Ikusagami: Last Samurai Standing

It's painfully obvious they cut the season in half and I wish such trend would stop. Was it too much to ask for 10 episodes?

I sincerely recommend putting this series on a waiting list until it's complete. The story is too good to be butchered by netflix's schedule, the cut happens just as we were about to head into the climax. Doesn't make much sense and my day is ruined.

The scenes really bring to mind those 1970s Japanese movies - like Kurosawa's 12 Samurai - while also giving a slight nod to The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. Yet despite these influences, it still feels like an original version of what it is meant to be. The acting is good, the framing is excellent, and the action is engaging.

Its only weaknesses are the lack of depth in some of the characters, and that the story logic is weak in a few places, sacrificed for the sake of making the plot more appealing. Considering its budget and the production team and actors, I think it is even better than Shogun, and it feels like a fully Japanese and very likable work.

From start to finish, the first season of Last Samurai Standing kept up the pace with beautiful scenes, outstanding combat, and an intriguing journey through Japan. I really bonded with main characters, although sometimes the decisions made by Shujiro were a bit questionable. Definitely worthwhile entertainment!

The show is compentent enough at story telling. There is enough intrigue to make you want to know what is behind it all and what are the intentions behind some of the characters. There are also sub plots carried behind the main story so that is also a good thing. The fight choreography is really good and the action is entertaining enough. I would recommend to watch this show. It is good and entertaining, however just shy of being great. That's why I give it an 8/10.

Imagine taking squid games and Alice in Borderland setting it in old Japan. That's kind of the premise of this. It takes a bit to get going and figure out who the main characters besides the man slayer would be, but once it does, it sucks you in and you can't stop watching. The fight scenes are epic, the pacing good, and the scenery beautiful. I'm not sure how historically accurate they are, but the sets are pretty. There were a couple of characters, I wish I could have seen more of, one or two that I saw too much of, but those are minor issues. I also wish it was more than six episodes. If you're looking for a day to binge a show, try this one. It was great!