Coming from the OVA's, I was extremely optimistic. The 4 episodes it offered were very effective at creating a wholesome series of episodes focused on the police and their work. Take the second episode, as an example, how it captured the sincere and kind personalities of the protagonists and how qualified as people they are to be in public service. Going into the TV series, I had hoped that the OVA's potential was to be fulfilled in the upcoming series. However, I have had to drop it due to such disappointment.
The TV series is fun. Created because it is fun. Adapted from it's source material because it is (presumably) a fun manga. However, I feel that this show has too many aspects that I consider to be unfulfilling or just plain unfunny. I have dropped it at episode 27.
I can only recommend the OVA's. Then view the first two episodes to see if these satisfy you. Take note that these two episodes may be the weakest episodes but they should be judged even with that in mind. The disappointing nature I found these episodes to be had foreshadowed the feeling for later episodes. Only did I not realise this until later.
To elaborate, a lot of the show is downright trite and predictable. To describe the second episode, an inspector comes and everyone is panicking because they aren't prepared and so the inspector discovers this and isn't impressed. Until suddenly (!) an emergency that will prove the honesty and wholesome nature of the cast is presented and he says with satisfaction that "they are good officers". Are predictable episodes like this worth it? Haven't I seen things like this in media dozens of times already? Is this the result of the potential I saw from the OVA's? I am not shaming it's age, but I question the incentive to watch the series for those who want to watch this.
The relationship of Ken and Miyuki is unnecessarily stubborn. It is almost insulting how the OVA can advance such a great relationship organically in just one episode than in the TV series where that progress just seems to have been thrown out of the window. For a reason that is shallow and unauthentic I can only assume. These repeated scenarios that make Miyuki get upset because there is doubt to Ken's faith or where it isn't her getting affection from Ken is so poorly done and is just childish and terrible. Additionally, the process of the protagonist putting Ken into a position where he can confess and then ultimately failing is frustrating on many levels as well. It is such a destructive technique that hurts to watch and I do not look forward to how the direction goes no matter the result.
However, their relationship is only a small portion of what I didn't like from the show. The show puts effort into the use of motor vehicles and the engineering behind them which is fine. In fact, it really helps the show have more of an identity.
On the other hand, in cases where the protagonists are maneuvering in impossible ways to find a bomb to defuse or scaling a collapsing building... there are many situations where it just isn't realistic ans is absurd. Although, in the very first few minutes of the OVA this is demonstrated that impractical things will happen just for the sake of it. In this case, could you just chalk it up to being 'anime'? What are my expectations in these cases? Is it ok for impossible realities to exist for the sake of the episode?
It isn't just driving where things can get nonsensical. Things like people conveniently being in the right (or wrong) place at the right time is a big one. Movement and actions performed is another. Even the backstories of characters can be unbelievably stupid. For example, a narcissistic police officer has a grudge for another officer because she supposedly went through life getting top grades and achieving things like a perfect score at the shooting range because of... could you guess... luck! All of it. Just luck. So she tries to out do her for the whole episode and she thinks she wins but then the other person gets commended in a more wholesome way. It does show how you can be a successful police officer in both ways so it isn't all bad. Is it okay to use these impossible situations to make a slightly wholesome point at the end? I don't know. All I know is, I don't know what I want from this show so I think maybe I have just been watching the wrong show for me.
To sum it up. Specific episodes are fun but there is too much here that, in my opinion is disappointing or just offensively not worthwhile. It's hard to describe but I hope people can look past my criticisms of the show and enjoy it for what it is. I would have loved the show 7 years ago when I were a lot more naive and easy-going. Not that you would have to be naive to enjoy the show. However, the direction taken after the OVA's is what disappoints me the most and I can only recommend this show if you want something older but with flair and if you don't mind anime and it's familiar tropes and triteness.
