MR.BRAIN

Ryusuke Tsukumo is a quirky, yet brilliant neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science. Wielding a unique perspective and psychology, Tsukumo tackles the nation's most baffling crimes and scandals, going head-to-head with the most brilliant and twisted criminal minds. But his eccentricities and poor social timing can also aggravate people and circumstances, further complicating matters.

Mr.Brain (2009) is a Japanese crime comedy-drama series broadcast on TBS, a single-season run of eight fifty-minute episodes. Takuya Kimura stars as Ryusuke Tsukumo, a quirky yet brilliant neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science. Tsukumo's engine is simple and compelling: he applies an unusual perspective and deep understanding of human psychology to the nation's most baffling crimes and scandals, going head to head with brilliant and twisted criminal minds. Supporting principals include Teruyuki Kagawa as Tomomi Tanbara, Haruka Ayase as Kazune Yuri, and Hiro Mizushima as Toranosuke Hayashida, whose investigative world orbits around him. Each case unfolds as its own puzzle, and his eccentricities and poor social timing often aggravate colleagues and suspects, turning each investigation into a mix of sharp deduction and awkward comedy. The tone is playful and brainy, with a procedural rhythm and a steady undercurrent of tension as criminals match wits with him. Fans of Monk and Bones, and the eccentric-genius mysteries of Sherlock, will find a similar pleasure in watching a offbeat mind take apart a crime scene.

• Monkquirky genius detective solving crimes through unconventional psychology, procedural mystery with eccentric lead
• Bonesforensic genius with abrasive social manner solving cases, comedic mystery drama tone
• SherlockJapanese police-institution setting, eccentric expert consulting on baffling crimes, comedic-dramatic procedural

Release Date

2009-05-23

Episode runtime

50 min

Rating

7.3 / 10 (17)

What is MR.BRAIN about?

A quirky neuroscientist at Japan's National Research Institute of Police Science uses his unusual psychology to crack the nation's most baffling crimes.

What is MR.BRAIN like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of MR.BRAIN as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is MR.BRAIN violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in MR.BRAIN.

Which shows are like MR.BRAIN?

Shows with a similar feel include Monk, Bones, and Sherlock.

How long is MR.BRAIN?

MR.BRAIN: 1 season, 8 episodes.

Is MR.BRAIN still running?

No, MR.BRAIN has ended.