Midnight Diner 3 (2014) Series Review

 

Midnight Diner 3 | 2014 | 10 episodes
Genre: Comedy/Drama | Country: Japan
IMDB: 8.6/10
My Rate: 9/1

New stories unfold through the experiences of the patrons at Master's small restaurant, which offers a diverse menu based on customer requests.

Warning:

Contains scenes of violence, alcohol, smoking, nudity, sensuality, and strong language.

 

Synopsis:

The third season of Midnight Diner returns with new patrons ordering simple yet meaningful dishes. Master is ready to provide his best dishes and listen to the stories and woes of his customers.

 

Episode 1: Menchikatsu

A singer, Misao Kashima, attempts to conceal her identity while visiting Master's restaurant to eat her and her late husband's favorite dish: minced meat cutlets. After her husband's death, the songwriter, Misao withdrew from the entertainment world, consumed by grief.

Tomoya's wife is hospitalized, leaving him heartbroken. To cheer her up, he wants to fulfill her wish of listening to Misao's songs again.  He fails to find Misao's out-of-print CDs.  He accidentally encounters Misao at a karaoke bar, asking for her to sing, but Misao refuses, having lost her source of happiness.

 

Episode 2: Butabara Tomatomaki

Tezuka, a comic artist, feels he has failed and decides to return to his hometown after a final meal at Master's restaurant: bacon-wrapped tomatoes—a dish he shared with his editor, Uno, during his debut.  Shortly after Tezuka's departure, Uno arrives with a new comic artist, Hashimoto, treating him to the same dish.

Hashimoto wins a comic contest, Uno's support boosting his spirits.  However, being a comic artist is challenging. Hashimoto's decision to quit his job and focus solely on his art proves unwise. His girlfriend Noriko's patience reaches its limit, as she works hard to support them while Hashimoto contributes nothing, leading to a major argument.

 

Episode 3: Satoimo to Ika no Nimono

Kei Satomi visits Master's restaurant with her new trainee, Mamoru. Mamoru seems unenthusiastic, while Satomi enjoys the squid taro stew. Mamoru finds his job as a private investigator handling infidelity cases far worse than he imagined.

After spending the night together, Mamoru unexpectedly asks Satomi for a serious relationship, but Satomi doesn't consider it important, revealing her past trauma that led her to this career. Mamoru's feelings are tested by a new case.

 
Episode 4: Benishoga no Tempura

Komichi falls for Kasumi, a woman from Osaka. Kasumi is aloof and difficult to win over. Komichi tries to impress her by constantly paying for her meals, even enlisting a client from Osaka to help.

Unexpectedly, this client also becomes interested in Kasumi, especially after seeing her enjoy fried ginger pickles, his favorite.  He tries to win her over, but Kasumi's response is surprising.

 

Episode 5: Harusame Salad

Miho and Sayuri prepare for their elementary school reunion, eating haru same salad at Master's restaurant, reminiscing about their past.  They both liked the same boy, Shiga, who introduced Sayuri to haru same salad.

Shiga and Miho attend the reunion; Sayuri is hospitalized.  They visit her, giving her a letter and music box from a time capsule. Sayuri's first love resurfaces, but Shiga's feelings for Miho create tension between the friends.

 

Episode 6: Roll Kyabetsu

The colder weather prompts Master to prepare steamed cabbage rolls. Marilyn dislikes them, as they remind her of her childhood loneliness when her mother would leave with her boyfriends.  Their relationship is strained.

Marilyn's mother suddenly falls ill, forcing Marilyn to cancel her performance and rush home. However, her mother is fine, and worse, she has a new boyfriend. Later, her mother visits Tokyo and accidentally discovers Marilyn's work as a stripper.  Despite being shocked, she tries to be supportive, but Marilyn reacts negatively, and they argue.

 

Episode 7: Shijimijiru

Yoshio and Mizue Hiraga, a seemingly perfect romantic middle age couple, regularly eat clam soup at Master's restaurant.  However, infidelity issues arise.

Mizue returns home to help her daughter give birth. There, she meets her ex-boyfriend. Yoshio learns about this from a friend who shows him a photo of Mizue dining with her ex.  Lonely and jealous, Yoshio becomes interested in Mariko, a Go player he sees on TV. After an accidental meeting at Master's restaurant, they begin a forbidden relationship.

 

Episode 8: Kinpiragobou

Gen accidentally encounters his former high school teacher, Chizuru Ishikawa, for whom he has long harbored feelings. This rekindles his affection, leading him to confess his feelings while drunk. Chizuru, however, doesn't take it seriously.

Chizuru reconnects with her ex-boyfriend and plans a trip together.  However, her ex-boyfriend is actually married, causing Chizuru to have doubts. Meanwhile, Gen tries to re-express his feelings, intending to leave the Yakuza and build a better life to be with Chizuru.

 

Episode 9: Rebanira to Nirareba

Detective Noguchi and his new partner, Detective Izumi, have differing perspectives, including on how to enjoy liver and leek stir-fry.  They frequently clash, particularly due to Izumi's more extreme methods compared to Noguchi's adherence to the rules.

A major argument ensues when Noguchi develops feelings for the wife of a crime victim he helped. Izumi deems this inappropriate and unethical. Izumi's harsh reprimand angers and offends Noguchi. Master intervenes, mediating and prompting Izumi to adjust her approach.

 

Episode 10: Toshikoshi Soba

New Year's Eve arrives. Master prepares his soba noodles for his customers. However, some customers arrive with their own soba, slightly disappointing Master.  Izumi's order of Master's soba for herself and two colleagues finally brings a smile to Master's face.  Other customers then reorder Master's soba.  All the customers gather to celebrate the new year together, sharing warmth and camaraderie.

 

Review:

"You have to be strong to survive."

 

Based on the manga of the same name by Yaro Abe, published in 2006, this series follows the successful first and second seasons with more compelling new stories.  The season concludes with a New Year's celebration featuring returning patrons, marking the series' end and hinting at a film adaptation.

The intro presents a bustling yet calm atmosphere, thanks to the soothing music, culminating in Master's narration about his restaurant as a perfect whole, enhanced by warm color composition.

The restaurant setting remains unchanged, with the same interior and arrangement.  However, new and unique dishes are featured. Unfortunately, not all the characters are new. Four out of ten stories revisit familiar faces: Tomoya (the food critic), Marilyn (the stripper), Gen (the Yakuza member), and Detective Noguchi.

Reusing familiar characters makes this season slightly less engaging than the first two, even though the stories themselves are new and unique.  There's a noticeable difference between using entirely new characters and revisiting old ones.

The storytelling remains strong, with clear character backgrounds and well-developed plots. Conflicts are believable, and resolutions are satisfying.  The concluding explanations of the featured dishes are also well-executed.

The actors' performances feel natural, especially the chemistry between the returning characters, which feels even stronger. However, some characters are less expressive than in previous seasons. For example, Kasumi, the woman from Osaka, doesn't fully convey her sadness.

Episode 10, "Toshikoshi Soba," is particularly memorable. This final episode of Midnight Diner is festive and heartwarming, set during New Year's Eve, emphasizing the significance of a fresh start. Most of the recurring characters appear, celebrating the new year together.

This series is perfect for those who enjoy calming yet engaging and meaningful stories—simple narratives with a lasting impact.

 

(Aluna)