Just watched: Galileo XX - Utsumi Kaoru Saigo no Jiken

This is an episode of Galileo in name only, since this story focuses exclusively on Utsumi Koaru, played by Shibasaki Kou. The eccentric scientist makes a cameo appearance in one scene and the final scene is on the same day as episode one of the  second series, but apart from that this drama has little to do with the rest of the Galileo canon.

Except, of course, the presence of Utsumi Kaoru solving a mysterious crime. A man is arrested in Tokyo, pushing a dead woman in a wheelchair. It’s discovered that he’s wanted in another prefecture, he confesses to a murder and he is transported to the other police department. However, by the time he gets there, his story has changed completely.

There’s no science behind the puzzle this time. Just a tangled tale of blackmail, false accusations. It’s a more old-fashioned murder mystery than Galileo’s demonstrations of physics and chemistry, but no less entertaining.

It was fun to watch, and nice to see Shibasaki Kou’s character get centre stage for once. It’s not a complete return to form for Galileo, nor is it as good as Suspect X, but it’s a decent addition to the series.