Giri/Haji
Giri/Haji premiered on BBC last October to great critical acclaim, and now you, too, can consume this compelling thriller in one go to see what the hype is about. Critics have deemed it a “breath of fresh air,” and we’re inclined to agree.
Set in both Tokyo and London, you’ll hear both Japanese and English spoken fluidly as the show flits between being a family drama, yakuza thriller, and offbeat cop comedy. Bound by family duty, weary Japanese detective Kenzo Mori heads to London alone to find his mysterious younger brother Yuto, who’s presumed dead after his involvement in the murder of a prominent Yakuza member. He finds a tentative alliance in Sarah Weitzmann, an uptight Metropolitan Police officer who finds her morality challenged, and Rodney Yamaguchi, a half-Japanese sex worker whose cutting one-liners provide much-needed comic relief in the tense show.
We love how the show carefully balances the main plot filled with twists and turns while maintaining emotional depth, and for showcasing a side of Tokyo that isn’t the neon-soaked cyberpunk cityscape most Western media adores. Sink your teeth into this eight-episode series that’ll have you begging for more without being overwhelmed by the amount of ground covered.