'Like A Dragon' Episodes 4-6 Spoiler-Free Review
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The final three episodes of Amazon Prime's Like A Dragon: Yakuza show have finally been released. While the show still has its issues, these three episodes have been a major improvement.
The story can be messy at times, but it finds its footing in the final three episodes. The stakes were high, and it was all going to come together in the end at none other than the Millennium Tower.
The show's premise was essentially the same, with some minor details changed. They also added a substory about a serial killer who goes by the Demon of Shinjuku. The show did do a great job of switching between 1995 and 2005 and always made sure to clarify what year we were in. Everything comes to a close during the finale, with major changes from the game. We find out who the Demon is and what happens to the 10 billion yen. After everything, the show does have a satisfying conclusion.
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I know it's not fair to compare something to the source material, but it's hard when the story and characters are so vastly different. Kiryu has one of the best character changes in the show. In the show, he could be more varied and more determined, considering they changed his relationship with Haruka. He's the most disappointing of the characters. Majima was a waste of a character, which is a shame because he’s a fan favorite. He was barely in the show, and while we got a "Kiryu-chan" out of him, it wasn't worth it. Nishiki and Yumi, however, are quite good. Nishiki is the closest to his game counterpart. His motivations in the show as to why he does what he does are weak. Yumi has more agency and is a much stronger character in the show. These two were a highlight for me.
I appreciated seeing more of Sohei Dojima, who didn't have a huge part in the first game. The actor who played him did such a great job and actually made me like him somewhat. We got to see just how ruthless he actually was. Shimano's casting was weird. In the game, he is a menacing bald guy, it's his whole thing and makes him easily recognizable. The show has him with hair and quite skinny. Lastly, Date was a waste in the show. He popped in every once in a while but was not as important as he normally is. It's a shame because he's such a great character.
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The show is visually stunning. Kamurocho looks incredible, and even the lowest-lit scenes are easy to see. While there's not nearly as much fighting as in the games, the fights we do see are quick and entertaining. They’re a central point to the show, just like they are in the games. The music was also incredible and another positive when it came to this show.
If you're able to separate the show from its source material, then it's quite enjoyable. However, it's hard to do when the show shares almost everything from the game but changes important elements. If we do get a second season, I hope they'll be more faithful to the source material.
Rating: 7/10
All episodes of Like A Dragon: Yakuza are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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