Erased (2017) User Reviews

Erased

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 12 January 2021]

This twelve part series is centred on Satoru Fujinuma, a man with an unusual ability. If he is near the site of an accident he will find himself projected five minutes into the past, enabling him to avert it. One day he gets home and finds his mother, murdered on the floor... he soon finds himself wanted for her murder! As he tries to get away from the scene... then he is thrown back in time. It isn't five minutes though; it is eighteen years! He is a child again, back in his childhood home in Hokkaido. Here he tries to do things that may prevent his mother being murdered; this involves trying to save three children who were kidnapped and murdered at the time. Satoru has no idea who the killer is but is convinced that the man who had been sentenced to hang for the crime is innocent.

I watched the anime version of this but it was long enough ago not to recall key events. I really enjoyed this version. The story progressed well with the concept of Satoru's time-travelling abilities explained early on. Things pick up even more as the action moves to 1980s Hokkaido; its snow covered urban landscapes creating a create atmosphere. The cast, particularly the youngsters, do a really fine job making the story tense and believable despite its fantastical premise. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who likes a mystery and wants something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

One of the best adaptations that works for both fans and new audiences

[pavat5999 · 9/10 · 18 April 2018]

While many details from the original manga are left out, I felt that the story is being told quite smoothly. It fills the details good enough to satisfy fans while letting the new audiences catch up with the story easily.

The quality of moods and tones in this drama are amazing.(Look at all those gorgeous scenes that fulfill our imagination from the original material) The acting is very good, especially those young actors who are the core of this story.

While people may argue the manga/anime is better, I would say that there are pros and cons considering the limitations and conditions of any type of medium. To me considering this as a drama series, it serves its purposes well and is highly recommended.

P.S. the ending soundtrack is one of best things about this series.

Addictive

[john in missouri · 8/10 · 18 December 2017]

Once you get past the fact you're watching a Japanese show, and have to read the subtitles -- which doesn't take long -- Erased becomes addictive.

It's a drama/mystery/science fiction series involving Satoru and those around him. I won't include any spoilers. As is the case with many shows, the less you know about it, probably the better.

Binge-watched the first six episodes.

The best live action until 2017

[AugustoDRodrigues · 10/10 · 22 December 2017]

I'll be very simple and objective here. As someone who watched the anime and considered it as the top three ever, here is my opinion: The series are completely accurate compared to the anime they've managed, actually, to get some details even better! Not to mention the ending wich is different from the anime and also slightly improved. Now, how about to contemplate an insane quality of photography? How about a perfectly fitting soundtrack? And about good acting? Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is the whole deal. It will impress you even if you know the manga and the anime. Even better for who doesn't know japanese live actions at all neither animes, they will have so much good times watching it. This show must be an example of how things should be made. And this time we should thank Netflix for bringing this piece of art to us. Thank you very much!

Outsider Perspective

[data_over_dogma · 10/10 · 19 December 2017]

I'm not particularly a manga or Japanese movie/tv fan and I didn't know the cartoon and movie existed. I might have to check them out.

From the perspective of someone who is watching this without any expectations and randomly found this on Netflix:

This show is absolutely amazing. Just bingewatched the first 6 episodes. The acting is brilliant, the characters are so amazing, and I'll admit I almost shed a tear in several episodes out of sheer glee. This reminds me of how I enjoyed the film Amelie; a pleasure to see all the unique nuances, especially after watching one of the most terrible films I have ever seen in my life a few days ago called Stasis.

I hope the rest of the season is as good but I could probably die happy after only 6 episodes. Thank you sincerely to those who made this with such endearing people. I want to hug you and them.

By the way, the show Haters Back Off needs more 1 star reviews. Please take the time to downvote terrible shows so I can experience more of this and less of that.

One of the best TV Series I've watched in a while

[atilio-82714 · 10/10 · 22 December 2017]

I accidentally found Erased on Netflix when I was searching for shows recently added and I gotta say, this show really impressed me. That was my first time ever watching a japanese live action and it only took me a few minutes to not mind having to read subtitles, because that is really the only thing I could complain about.

Great acting and plot. The characters all have noticeable and distinguishable personalities (even the ones that appear in a short time span), helping the viewers understand their ambition and choices.

