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Quartet

2017Miniseries1 season10 episodes~45 min/epMidcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

Maki Maki, Sebuki Suzume, Beppu Tsukasa and Iemori Yutaka happen to meet and form a quartet. They even begin to live together in Karuizawa during the winter, but there is a big hidden secret.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Quartet?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Quartet streaming on Netflix.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Quartet?

Quartet earns 2 badges, led by Preferred by Men and Wistful.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Quartet worth watching?

Quartet's Midcredits score is the 68th percentile of all shows, from 2K ratings across 2 sources. 69% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

68th percentile

Better received than 68% of shows

66th percentile among Comedy66th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)84th
Approval (how many liked it)48th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

79 /100

84th percentile of all shows

84th percentile among Comedy83rd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.1 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

69% liked it

48th percentile of all shows

41st percentile among Comedy46th percentile among 2010s
69% rated it 7–1031% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

65th percentile

2K ratings across platforms

49th percentile among Comedy69th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 65% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A string quartet series about four misfits living together while pursuing music, with a mysterious backstory underpinning the central character.

Fans praised

  • quirky dialogue and absurdist dinner-table conversations
  • convincing performances by the ensemble cast
  • themes of trust, loyalty, and chosen family through shared passion

Detractors panned

  • convoluted plot with implausible spy subplot and underwhelming husband return
  • bland, emotionless character portrayal from three leads outside comedic beats
  • slow, predictable story that drags across episodes

What stands out

Sound and music85

modern classical adaptations praised even by detractors

ActingDivisive75

ensemble cast praised as great, but detractors find three leads bland and emotionless

DialogueDivisive75

witty, philosophical, and absurdist conversations versus repetitive trivialities

Atmosphere75

cozy villa setting and spontaneous feel of J-drama

HumorDivisive64

quirky comedic moments appreciated by fans, seen as out-of-place buffoonery by critics

CharactersDivisive60

quirky misfits versus shallow, one-note portrayals with uneven development

Plot and storyDivisive45

slow-burn mystery found charmingly intricate or frustratingly implausible

PacingDivisive45

slow unraveling praised for depth, panned for boredom and padding

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 22 points higher than women.

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2017 · 10 episodes

  • S1E1

    Episode 1

    Jan 17, 201759 min
  • S1E2

    Episode 2

    Jan 24, 201745 min
  • S1E3

    Episode 3

    Jan 31, 201745 min
  • S1E4

    Episode 4

    Feb 7, 201745 min
  • S1E5

    Episode 5

    Feb 14, 201745 min
  • S1E6

    Episode 6

    Feb 21, 201745 min

Watch experience

What is Quartet like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you wistful.

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Suburban
  • Domestic

Style

  • Wry: Amused and slightly dry about it.
  • Warm

Story

  • Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Casual
  • Easy watch
  • Resolved

Themes

  • Community: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
  • Self-worth
  • Purpose

Feelings

  • Warm
  • Contemplative
  • Bittersweet

How it leaves you

  • Wistful
  • Thought-provoking
exact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: throughoutWry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Case of the week plus an arcSingle-season story
ToneThe series holds its material with a knowing, wry distance while still warming toward its characters.
The rideThe series sustains a quiet, reflective warmth with occasional melancholy, without dramatic shifts in emotional register.
StructureThe story is told in a straightforward chronological order with no notable nonlinear devices.
Episode formatEach episode focuses on a personal issue or conflict for one character, while a subtle overarching mystery about the characters' pasts unfolds across the season.
Season formatThe series tells one complete story over a single season, with a definitive ending.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves a gentle longing for the camaraderie and purpose the quartet finds, and quietly prompts reflection on ambition, secrets, and belonging.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2% (this title)
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of manners: Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThough the four musicians accidentally meet and form a quartet, the overall plot is driven by social codes, hidden motives, and the characters' growth. A comedy of manners best captures this dynamic.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% (this title) · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

CommunitySelf-worth · 7% of showsPurpose
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series explores how four strangers form a found family and find personal meaning through their shared musical life.
StanceThe series watches its characters gently navigate connection and purpose without passing judgment or pushing a moral.

The world

Orchestral classicalJazzForeground music · original score · Tsukasa Inoue
Settinga shared house in Karuizawa during winter, where four musicians live and rehearse
MusicThe quartet's performances of classical and jazz pieces are woven into the narrative.

Content guide

Is Quartet okay for kids?

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • IrelandPG
  • South Korea15
  • Austria14
  • Czechia15+
  • Hungary16
  • Poland16
  • RO15
  • SingaporePG13
  • Switzerland16

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Quartet have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Quartet?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Takako Matsu
as Maki Maki
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hikari Mitsushima
as Suzume Sebuki
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Issei Takahashi
as Yutaka Iemori
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ryûhei Matsuda
as Tsukasa Beppu
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Riho Yoshioka
as Arisu Kisugi
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Takeshi Tomizawa
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Akiko Yagi
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Mummy D.
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Masako Motai
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Hitomi

Crew

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TMDB's suggestions for shows like Quartet include Kono Oto Tomare! (2019), White Album 2 (2013) and Tokyo Love Story (1991).

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