Switched, a Japanese drama series directed by Hiroaki Matsuyama, tells the story of Zenko Umine, a girl with low self-esteem due to her overweight body and constant bullying. Unable to approach the boy she likes, Umine decides to swap bodies with Ayumi Kohinata, a popular and beautiful girl in her class. The six-episode drama unfolds into a thrilling and mysterious plot, full of unexpected twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The story revolves around Umine, played by Miu Tomita, who leads a depressing life due to her appearance and constant bullying. She is mistreated by her mother and ostracized by her classmates. On the contrary, Kohinata, played by Kaya Kiyohara, is beautiful, intelligent, and popular in school. She has a loving family and boyfriend, Koshiro Mizumoto, played by Tomohiro Kamiyama. Despite being at opposite ends of the social spectrum, Kohinata and Umine become friends.
One day, Kohinata receives a call from Umine, who wants to meet her urgently. When Kohinata arrives, she sees Umine standing on the rooftop of the building, ready to jump. Unable to stop her, Umine jumps, and Kohinata wakes up in a hospital. She discovers that she has swapped bodies with Umine and is now living as her. To make things worse, Umine’s abusive mother thinks that Kohinata is her daughter and starts treating her poorly.
Kohinata tries to look for her own body to reunite with her family and boyfriend, but no one believes her story. In the meantime, Umine, who is now in Kohinata’s body, enjoys her new life, with Kohinata’s stunning looks and popularity. However, Kohinata’s best friend, Kaga Shunpei, played by Daiki Shigeoka, who initially mistook Umine for Kohinata, becomes suspicious when he notices some differences.
Kohinata, with the help of Kaga and Ukon Mao, played by Megumi Seki, a woman who has experienced similar body swapping, tries to find a way to reverse the situation. As they delve deeper into the mystery of body swapping, they realize that the only way to do so is by performing a ritual during a red moon phenomenon. The person who wants to swap bodies must commit suicide in front of the person they want to swap with, and they can only return to their original body by performing the ritual once again.
Switched offers a thrilling plot that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. The story is not only about body swapping, but it also explores issues such as bullying, self-esteem, and family relationships. The cast delivers outstanding performances, especially Tomita and Kiyohara, who excellently portray the two different characters they swap bodies with.
In conclusion, Switched is a must-watch drama for fans of mystery and thriller genres. It offers a well-crafted plot, great performances, and thought-provoking issues. Be prepared to be amazed and entertained by this six-episode series that packs a punch.