The show's progression also felt really well detailed for a 12 episodes series, leaving it with little to no holes left after watching.

And I don't even need to talk about the photography, the winter scenes from when they were younger are astounding and they really make the show even more beautiful.

Beautiful adaptation of the manga

[minodrajapaksha · 10/10 · 18 December 2017]

I was not expecting this live action series to be as good as it was. The direction was stellar and always made sure to draw your eye to crucial details in scenery. The acting is also top notch, even the child actors, everyone fit their roles well.

Story wise it was emotionally fulfilling and the characters go through a lot of development. The mystery of who the killer is may be a bit obvious, but it isn't the focal point of the whole series so I believe it can be excused.

Music was always utilized well and never used unnecessarily, adding to the impact the soundtrack has when used. The theme song is pretty nice too, though it would be nice if Netflix at least translated it for the final episode.

If you were to choose between watching this and the anime, you should definitely watch this live action series, as it has much better direction and stronger storytelling. If you have seen the anime and are wary about this series, I can confirm this is actually a much better version of ERASED than the anime is.

9.5/10

Good Adaptation... sort of.

[pirates_of_the_carribean_bp · 7/10 · 29 December 2017]

I have seen numerous adaptations of manga and anime, and Netflix's Erased series is the one I've enjoyed the most, only because of the original story itself though.

Unlike others going as a feature film format, an 8-volume thriller story goes as TV series format, which is a brilliant move, so it has all the time to maintain such a good pacing. Storytelling is completely accurate comparing to the manga, every single detail, the scenery, the clothes people're wearing. Even cinematography and soundtrack is solid, that I have no complains.

However, the fact that everything stick too close to the original is also a huge problem, not only this series, but also Japanese movies in general. It includes actors/actresses' performances, which are extremely flat, soulless and too manga/anime-like. Many times I felt frustrate because they barely represents any of the characters they're in or even interacts with each others, just standing there, waiting and reading the exact same line from the book. If I am reading a manga, dialogues, voice over of people's thought and their expressions work fine, but this is movie we're talking, and lack of actual human interaction is a disappointment for a live adaptation.

The storytelling could be better if it was rewritten a little bit. For instance, I prefer one separate episode for the culprit character himself/herself rather than shoving into one little sequence with the main character.

Overall, Netflix's Erased is not a bad adaptation, since there are still many things to like. I think it is time to realize that audiences interpret real life different from anime or manga.

Incredible, Enjoyable, and Heartfelt Series!

[spasek · 10/10 · 5 January 2018]

I have only been getting into Asian TV shows for about three months now. Some have been good, some have been so-so, and a few have been fantastic! This is one of those "fantastic" shows that's up there with "Good Morning Call" for me. In fact, this one may even surpass that one.

"Erased" is based on a manga series about a young man who is a manga artist and has the ability to go back in time. When this happens, Saturo calls it a "Revival" in which he looks for something that is wrong/about to happen. He then does his best to prevent/change the tragedy from occurring.

After the brutal murder of his mother, he finds himself sent back to his childhood days. He realizes that he has the chance to save, not only his mother's life, but the lives of several children who have been targeted by a sadistic killer.

The story is expertly crafted to provide enough suspense and suspects to keep you guessing who the real killer may be. It also very deftly handles the beautiful relationships that Saturo forms with several of his classmates, but with Kayo, in particular. In a previous timeline, she is a victim of the killer, and Saturo is determined to befriend her and save her life if he can.

This is a series that I binge-watched over the course of just a few days. Every episode kept me wanting more. And after it was over, I realized that there was really nothing wrong with the series. The performances were fantastic, from the child actors to the adults.

It also had enough touching and heartfelt moments to balance the mystery, suspense, and darkness of a serial killer.

I have not read the manga series, but I'm certainly glad that Netflix added this incredible series to their list of quality programs. My only regret is that the series ended. I wanted more. Guess that means I'll have to watch it again!

Promising... but...

[maxispr · 6/10 · 20 June 2020]

This show is just ok.. why? Because the most interesting thing, and this is, traveling in time, happens maybe 1 or 2 times only; while it should be the main strenght/idea of the show. First 6 episodes are very good, but after those I felt I was watching a simple tv novel, where there's a bad guy, whose performance is a little exaggerated and silly. It reminded me a little bit to "Steins Gate", a guy that has to travel in time to solve problems. But that one is much better!

