Yasuke

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 29, 2021
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9

Critic Reviews

  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    Apr 28, 2021
    60
    “Yasuke” is an action adventure at heart, and in its excited rush to layer twists, genre elements and mythology in six half-hour episodes, it feels hurried and overstuffed. ... Still, there’s a lot to see and hear and like in this story: the balletic swordplay, the hallucinatory visions of psychic combat, the subtler battles between competing conceptions of honor. By fancifully filling the gaps of history, “Yasuke” has created an intriguing hero, even if you may end it wanting to know him a little better.
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Tyler Hersko
    Apr 29, 2021
    58
    “Yasuke” is too preoccupied with its wacky video game escort mission story and action to dig into what Yasuke’s boundary-breaking work actually means to him and the people he coexists with. There’s also a noticeable lack of attention for the show’s supporting female characters, many of whom have exciting superpowers but otherwise lack characterization.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Sam Barsanti
    Apr 27, 2021
    58
    It’s tempting to try and look for something else going on in Yasuke, because everything else about it feels somewhat slight. The action scenes are fun to watch—because how could they not be when they involve a samurai and robots and magic—but there are diminishing returns when every fight has a bigger robot or a more foreboding monster.

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 6 out of 23
  1. timdrake25
    May 12, 2021
    10
    The action scenes are gorgeous but don't overshadow the story. They do enhance it in my opinion. I enjoyed the characters and none of themThe action scenes are gorgeous but don't overshadow the story. They do enhance it in my opinion. I enjoyed the characters and none of them felt overly stereotypical. It's definitely a show you have to pay attention to… Full Review »
  2. Rpg89
    May 8, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. One of the best anime watched in a long time. People hating this maybe racist or something else in between.… Full Review »
  3. HipLogic
    May 2, 2021
    7
    While deeply flawed, Yasuke is still worth your time (especially for those who miss the style and vibe of Nujabes/Samurai Champloo and AfroWhile deeply flawed, Yasuke is still worth your time (especially for those who miss the style and vibe of Nujabes/Samurai Champloo and Afro Samurai)

    I’ve seen a few different criticism for this movie that I’ll address in order fairness/relevance.

    Unfair criticism: Getting this out of the way since I’ve actually seen people comment on different review sites this as a ‘bad’ thing, so I feel the need to address it—yes, this is an anime that has some themes that deal with class and race. Since Yasuke is the only black samurai of record (as of this review, anyway) that’s pretty important to the story. For most, I assume, that’s the draw of the anime.

    Fair criticisms: The pacing is too fast. The narrative lacks focus (I didn’t know the stakes soon enough, needed better villain introduction/development, I didn’t know why I should root for Yasuke/Saki outside of the fact that their main characters, etc.), and it doesn’t develop the relationships it should, so there’s a lack of payoff in the conclusion.

    Why you might still want to give it try: The animation is truly top-notch. The character designs and the fight animation is on the level of Samurai Champloo and Afro Samurai. Further, the OST is clearly influenced by Nujabes, but does a great job of tailoring it’s sound to aid in creating this stylized, very interesting world interpretation of feudal Japan. Fly Lo created something special with his work on this OST. When it comes to style, this anime is trendsetting. What it doesn’t know in story, it truly makes up for with its style and vibe.

    The sum of all parts equates to a wonderful and well worth your time audio and visual experience that endures through a weakly written narrative.    … Full Review »
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