If there’s one thing I know very well, dear reader, it’s the Yakuza/Like a Dragon video game series. I’d love nothing more than to sit down with you (yes, you) and have a deep discussion about golden boy Kiryu and how he’s not only shaped me as a person, but has influenced how I view the world and its inhabitants. Not only that; I can, in vivid detail, describe to a deadly accuracy juuuust how low Majima’s iconic leather pants sit on his hips. Wait, WHERE ARE YOU GOING —
But seriously, Like a Dragon is my most treasured video game franchise, and it ain’t even close at this point in my life. So when Prime Video’s Like a Dragon: Yakuza popped into my inbox late last week you know, oooh you know, I was like a moth to flame, like Majima to sewers. I’ve now seen all six episodes of this live action series and I’m freakin’ THRILLED and honored to tell you about some of my biggest takeaways – spoiler free, of course.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is not a 1:1 retelling of Yakuza 1/Kiwami, and honestly, I don’t know why any reasonable human would want such a thing. (I’m tempted to make a strong stand and die on this hill, but in the consideration of my and YOUR time, I’ll hold myself back.) So check your expectations at the Kamurochō Gate, yeah? This is a retelling of Yakuza 1.
Think of it like this: With Like a Dragon: Yakuza, it’s like we’re getting a glimpse into an alternate universe and, dammit I’m sorry, I just think THAT IS SO COOL. When else will we, as fans, get to see a world where Yumi steals the narrative spotlight? When else can we get to know Nishiki’s little sister? (I’m not crying.) And – throwing this out there – what if Nishiki actually LEARNED TO COMMUNICATE YOU BITCH, JESUS DUDE GO TO THERAPY AND WORK ON YOUR KYODAI-SHIP WITH KIRYU. (Whoops, I have feelings!) These changes – from the most subtle nods to the HUUUUGE narrative changearooni whoppers – kept me on my toes, always looking for tie-ins to the game while wondering how, if or when the show would spruce up some of the most iconic Yakuza moments. (Speaking of: have you SEEN the Millennium Tower? It’s ridiculous! I have so many questions!)
The story jumps around constantly between 1995 and 2005 and, despite the very much appreciated date labels, there were several moments when I had to pause, scrub back (it kills me not to say “rewind” anymore) and rewatch a scene because your girl needed to get her bearings. The dynamics between characters and their allegiances wildly vary between the two time periods, and let’s be honest, there’s a LOT of Yakuza *stuff* to squeeze into six episodes. Thus the series moves FAST, and sometimes it’s a little TOO easy to miss important details. I still have so many narrative questions, but I’m not quite sure if this is a “Wait until (hopefully!) the next season to find out the answers to your most burning questions” or if it’s a “Ehhh we didn’t care enough to expand on that.”
For what it’s worth it helped tremendously that I mostly knew what was happening thanks to my experience with the game. On the flip side, this is probably why the ending “twist” fell flat for me as I was able to see it coming from a mile away, and, god, I WISH that final scene left us with a bit more to gnaw on. But thankfully, even if an event is predictable, it sure as hell doesn’t always fall flat. I could list multiple examples, but Nishiki’s arc in particular packed SUCH a larger emotional gut punch in this series than it did in the game.
Giving credit where it’s due, there was plenty of new narrative stuff to keep me guessing and spewing out those constant annoying predictions my husband loves me for. For starters *insert Price is Right hand gestures here* you can look forward to our newest serial killer, the Devil of Shinjuku, while also getting to know Yumi’s REAL-LIFE SISTER Aiko, all while solving the mystery of the missing 10 billion yen and ITS new wrinkle.
And SHEESH quick shout-out to those EASTER EGGS, god, some of them are just SO good. There were several that had me squealing, and I’ll have to watch the series again as I’m sure some slipped past, BUT: one in particular had my jaw on the floor. The symbolism, the music, the *EVERYTHING* – I sorta(?) wish you could have heard the shriek that came out of my body. Then again, maybe not…I looked like a madwoman, frantically pointing and babbling to no one but myself.
Easter eggs are great, but at the end of the day these can only do so much to translate that beloved, iconic tone of the Yakuza games to TV. And if you’ve played a Yakuza game, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the wacky with the serious. It’s the whimsical with the predictable. One moment you’re tracking a violent murderer, and the next you’re baiting a panty thief. A long-standing joke among Yakuza fans is to say “Yakuza is a serious crime drama” and then insert a screenshot from the games like this:
First and foremost: I gotta give ALL the props to Munetaka Aoki, who literally is the perfect Majima. Like, dude is *chef’s kiss*. From his facial mannerisms to his cocky, confident body language to the high pitched giggles and sounds he’s simply excellent. He brings that levity to the series that – for the most part – it lacks. For the first time, friends, I think we can actually say “Yakuza is a serious crime drama” and truly mean it. There are some moments of light-hearted shenaniganry, sure, but when Aoki is on screen it feels like home.
That aside (I still wish they would’ve stuffed Majima in a cone at LEAST once) all of the staples are here, making Like a Dragon: Yakuza feel like it’s worthy of its name. We have egotistical, arrogant yakuza, gut wrenching betrayal, turf wars, ~dramaaaa~ between families and friends, all set among the neon lit streets of Kamurochō and, of course, there’s only one man who can hopefully maybe sorta kinda fix all of it: Kiryu Kazuma.
Ryoma Takeuchi had to have had the toughest role on the planet. How does a mere mortal embody a man that defies human logic? Okay, yessss, I’m being dramatic, but the point is Ryoma had an insurmountable task ahead of him, yet I feel like he successfully accomplished what he needed to do. He plays Kiryu with a sense of determination, confidence, compassion and spirit. Watching him physically beat down a horde of goons and then verbally finish them off with some sort of witty and cheesy one liner was peak entertainment. I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.
Like a Dragon: Yakuza is having A MOMENT right now. We were recently #hashtagblessed with 2024 GOTY contender Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, we’re still coming down from the HYPE ANNOUNCEMENT that was Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (what in the Kingdom Hearts is that title LOL) and NOW we have the Yakuza: Like a Dragon series coming to Prime Video. AND IT FEELS SO GOOD. It may not be the best video game adaptation I’ve ever seen, but it sure as shit entertained me from start to finish, and I feel so dang thankful that this franchise is getting the attention and opportunities it deserves. We are snarfing, my dear friends, and I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did.