Switched

High schooler Ayumi's perfect world evaporates when her envious classmate Zenko somehow steals her body, her boyfriend and her life.

Switched (2018) is a Japanese supernatural drama miniseries created by Shiki Kawabata and Michitaka Okada for Netflix, adapted from a manga. Miu Tomita plays Umine Zenko, an envious classmate, opposite Kaya Kiyohara as Ayumi Kohinata, a high schooler whose perfect world collapses when Zenko somehow takes over her body, her boyfriend and her life. Daiki Shigeoka plays Shunpei Kaga, and the surrounding cast includes Tomohiro Kamiyama, Megumi Seki and Miu Suzuki, with Ayumi's parents played by Shinji Rokkaku and Reika Kirishima. Across six episodes of roughly forty minutes each, the engine of the story is simple and sharp: Ayumi must find a way back into her own life while Zenko works to keep it, and every episode tightens the pressure between them. Set in a contemporary Japanese high school, the series plays out in cramped classrooms, familiar hallways and the intimate spaces of home, with a tone that is tense, uneasy and emotionally raw. Its themes of envy, appearance and inner beauty give the uncanny premise real weight. Fans of Freaky Friday and Confessions will find resonance in its blend of body swap intrigue and teen cruelty, and it suits viewers who like a compact, unsettling supernatural story.

• Freaky Fridaybody swap premise, japanese high school setting, supernatural obsession and inner beauty themes
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• Confessionsjapanese teen drama built on classroom cruelty and social hierarchy

Created by

Shiki Kawabata, Michitaka Okada

Release Date

2018-08-01

Episode runtime

40 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (42)

What is Switched about?

A jealous classmate steals a high schooler's body, boyfriend and life, and the victim must fight to reclaim herself.

What is Switched like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Switched as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Switched violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Switched as mild.

Which shows are like Switched?

Shows with a similar feel include Freaky Friday, Liar Game, and Confessions.

How long is Switched?

Switched: 1 season, 6 episodes.

Is Switched still running?

No, Switched has ended.

Where can I watch Switched?

In United States, Switched streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.