Vivant

The series is set over three countries, Japan, Mongolia and the imaginary Balka which is home to a major but mysterious terrorist organisation. An ordinary businessman Yusuke Nogi played by Masato Sakai is suspected of transferring billions of yen incorrectly to a foreign company and he is tasked with recovering it. The story then involves so many twist and turns as he falls deeper into a dark world that it's difficult to keep track of who is good and who is bad. The actors all do a sterling job particularly the lead who seems meek and mild but you soon realise that he is certainly not that. The real star of the show is the scriptwriters who lead you down many different paths and make this an entertaining watch.

Vivant, the 2023 Japanese TV series on Netflix, is nothing short of a masterpiece. Its captivating storyline, stellar performances, and impeccable cinematography make it a must-watch. The series effortlessly weaves together drama, suspense, and cultural nuances, creating a truly immersive experience. Vivant stands out as a shining example of top-tier entertainment, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating each episode. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a brilliant and emotionally resonant television journey. I hope they will make this type of series in the nearest future so the whole world could enjoy it.

The nomad's desert scene is so beautiful and desperate, and Rachmaninov makes it even more stunning. This is a very streamlined work that many details or foreshadowing scene are just presented by some simple clips. Very clean but definitely clear enough for audience to understand. The first 4 episodes are a little flat, but it turned very captivating from episode 5 in my opinion. There were no nonsense plots from the beginning to the end. Haven't seen an impressed Japanese series for a while and the cast is no joke! All are performed so well. Love Doramu who always repeated the last words. So cute!

Not your typical JP drama - the characters, the settings and plot twists kept me on my toes every episode! Went in at episode 1 expecting some mediocre story line but man by end of the episode I was intrigued. Not to mention the all-star castings - the acting is guaranteed good and apparently the show was filed in Mongolia which really has an exotic feel compared to the typical JP/KR drama on Netflix. If you like spy movies with lots of twists and turns then this is a must watch. An interesting take and a real effort from JP producers. Highly recommended. I wish there are more episodes but the length is spot on (10 epi only).

A good show. There seems to be some bad reviews and I'm sure these people only completed watching 1 episode which has become a disappointment for the IMDB website overall!

Anyway, a very good show and this is a very interesting series to watch and is sure something different from the usual extensive K Drama romance or the gun fighting drama shows!

One disappointment is the the switch from a funny to a dangerous character for the lead actor as it lost its fun side and become a more serious of a show, including the romance parts!

Overall, a good watch, entertaining, if there is a season 2, why not 😁