Very Good Series

[marti-98534 · 9/10 · 19 June 2018]

I know nothing about the manga or any previous tellings of this story. I was pulled in during the first episode and binged the entire series. I thought the younger actors were nothing less than phenomenal. The secret of the evil doer was kept until the script demanded. I loved the fidelity the characters portrayed to the very thought of doing good. I rate this high because more people need to watch it!

Starts off well, then falls off a cliff ...

[sprayeddog-44263 · 6/10 · 17 February 2023]

I never watched the original manga / animation, so this is purely a review of the Netflix series from someone with no pre-established expectation and bias.

The story started with the premise of someone who's made certain grave mistakes in his life (or feels like he's made those bad decisions) and has the ability to go back in time and correct them ... not entirely a novel idea, but there's a sense of mystery / suspense in it, and I enjoyed binge-watching the first few episodes. It was a solid 7/10 for the first half of the story.

And then it took a wrong turn, and without spoling the story (but to be honest, there's not much to spoil) it went down an extremly predictable good vs. Evil storyline. I don't know why, but the time travel element was just removed all of a sudden with no explanation. The main premise which made the story somewhat special is gone all of a sudden, and the story is bland as hell all of a sudden.

Worse, once the mystery of the plot is gone, the poor acting by all actors in general is painfully obvious. The actors, for the most part, are just spitting out lines. You can't feel the inner struggle, pain, sacrifice, fear ... of ANY actor.

I don't know how the original manga ended, but it was a huge letdown past the midpoint of the series. The only saving grace was that each episode is only ~ 20 min, so it's easiler to swallow. Still, every episode felt painfully long.

If you are really into time travel stories and you've run out of content to watch then maybe this one's worth the time. But otherwise there are lots of better choices out there and I'd just skip this one.

Missed the Mark

[vz909 · 5/10 · 30 December 2017]

Randomly stumbled upon this series on Netflix. Although it had an interesting premise but the show as a whole just never really worked. I never saw the manga or the anime so I'm not comparing this adaptation to its former selves but rather rating it based on how it stands on its own.

Pros: Some good DP work and great scenery of the Hokkaido region of Japan. Fuji mountain was breathtaking. Some children actors did a fine job being natural and believable. Good soundtrack although it gets repetitive. Good moral message for children (watch out for those loner kids/caring etc.) Has an interesting blend of fantasy/detective/nostalgia narrative not seen very often

Cons: Bad script and plot. This is probably the biggest setback and the thing that takes me out the most. For example the mom got killed and instead of describing the killer to the police our guy just starts running because he automatically assumes everyone thinks he is the killer? Why does the main guy acts like he's the most downtrodden manga drawer when he has the most AWESOME ability to rewind time and save people, how about a little pride Satoru?? Why an intoxicated boy strapped to the car seat and plunged head first into ice-cold water can survive? And seriously what is Airi doing all day and how many times can she miraculously meet Satoru on a random street? I don't know how these things happened in the manga but they just don't work in this show and I'm left scratching my head at the weird wooden characters, weird reactions and leap of logic every time.

The world is very small in the series so you could figure out our killer pretty early on and since the reveal in the middle the pacing slows down to snails pace because the amnesia bit drags it out wayyyy too long. I felt like we could lose about 3 volumes there and just go straight for finale it would work better.

The filters.. oh boy the filters. I get it you want to set the mood but perhaps have some moderation. Whoever is responsible indulges way too much with the filters, it's always very blue or very yellow and it squanders a lot of good shots because of the overuse.

The villain development is pretty weak here, I find him much more interesting than Satoru but since we don't really get into his background much so after the whole show I still don't know what the hell he talking about every time he speaks about his "void."

Overall its got it's heart-warming moments and some interesting stuff going on but I think maybe it should have stayed on paper rather than a screen.

Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 8/10 · 15 February 2019]

Half way through the first episode and I am starting to have deja vu feelings. Have I watched this one before? Yes, this one is the live action of the anime, probably the manga too (?), erased. And it does follow the anime plot wise, up to a certain point at least. One thing I have to comment about this drama was the ability of the leading actor to look older at times and like a teenager in other scenes. That gave a good time progress for the story. Also, the kid actors and actresses were extremely good! When it comes to the story, it is a mystery-fantasy plot with great performances and a gripping mystery.

Superb Drama

[SyoKennex · 9/10 · 18 January 2020]

My first Japanese drama, "Boku dake ga Inai Machi" was something I previously did not want to watch. In fact, Netflix shoved this at me in a highlight merely because of my previously watched Japanese content - they did this 20 different times. Eventually, I caved, watch the trailer and decided to go for it because it seemed pretty interesting.

Oh boy, I absolutely adored this.

This drama took me to the edge, it reeled me back in and then it chucked me in the deep end. Full of wonderful twists and turns, surprises, harrowing moments and as equally sweet moments, it's hard to summarise this fully. I'll keep this as spoiler free as possible since there's a lot going on and each was a wonderful moment on it's own, spoilers definitely take it away.

First of all, I'm not too much of a fan of crime or time travel. I find often that directors tend to do too much or too little in both genres and it never maps out the way it should - especially in content that is both crime and time travel. Ho boy, we did not have any issues with that here. We stuck with one plot that divided into one or two sub plots, but each had it's own place within the content, didn't seem out of place, nor did it come across as being odd in the drama. This is pretty rare from my few encounters with time travel and/or crime dramas.

Secondly, the casting was absolutely superb. I find often with time travel/flashbacks/etc, the children don't really much look like their adult counterpart. This was not an issue at all with any of the cast of "Boku". Every cast member looked like their child/adult counterpart and it wasn't hard to imagine any of the children growing into their adult versions. The cast all also did absolutely stunning. Again, all the personalities of the children and adults matched their character and the children didn't seem out of place for child counter parts of the adults we're introduced to. It all felt finessed, and like these children genuinely grew up.

These two points alone are enough for me to give it such a high rating, but I also want to take a moment to speak on the cinematography as well. Cinematographer Kiyokawa Koshi made such beautiful shots in this they absolutely took my breath away, left my jaw hanging open and left me glued to the screen. I definitely want to go on to watch everything this man has choreographed because it was just pure art. There's no other word for it - the shots that Kiyokawa made are just pure art.

All in all, after watching this, I want to watch the live action movie, watch the anime and read the manga. This is pretty rare for me - usually when I watch one part of a universe's content, I'm done with it from then on. For me to want to go on and consume every piece of media of this that is available to me... this is probably only the third piece of media to ever do this for me.

Give this drama 6 hours of your life and give it a go. I cannot recommend it more highly enough.

Amazing, unique, and satisfying

[atdmv · 10/10 · 24 September 2022]

This is the 1st Japanese show I've ever seen, and now I'm a fan. Beautifully written and produced, the show made me get immersed in it after the first few minutes.

When I decided to check it out, I fully expected to drop it after the first episode, because the preview was not convincing, and I had my eye on another show. Sort of just wanted to get it out of the way.

Instead, I couldn't stop watching it and ended up staying up past midnight. My only concern was a possible bad finale, as I'm used to sci-fi shows disappointing endings. But it wasn't the case here!

It also made me want to read up on the Japanese culture and language, which I did extensively.

Now about to start the animated series m.

Better than the anime

[kieranwilliamsonmt · 9/10 · 3 October 2018]

I'm not much of an anime fan, but the concept of the anime version of this was enough for me to give it a go, and I like it up until the last few episodes. I wish I'd seen this first.

This for me filled the void left by the anime version as it was quite different. It was less obvious who the killer/kidnapper was, and the way he was caught was less far-fetched.

The general vibe of the series was just far better, much similar to another Japanese title I like 'Memories of Matsuko'. The series gets you thinking, and makes you feel good.

Amazing

[kanarf666 · 10/10 · 23 August 2019]

This anime is overall amazing great plot awesome twist and it wraps it self up well. Which is kind of depressing because I wish there was more to watch. I was so sad when the anime ended even though it did it pretty beautifully.

