Writer Kôki Mitani says that his main inspirations in creating "Furuhata Ninzaburô" were "Columbo" (most obviously) and the wonderful 1970s "Ellery Queen" series with Jim Hutton in the lead role. The episode "Master of the Game" nicely combines both inspirations in one highly entertaining but flawed story.
After a series of more expansive episodes, "Master of the Game" returns to the show's initial formula - a small cast in a single location over a short period of time. The location here is a games room in the mansion of our victim, a fun-loving mystery writer. Much like a similar character in "Sleuth" or the titular eccentric engineer from an episode of "Ellery Queen", the mystery writer's house is full of games. Chess, billiards, darts etc. Fill the room and our killer, the writer's jovial and arrogant personal doctor is an absolute master at them. As Furuhata tries to figure out the solution to the mystery, the two play their way through the room and the doctor wins every time. But, as he himself puts it, "I win all the battles but still lose the war".
The doctor has actually concocted a wonderfully clever and complex plan which involves the victim himself helping his killer to get away with murder. This is the aspect of the story worthy of Ellery Queen as Furuhata has to solve a locked room mystery for the first time. Unfortunately, after a suspenseful and rousing prologue, "Master of the Game" turns into a bit of a dud.
Just like the previous two episodes of the second season, "Master of the Game" simply ends too simply. Furuhata figures out the murderer's methods without too much effort. In fact, in this episode, his solution comes so easily to him that he might as well be psychic. It's a shame really because for once Kôki Mitani has truly come up with a complex plot worthy of an extended runtime. I wish there were more scenes, like in "Sayonara DJ", in which Furuhata puts his theories to the test and actually struggles to figure out how the murder was committed. This aspect of the series has been sorely lacking so far in this season.
The killer is played by Masao Kusakari who proves a wonderful foe for Masakazu Tamura. The two have a lot of fun outsmarting each other while playing a variety of table games. The truly important game, of course, is the mind game played by Furuhata on the killer and, as usual, Kôki Mitani writes some sparkling dialogue for the two stars.
Shintaro also gets some very funny moments in this episode including what is perhaps his funniest scene in the show so far when Furuhata decides to play William Tell with his head.
Overall, "Master of the Game" is still one of the better episodes mainly due to a deviously entertaining prologue and the stars' performances. However, for such a complex mystery the solution comes far too easily.