birdseye

I loved the first episode. Not really a huge fan of Elgort, but I thought he was fine. I loved how immersive and seemingly authentic this is, it's refreshing that most of it is in Japanese with English sprinkled in.

DJariya

I've finished 2 of the 3 episodes. I'll finish episode 3 tomorrow night. So far, so good. I think it's pretty compelling and pretty close to the book. Watanabe doesn't have a big presence until episode 2.

The book also shows that Jake is very ambitious and will do whatever it takes to get the story, even if it takes him on a darker turn. I think Elgort is fine so far playing Jake. I saw in the behind the scenes interview that Elgort had to study Japanese and learn how to write it as well. Very impressed that he put in the work, Not too many actors would do that.

I do like Jake's relationship with his boss Emi. They have an interesting dynamic between them. Episode 1 with Mann's direction did a good job setting up this world in Japan from 20 years ago.

johnnysd

Thought the first 3 episodes were fantastic. Keller is too skinny now but still has undeniable presence. I love how she cleverly completely didn't answer the prostitution question. I did not really know it was based on a real life story but it felt obvious right away, Elgort is good in this so far. The world is very compelling and feels pretty authentic but still maybe a bit too much from a US point of view. His boss is excellent so far. Will definitely continue.

mugwump

Watching Ansel Elgort have to duck through every doorway and fold up like a pretzel to fit on the furniture reminds me why I'm reluctant to visit Japan as a dude who's taller than him. And Jake's bike must have warp capabilities the way he's able to zip around Tokyo so effortlessly. The show sure looks good though.

DJariya

Episodes 4 and 5 are up today.

uteotw

I am loving this so far, and totally disagree w/Sepinwall (whom I more often that not agree with and have been reading for many years). It's a compelling story so far, great acting, great cinematography, original. I'm half way into ep. 3 and highly recommend it.

DJariya

Watching Jake learn from Sato in episode 4 that everyone in Japan thinks “I want it that way” by the Backstreet Boys is a sex song.

The club scene with Jake fucking around with Sato when N’Sync came up was fun. Those two girls were cute. I guess Jake was surprised the girl he had fun with was a prostitute.

I’m loving this so far, especially with it exploring the darker side of Japan.

DJariya

I know it seems like they want to pair Jake and Samantha together being that they are two gaijins. However if they follow the book

DJariya

Tokyo Vice press conference in Japan. I’m really impressed with Ansel Elgort’s Japanese. He sounds almost fluent. He does have a translator next to him for stuff he doesn’t understand. But all his answers are in Japanese.

DJariya

I finished episode 5 tonight and I think it's probably my favorite of the bunch so far. This was heavily focused on Sato and his loyalties to Chihara-Kai. It had a very Godfather-like storyline.

Kume being outed as a mole was a pretty intense and he and Sato were close like brothers.

The backstory to Samantha was also interesting with her being a Bible thumping missionary when she 1st came to Japan. Not really that surprised that she hooked up with Sato. Sato has been fascinated with her from the start. But, that dude who wants to use her for sex as blackmail is a problem. I'm sure Sato will end up taking care of him.

This is probably my favorite Max original so far. It's a crime thriller, a fish out of water story and a Mob drama. Really well done by the writers with Adelstein's story and not making it one-note or too one-sided. I also like the heavy influence by the Japanese filmmakers on this series.

johnnysd

I know he has no involvement and Mann directed the first episode but this series has a real Fincher Zodiac feel to me, it just seems super realistic and grounded. Impressed that Elgort can actually speak Japanese. Nothing in his background suggests he learned it naturally so he may have become reasonably fluent for just this.

devilshalo

Been enjoying this series so far.... even with the Sam & Jake relationship seeming very familiar like Nick & Joyce in Black Rain (with Keller even having a slight resemblance to Kate Capshaw). The Yakuza dynamic has always been interesting, so this has kept my attention. And as mentioned by a few, I'm not turned off by Eglort's acting/presence here.

DJariya

Wow, Jake got fucked hard by Miyamoto. Not really that surprised he was dirty and used the tip against him.

and looks like Sato took care of Samantha’s problem.

devilshalo

Which is why Katagiri is suspicious of Miyamoto.. it's an interesting game they're playing.

And I'm not sure Sam's problem is gone since Sato never got enough information out of who that guy was before killing him... seems like something that will come back on him down the road. Was he as well connected as he played it?

And like Sato said earlier, everyone pays protection.

Did they mention what was wrong health wise with Tozawa? Does he have some type of cancer or something that affects his taste and sexual dysfunction.

DJariya

Smile asshole Great ending for episode 7. Miyamoto was careless and that was a fool’s errand.

Regarding Tozawa, if I recall the book correctly, I believe his illness is liver disease.

Jake was playing with fire trying to seduce Tozawa’s mistress.

Rachel Keller is looking more like Gillian Jacobs.

DJariya

So today is the season finale. It’s an 8 episode season. So if you’ve been waiting to binge the season, it’s all up now.

I’ll watch the finale later tonight.

The book covers roughly 10 years of Jake’s life in Japan, so there is definitely room for more seasons.

dex14

Good show. Decent finale, though it felt a little anti-climatic. I hope it gets renewed.

DJariya

Good 1st season and an interesting finale. As I expected, they left a lot of plot threads unresolved. So it's now up to HBO and their new regime to hopefully value this show enough for it to continue. Hopefully people were watching it week to week.

Some characters made some foolish decisions especially Samantha



A certain character's fate is left hanging as well. I won't go into it since some of you were probably waiting to binge the entire season.

Polina's fate was also revealed.

Regarding Tozawa and his mystery illness and where his character is at. If I understood the book correctly (book spoiler) Don't read if you don't want to know.




Well, that's all I got. Even though this was shot when COVID was running rampant in Asia, I hope things will be better in Japan soon and if they get renewed, they can film another season there.

devilshalo

I would have thought Sam was smarter than that... first with the ransom, and then her decision.

I know we don't see Sato's outcome,

And though some things were predictable, I still enjoy the subject matter and it holds my interest.

eXcentris

I think this show is fantastic. In terms of storytelling, twists and emotional impact, the last episode rivals the best episode(s) of any series I've seen. Brilliant.

uteotw

LOVED the show/season, but that was one of the worst season finales I've ever seen. Too many cliffhangers, don't know for sure if it's coming back, and if it does whether a main character will be in it, etc. Really a letdown after a great season.

DJariya

I get that since the show’s future is uncertain right now, you’re a little irked with so many loose threads. But the book covered about 10 years of Adelstein’s life, there was no way they could do it all in 1 season.

And I’m not sure what you mean whether the main character will be in it? The whole story is about Jake Adelstein. It was based off his memoir.

uteotw

I read somewhere that they were uncertain whether Ansel Elgort would be back if there's a S2 based on the allegations against him.

RichC2

Renewed: https://deadline.com/2022/06/tokyo-v...ax-1235039469/

DJariya

Thank God. This was my favorite new series of 2022. Yes even over Strange New Worlds and Obi-Wan. It’s such an immersive and mysterious world and I really like what the creators have done. I look forward to more. Hopefully in 2023. Not this every two years nonsense that some streaming shows have done.