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Hola amigos, buenas vibras para todos.
**Hello friends, good vibes to all.
Why are so few people talking about this Netflix gem? Back in November, a six-episode series premiered, narrating the final moments of the samurai in Japan. Personally, I love everything related to that country because I find it fascinating; its history and culture are among the most interesting in the world. Netflix had already done something similar called "Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan" in 2021, which was also spectacular. These events are a bit more contemporary, set in the late 1800s, but it's just as incredible.
As I mentioned, we're in the Meiji Era, where the samurai's figure, along with all its importance and power, was nearing its end. This era marked Japan's opening to the social changes that characterize it today. To hasten the decline of the remaining samurai, a deadly game was created with a prize of 100,000 yen. Participants had to survive by killing each other to collect a wooden plaque worn around their necks. Because the samurai were in dire straits, they were the ones who signed up the most. Fortunately, the series offers more depth than just the fights we see.
And I say it's deeper because behind this "game" lies a significant political conspiracy. Remember, we're in a time when Japan is undergoing profound societal changes. This first season—a second season has already been announced—covers a large part of the game without reaching its conclusion. It also delves into this conspiracy, revealing who's involved and, of course, leaving us with plenty of cliffhangers for the second season. All of this makes the plot electrifying; from the very beginning, we see what's to come in terms of the fights, the violence, and above all, the spectacular swordplay of the actors.
One of the things I liked most was precisely its characters. I watch a lot of anime, and the resemblance they have to the characters we see in these stories is remarkable; their way of speaking, expressing themselves, their personalities—this could easily have been an anime. They're that well-acted and well-developed. In addition, all the protagonists have excellent swordsmanship and are impressively agile in the fight scenes and hand-to-hand combat. Finally, I'd say they gave them depth because we see the backstories of some of them and why they're participating in the Kodoku beyond the money they can win.
The scenes and their overall atmosphere are also a resounding 10. This is further enhanced by what I mentioned earlier: the action actors are so good that everything is visually stunning. All the fight scenes are excellent; there isn't a single one of low quality. It's true that this first season doesn't delve much into the origin of this conspiracy beyond those directly involved, but I think that's more than enough to hook the viewer. In these kinds of plots, there will always be those pulling the strings. Now that I think about it, it has a bit of Squid Game in its structure; there are some strange similarities, not in the content, but in the style.
Anyway, it's a top-notch series that's very well produced. Good actors, good fight scenes, and a story that apparently has more to offer in the second season. If you like the style and genre, then it's highly recommended. For me, it's an 8.5/10. I've included the trailer below.
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Bueno mi gente por hoy es todo, espero que les haya gustado. ¡Un abrazo a todos, nos vemos en la próxima!
***Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it. ¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!
