MovieSlap First Impressions: Tokyo Vice (2022)
I’ve always had amazing luck with HBO original series over the years. Sure, from time to time there is one I don’t connect with, but their resume is absolutely top notch. (Honorable mention goes to the FX Network, which I also find to have consistently high quality offerings.) The series premiere for Tokyo Vice was on April 7th, and HBO was kind enough to provide us ravenous bingers with an amuse-bouche of sorts, consisting of the first three episodes.
Joshua “Jake” Adelstein – portrayed by Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) – is an American who has relocated to Japan, and has sought employment at one of the world’s largest news organizations. Frequently singled out as an unwelcome “Gaijin”, which is a derogatory Japanese term for foreigner, Jake struggles to catch on under the strict corporate norms and guidelines of his new employer, while also pursuing various leads that help him better understand the criminal underworld of Tokyo and the complex web of the Yakuza families. American audiences will likely be familiar with Elgort’s co-star, Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai). As Hiroto Katagiri, a character based on an actual detective who the real life Jake Adelstein worked with and was mentored by, he balances family life with his career as an officer.
Three episodes in, I would say Tokyo Vice has set the landscape for some exciting moments going forward. The ending of the third episode will definitely have you wishing the fourth were already available, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait until April 14th to see what happens from here. So far, it seems to me that HBO has another winner!
First Impression: Can’t wait for more!
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