An intellectual, mindblowing series that unfortunately grated on my nerves with its over-the-top acting. THE GOOD Two reasons: 1.) The mind games I loved how this drama stimulated my mind. I loved the mathematical formulas, theories and solutions to the problems in every round. It was quite thrilling and impressive to watch. I've often wondered just how hard the writer of the manga and the staff of the dorama must have worked in researching about mathematical principles every day to keep things going. It's not easy to come up with new tricks in every episode, and in very creative ways at that! 2.) Akiyama Shinichi I just loved how brilliant he was! His tactics were meticulously thought out. Definitely one of the most intelligent characters ever. There were a lot of instances when I'd think that their team would face an inevitable defeat because of a "winning" strategy by the opposing team...only to see him reveal a genius plan that would have Einstein make a run for his money in the end. It also helped that Matsuda Shota looked really hot and good-looking LOL. It's pretty heartwarming to see that he's always so protective of Nao, considering how jaded and detached he is from people. I personally think that they would make a great couple because they balance each other out. But most importantly, they transform each other for the better through mutual trust and support. This is one of those OTP's which I liked who had never been romantic nor will they ever be in the future. I have to admit though...as much as I tried to be understanding of Nao's savior-complex and honest-to-a-fault personality because I knew that she would become stronger and wiser as the story progressed, my irritation with her remained. I guess it's because I often found her tendency to trust idiotic and dangerous. I mean, she's involved in a cynical and sadistic game where people MUST cheat and lie in order to survive. As a result, she becomes a favorite target in the game because she's just so easy to fool. I guess every drama with this theme needs a moral compass right? However, I do think that her pure heart does have its benefits. Her ability to win the trust of her fellow contestants contributed to their team's victory at times. The objective of the Liar Game was to prove the innate edacity and selfishness of the human heart. But Nao's character was made to counteract this belief...and for that, she made a huge impact on people corrupted by greed (Fukunaga) and bitterness (Akiyama). THE BAD Like I said, the acting grated on my nerves. I guess this is the problem I have with live action dramas of mangas (except HYD). The acting performance is over the top, to the extent that it gets irritating. The performances of the actors were forced, most notably by the actors who played Fukunaga Yuji (this guy!) and Kanzaki Nao (Toda Erika). I knew it was a live adaptation of a manga so I was trying my best to be forgiving. Unfortunately, there were just so many instances in which their exaggerated expressions grated on my nerves that it was no longer possible for me to fully enjoy the show. The characters over the entire series and movie, apart from Nao and Akiyama, were stereotypical, one-dimensional and suffered meager character growth although this might not be the case in the manga, I don't know, I haven't read anything beyond the first chapter. The movie, Liar Game: The Final Stage It was fun. I enjoyed it more than the series actually. Nao finally grew up, the game ironically taught them all the importance of trust and the dialogue between her and Akiyama in the final scene satisfied me. Would I recommended it? Well, yes, to anyone looking for a mentally-stimulating show. In that aspect, Liar Game exceeds expectations with all those mind games, twists, and psychological battles.