The Guests of Room no. 0 (0 gou shitsu no kyaku) – Yoko is Willy Wonka and Ohno hates his life

So the Guests of Room 0 have premiered and… I just wanted to say….

FINALLY A DRAMA THIS SEASON THAT I’VE ACTUALLY WATCHED THE FIRST EPISODE MORE THAN ONCE.

It’s totally along the same style as the Engimono series of dramas, in which its a series of four episodes per story with a different Johnny every month in their own unique plight. The one thing I do like about this, its all within one consistent scenario: A hotel, it’s owner, and the guests that revolve through its doors. I was quite shocked to actually see Joshima appear right in episode 1 — especially since his story isn’t until next year.

I think the one thing I’m in love of the most in this series is the ending sequence. I think I actually love how Yoko’s character of the hotel proprietor and story teller has a magical, elusive, mysterious feel to him. Its like whoever planned this series bit off of Tim Burton’s Willy Wonka remake big time and threw in some magic. It also does help that this premieres the week BEFORE Halloween.

I also enjoy the fact that the setting of the hotel is definitely Victorian. For some reason I just kept thinking Edgar Allan Poe or something… Alice in Wonderland… I dunno.

He welcomes you to his chocolate factory… I mean, hotel.