In Burn the House Down, Anzu takes it upon herself to unveil the truth about a fire that destroyed her mother’s life 13 years ago. The show is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
13 years ago, Anzu’s family home was burned to the ground because of her mother’s fault. However, Anzu thinks that there is more to the story, as when the house was burning, Anzu saw her mother’s close friend, Makiko, smiling.
Soon after, Anzu’s rich father divorced his mother and married Makiko. Anzu’s mother was left to take care of her two daughters all by herself. The guilt of burning her own house weighed heavy on her mind, and she suffered from generalized amnesia.
Years later, to prove her mother’s innocence and free her from the burden of guilt because of which she cannot even remember her daughters, Anzu adopts a different identity and starts working as a housekeeper at Makiko’s house.
With Makiko keeping an eagle eye on everyone around her, will Anzu be able to uncover all her carefully kept secrets and prove her mother’s innocence?
Performances
In the lead role, Mei Nagano gives a satisfying performance. She switches between the polite and subservient Shizuka and the smart and determined Anzu with ease. She does not give the audience room for complaints.
Kyoka Suzuki’s performance is brilliant. She is a worthy antagonist. She convinces the audience that she is a cold and calculating woman who controls everyone and everything around her.
Kiichi’s character is complex, and Asuka Kudo portrays the character with just as much complexity. As the story unfolds, the audience starts to understand him more and more. His chemistry with Mei Nagano is an added bonus.
Taishi Nakagawa plays the part of Shinji, a man who is under immense pressure to prove his worth, and he does it well. Similarly, Yuri Tsunematsu seems to be the perfect Yuzu, a bright and bubbly girl who wishes to help her sister.
Positives
The emotion that dominates the drama is guilt. It affects different characters in different ways; Satsuki loses her memories, and Kiichi turns bitter, among others. Through these characters, the show explores the intricacies of this one emotion that can ruin lives if it is not alleviated.
The character development of characters like Kiichi keeps the audience invested in the show. As the plot progresses, the characters grow and change. Due to that, the audience will want to know what happens next and never lose interest in the story.
Even though the antagonist comes across as compassionless and cold, the show tries to highlight that her actions stem from the desire for a better life. The show’s depiction makes it hard to condemn her without a second thought.
From the very beginning, the drama emphasizes the difference between what most people believe to be true and the actual truth. In a show where the protagonist is searching for the truth, it is not just Makiko’s life that is full of lies.
The show barely has any dull moments. Towards the end, there are unpredictable twists and turns that make the audience question everything that they have come to believe.
Negatives
The audience is never able to understand the gravity of the crime. While the characters give it their all to solve the mystery, there is no factor that will make the audience think that what happened in the past is as important as the characters claim it is.
The ending might not satisfy everyone. For a show such as this one, the ending seems to be too convenient and unconvincing.
Verdict
Burn the House Down is an interesting drama. Its complex characters and their stories manage to hold the audience’s attention from the beginning to the end.