Wonderful

[BarryJ · 9/10 · 10 September 2019]

I am not a follower of manga or anime, so I cannot review this in the context of the source material or its prior adaptation. Having said that, I watch a fair bit of Japanese live action television and a great deal of Asian TV & film generally. Overall, this is a really top-flight production of a great story (both the core plot and the script). Even though each episode is only a half-hour, and the pacing is very deliberate, it really does pack a lot into each episode. Strong acting, particularly given the largely youthful cast; some wonderful cinematography; and nice scoring round out a really wonderful production. Also notable that this is a rare time travel film which avoids the frequent debating of time travel paradoxes by simply taking the time travel for granted. It is easy enough to suspend disbelief about time travel for narrative purposes, but too many films try to explain it - a fraught exercise.

It's okay

[Snootz · 5/10 · 14 July 2022]

I'm glad a number of people enjoyed this series, and I can understand them giving it top ratings. In my case though I saw the anime first... and the live action doesn't quite stand up to the anime.

The story is effective, but somewhat slow, especially in the final four episodes. The plot, even if someone hasn't seen the anime, is predictable from very early on. The ending is plodding, extremely predictable, and could have been better done.

So I can only give this a 5-star "mediocre" rating. Had it not been for the anime this might have been somewhat unique, but since they had the anime story to go by, there really wasn't much excuse for a poorly-progressive story line.

Is it worth watching? Yes, especially if you haven't seen the anime. If you've seen the anime, you might find this a bit disappointing.

Well written, Nicely crafted, Perfectly done.

[rajuahamed-45897 · 9/10 · 16 January 2019]

From young to adult actor everyone's acting was just wonderful.. The story is quite simple but shown intelligently through few timelines..From beginning to end it will keep you waiting..A must watch for dramalovers... Happy watching....

Engaging

[CazzaBoom · 10/10 · 19 April 2019]

I stumbled onto this on Netflix and totally binged in record time. I'm not familiar with the manga story so it was all new to me. Other reviews cover the plot so I won't go over the details again. The story moves along nicely and the viewer is invested in the characters. Acting is top notch and for this European it was a great insight to another culture. I can't really give this a proper review as it has been a while since I watched it but I wanted to rate it and encourage others to watch it. You won't be sorry.

Heartwarming and touching

[Vyaiskaya · 9/10 · 20 February 2021]

Boku-machi "Erased" tells the tale of a writer gifted with the ability to jump back in time, into his past selves, an ability which proves the crux upon which his future rests when one day he returns home to find himself framed for a crime he never committed, the death of his mother at the hands of a serial killer. Instead of turning this into a corny/cheesey, overdone and ability-focused actions piece, BokuMachi instead focuses on the lost arts of film, storytelling and character development to tell a heartwarming tale of heroism without the distractions of blockbuster cgi, explosions and cheap effects, as it traces the real effects and complicated relationship of such a power on the character and his companions while he attempts to solve murders and prevent his own dystopian future. BokuMachi is an heart-warming tale anyone can enjoy, and strongly recommended for all audiences.

An exceptional Work of Art

[jlazbuggy · 9/10 · 17 June 2021]

It's been a while since I've watched this show, but I remember absolutely that it was one heck of a good show, filled with emotional storytelling, likable characters, and a real sense of urgency in the plot that not everyone manages to pull off as well as this show does. Best of all, there are no filler episodes.

It's really good, just like the anime!

[samuyeru · 9/10 · 8 July 2020]

This is my first review, so hopefully it's good enough! I had a feeling I had to write something about this awesome show.

First of all; I really enjoyed it! I already knew the story because I've watched the anime a while ago, but I forgot allot of important parts. I didn't really like Japanese live action shows because it was always way too much and allot of fake effects, but this show took that thought away.

However, I've noticed a small mistake. When Saturo was back his childhood, you can notice that there were modern cars driving in the traffic that did not even exist in 1988. It's just a small detail. I find it quite funny though. But there was possible a reason behind that. Maybe they couldn't block the street for filming the show?

But the most important is that the story was breathtaking and really deep. Through the show you see how Satoru change as a person. At first, he's a really introverted person who doesn't really have friends or allot of people around him. But when he got back in time, he started to accept the help from other around him which made him more security. I love to see beside a story how a person is developing during events. At some parts it was a bit cliché and it went quite fast at some points, but it's really worth it to watch!