NHK Drama: What is “Queen of Mars”?

Mars has long stood as one of the most enduring and popular destinations for speculative science fiction. In December last year, NHK released a new live-action drama set on Mars. Queen of Mars takes viewers to the red planet, mixing political tension, alien mystery, and sweeping adventure.

What is Queen of Mars?

In the distant year of 2125, Earth has finally broken past its boundaries and colonized the planet Mars. Alien in nature, hostile beyond measure, and alluring in its mysteries, Mars is humanity’s new frontier. But despite such a tremendous leap forward for humanity, problems are brewing beneath the surface. The ISDA, or Inter-Planetary Space Development Agency, rules over Mars with an iron grip. Unrest is growing and threatening to spill over.

For Lili E1102, the travel to Mars was an opportunity she would fight her whole life to experience. Despite being visually impaired, Lili trained herself to be a ready candidate for the journey. The reason for her journey is to meet Shiraishi Aoto, a young Earth ISDA scientist. But complicating matters tremendously are the Martian secrets that are bound to throw humanity into chaos.

Queen of Mars Is Another Martian-Based Story In The Long History of Science Fiction

There are as many stories featuring Mars as there are stars in the sky. Classics like Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Under the Moons of Mars, featuring John Carter and Dejah Thoris, continue to inspire new stories today. Ray Bradbury also imagined life on Mars through his many short stories about what living on the planet might be like.

In pop culture, especially in Western media, the fixation on Mars and its possible denizens fueled tons of stories. H.G. Wells’ famous novel, The War of the Worlds, explored what a Martian invasion would be. A series of trading cards produced by Topps in 1962, entitled Mars Attacks, showcased grim, gruesome scenes of Martian violence against an unsuspecting Earth. The list could go on and on, but the fact remains that Mars has long been a massive setting and inspiration for science fiction.

For Japan, Mars has also been a staple in popular media. In the world of anime, several major heavy hitters have used the planet as a setting. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans is set on the red planet. Super Dimension Fortress Macross also used Mars as a setting in one of its stories. Cowboy Bebop, anime’s resident neo-noir western, features Mars heavily as a setting for its action and intrigue. Far more than just a setting for Western writers, Earth’s red neighbor has influenced and inspired creators in Japan just as heartily.

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What makes this NHK drama unique?

One of the most interesting and refreshing aspects of Queen of Mars is its bustling multiculturalism. While it is a Japanese show starring primarily Japanese actors and actresses, the population of Mars is diverse. Not only that, but many characters are multilingual as well, switching between languages on the fly, often within the same conversation.

Much like Star Trek, Queen of Mars maintains a tight focus on humanity’s advancement in the far future. The acceptance of other cultures and peoples is a crucial step to realizing interplanetary travel, and it’s terrific that Queen of Mars so readily showcases that. These scenes bring back memories of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Babylon 5, fantastic science fiction shows in their own right.

Queen of Mars shines thanks to the strong performances and chemistry of its leads, Masaki Suda and Suri Rin. Their dynamic is familiar, seen in many dramas, films, anime, and manga. The story centers on a young couple fated for love but trapped in the struggles of youth and circumstances beyond their control.

But being able to play off one another so flawlessly is no easy feat. And for Suri Rin, who also has the added pressure of accurately and respectfully portraying a person with a disability, it takes a tremendous amount of skill, as well. Any show, regardless of how novel its plot may be, can never make it if it doesn’t have quality acting behind it.

Why should you watch Queen of Mars?

While Queen of Mars only has three episodes out so far, it’s proving to be a show worth paying attention to. It wouldn’t be fair to judge it solely upon aggregate scores or reviews at the moment, as it is still in its infancy.

For those thirsting for a solid science fiction NHK drama show to dive into, one with a bit more heart than usual, Queen of Mars is certainly the answer. Here’s hoping the rest of the show delivers a substantial, worthwhile narrative. Have you seen Queen of Mars yet? If so, what do you think of it so far? Please let us know! We’d love to hear from you!