Tiger & Dragon

You know, I've watched anime for years, and yet I somehow still manage to come across new bizarre aspects of Japanese culture. In this case it's rakugo, a kind of ritualized stand-up comedy/storytelling that is the centre of Tiger & Dragon. Basically, the show is about a yakuza tough's attempt to turn straight through pursuing this art, and all of the wacky people he comes across along the way.

Of course, there's the usual things that make J-dramas a tough sell for Western audiences: the rapid switches between goofy comedy and intense drama, the over-the-top acting, and the everpresent "EHHHHHH?!" (There are some great ones in this show). In Tiger & Dragon there's also the somewhat contrived episode structure, where the characters' personal problems always end up being similar to a rakugo story he's learning. But there's also a kind of genuine heart to Tiger & Dragon, that doesn't come across as overly sentimental. The show's generally light-hearted atmosphere helps to make the dorama goofiness part of the fun, not something you have to fight past.

In the end, this isn't the greatest show in the world, but if you're looking for something amusing, occasionally heartwarming, and unswervingly foreign, I would recommend it.

Everything about this series is wonderful! From the acting, to the storyline, to the lovable characters that will stay with you long after the series finishes. I found myself laughing at scenes and I am someone who hardly manages to smile even when watching "comedies". There is plenty of serious drama in there too. Anyone that is interested in Japanese culture will especially enjoy this and it's a safe bet to state that this series is different to anything you are likely to have seen before. Two of the brilliant main actors (Tomoya Nagase and Toshiyuki Nishida) are in another series made a few years later(2021), called, "Story of My Family", which bears some similarities in the storyline and that one is also exceptionally great.. If there were more than 10 stars, I would give them.

Playing on tablet, checking on phone, waiting for pasta to cook, browsing, discussed by the streaming trash but actually by my new habits, yet secretly hoping for something good...

Fast switching between scenes, showing same characters in different stories, but somehow related. Action then drama then some jokes... hmm, are these involuntary jokes? Ok, let's put down the phone.

An inside of Japanese culture and tradition, hmm this worth throwing away the tablet.

Ok, pasta is done, let's rewind and watch closely. Hmm, actor playing the master is great. Yet, actor playing apprentice is killing it. Harder to combine arrogance and humor. Good casting always gets me.

And now was ready for the stories to hit. How clever the connections are done? Japanese inside, universal relatable.

Huh still good things to watch, finding them is just much harder. So hope this helps.

I found it after searching here in IMDB what other things have done the actors in another great mini series (We married as a job - Netflix) and if they're available in any platform; luckily, there was this one.

I love japanese movies and some anime, but wasn't used to the tv series/mini series format.

I never read any manga in my life, just a sort of comics (we call them "historietas") when I was a child; but know of their existence and their styles, with that in mind, it's much more easy to understand the acting and directing in this series; they're like mangas in action. Every shot could be a panel in a comic, the "over-acting", the exagerated expresions...it's all there.

Now the mini serie itself: Our "hero" is a yakuza guy (Tomoya Nagase) that while doing his job finds rakugo (a storytelling art of comedic episodes almost 400 years old, told by a rakugoka who plays all the characters in the story). Through the episodes we learn more about his own story and the ones of each other character he crosses paths with. The whole serie is an excuse to portray in modern times a different rakugo story per episode, wich by the way is being told during it and pictured also as an Edo period play. It sounds complicated but once you get acostumed to it and its great editing you'll surely enjoy it.

The overall performance, I understand, could be a little too much to some U. S. viewers (not all western audiences are U. S.); but it surprised me how some gestures and reactions are very "latin". At times it could easily pass as an italian dramatic comedy; the big table, the whole family, the shouting, the drama, the crying mother, the laughter, found it very relatable being of italian/spaniard ancestry.

A last applause to the rakugo master and head of family, Toshiyuki Nishida, a tremendous actor and Arata Furuta who played an alcoholic in one episode (how can a character make you laugh and cry at the same time?) and an intriguing gay man struggling with loneliness and ageing in We married as a job, superb actor.

Rest of the cast is good, almost every one has its own moment to shine.

So, whenever you get angry at any platform because there's nothing interesting, pick any japanese movie or series, won't be disappointed.