'Queen' is a diverting drama set in the world of public relations - the Queen of the title being a PR team lead. The general setup is reminiscent of the BBC's 'Absolute Power', although in this case the players belong to the crisis management team of a law firm rather than dedicated PR gurus.
Initially, the plot twists often play out in a similar way to many dramas involving 'expert heroes' with Yuko Takeuchi's PR Queen leaving the viewer (and most of the other characters) second or third guessing the means by which victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat with regard to whichever personal or commercial scandal is the subject of the current episode. Towards the end of the series, however, the lightness of touch departs and a complex backstory about politics and corruption comes to the fore, concluding in a dramatic public enquiry which occupies most of the final episode.
The series sports a great cast, with Yuko Takeuchi and Yuki Saito reunited from the previous year's 'Miss Sherlock' and several other top players including comedian Bakarhythm as an entertainingly played eccentric, savoury snack-obsessed law practice boss.
The theme tune is an unremarkable J-Pop track but the jazz-funk incidental music from 'Soil & Pimp Sessions' is excellent.
