Blood, Swords, Survival: Netflix’s Latest Samurai Hit Is Exploding Online
Some shows grab your attention with deep stories. Others win you over with pure action. Last Samurai Standing falls into the second category — and honestly, that’s what makes it fun to watch. It’s not trying to be a masterpiece like Shogun, but it delivers enough tension, blood-pumping fights, and slick choreography to keep you hooked.
A Deadly Game That Feels Familiar — But Sharper
The setup is simple: 292 samurai, considered outdated and unnecessary in a changing Japan, get forced into a brutal tournament. The top prize is 100,000 yen. The real goal for the rich people running the show? Wipe out the samurai generation for good.
It’s impossible not to think of Squid Game. Everyone has personal reasons for joining. Everyone comes from tough backgrounds. And yes, the elites bet on who lives and who dies. But Last Samurai Standing uses swords, spears, and close-range combat to bring its own flavor.
Even though the story and characters aren’t as heavy as other battle-royale shows, the intense action keeps everything exciting.
The Action Is the True Selling Point
The fight scenes are where the show shines the brightest. Junichi Okada not only stars as the lead — he also designed the action. And he nailed it.
Most of the fights are filmed in long, steady shots without dozens of cuts. The actors clearly trained hard because every move looks sharp, dangerous, and real. The show barely uses CGI, and you can tell.
Some standout moments include:
- a chaotic battle with soldiers at the end of Episode 2
- a bold one-take bar brawl in Episode 4
- a gorgeous firework-lit fight in Episode 6
Even the one-on-one duels in the “Koduko” tournament feel personal and intense. If you love clean, fluid choreography, this series delivers.
The Characters Are Simple, but They Get the Job Done
The cast may not be as complex as Squid Game, but they work well enough to support the story.
Shujiro, the main character, joins the competition to save his village from a cholera outbreak. His motivation is noble and makes him easy to root for, even if the flashbacks to his family become repetitive.
Futaba brings heart to the story with her desire to stop the same disease. Shujiro protects her, creating a warm bond — though her helplessness feels outdated and could’ve been handled better. A little character growth would’ve made her far more interesting.
Kyojin, on the other hand, steals almost every scene he’s in. He’s mysterious, confident, and clearly hiding something. He’s the one character who truly feels made for a multi-season arc.
The rest of the cast — from Shujiro’s fellow samurai to the scheming elites — have clear motives, but they’re not explored deeply. Still, they serve their purpose and keep the story moving.
Themes Hit Sometimes — And Miss Other Times
The show tries to touch on class issues, unfair treatment of the poor, and the loss of old traditions. Some of that works, especially the points about people lacking access to medical care.
But other themes feel outdated because the villains’ main goal is to erase samurai — a problem that doesn’t reflect today’s world. This makes the social commentary weaker compared to modern hits like Alice in Borderland or The Hunger Games.
It’s clear the creators focused more on thrilling combat than on deeper messaging.
Season 2 Could Be a Big Step Forward
The first season ends with plenty of open questions. If you didn’t know it was based on a manga, you might expect everything to wrap up in six episodes. But the finale sets up future storylines and hints at bigger twists, especially around Kyojin.
A second season has real potential to add emotional weight, build out the world, and develop the characters more fully — all while keeping the amazing action that makes the show stand out.
