'Like A Dragon' Episodes 1-3 Spoiler-Free Review
Image Source: IGN Pakistan
The Yakuza franchise is growing. The first three episodes of the new show Like A Dragon: Yakuza, are officially out on Amazon Prime Video. It's a loose retelling of the first game and something you need to separate from the games you're familiar with.
The story is a lot different than what fans are familiar with. The story elements they kept and the ones they changed were interesting choices. A big change was that the 10 billion yen was stolen from the Omi Alliance, not the Tojo clan. Yumi still has a sister, but she goes by a different name.
The iconic hideout for Kiryu and Date, Serena, is a completely different bar. The biggest issue for me was Kiryu saying how he wanted to become the Dragon of Dojima, something he didn't want but was forced into. Amazon also spells Dojima as Doujima, which I get, but why not keep it the way it's spelled in the games? Personally, the first episode was a mess, but the next two made up for it. If you're a fan of the games, you will have mixed opinions, but if you separate it from the game, then it's a decent show.
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Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter
The acting is good, but some characters' characterizations are a choice. I will say that Nishiki's character in the show is the closest to his game counterpart. He is still pushed to the side and never taken seriously at first. Kiryu feels like a completely different character in some ways. Originally, I thought there was going to be a major and important plot point removed, but that is rectified in episode 2. It will be interesting to see how this version of Kiryu will evolve. Majima's character also seems close to his game counterpart. He doesn't lose his eye in the same way, but it's still equally as brutal. Once he dons his signature look, it'll be interesting to see what this Mad Dog Of Shimano is. A small, not very important gripe is the way they portray Kazama. Kazama was always this larger-than-life being and someone Kiryu respected. The show is making him out to be weak and submissive, something this character is not. Shimano also looks completely different, but that's not super important, just annoying.
The scenery is gorgeous and very colorful. Kamurocho looks incredible. It makes me want to go to Japan. The music and intro are also very good and help set the tone. There hasn't been a ton of violence yet, either, as these episodes have been very story-heavy. This will ramp up once we see more of Majima.
Image Source: Adrenaline
As a big fan of the Yakuza games, this show misses the mark in a lot of ways. I appreciate some of the changes, like getting to see more of Yumi and what she was doing in 1995. The time jumps are also done well and do a great job of reminding the viewer what year they're in. If you go in expecting an accurate retelling of the first Yakuza game, you will be disappointed. If you're a fan of the games, go into the show with the ability to separate it from its source content because then it becomes a bit more enjoyable.
Rating: 6.5/10
The first three episodes of Like A Dragon: Yakuza are now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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