classroom or constant cuts to some recorded videos) look rather pretentious without bringing much to the story.

There is also a problem with male gaze which results in a fanservicey premise where one schoolgirl stalks another because that schoolgirl looks like a woman in a classic porn. Thankfully, we are spared any sexual tension between the main character and the female lead mostly due to the actors (and Suda's agape which kills off any chemistry).

Having said all that, I readily admit that when the drama dials up tension, it gets really good. The setting constantly strains suspension of disbelief and is over-the-top but it would work fine if other flaws were less glaring. The same way the accusations of over-acting seem unfair considering the requirements of the genre.

Ultimately, the bold if very unrealistic premise coupled with expressive acting and strong message would work really well for a duration of a movie. Stretched over many episodes, though, the message devolves to self-satisfied pontification, the tension bleeds away, and the young actors show themselves in unfavourable light. Such is fate of experimental drama - it dared where others didn't even if with mixed results.