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‘Yasuke’ Review: Netflix Show Sidelines a Great Character in Favor of Fantasy Nonsense
Summary
Netflix's "Yasuke" tells a story about the real-life Black samurai of the 16th century. The show does an admirable job of dramatizing the key parts of his life that have been recorded throughout history, but most of the show hinges on an original plot that takes place years after the real world story of Yasuke concluded. This version of Yasuke exists in an alternate reality full of magic, mechas, and other fantastical elements that are jammed into an otherwise fairly grounded version of Japan. LaKeith Stanfield voices Yasuke and brings sincere emotion to the more dramatic and tragic scenes, although the show reduces him to a generic action hero in later episodes. The show's fantasy elements don't add much except confusion, and there's a noticeable lack of attention for the show's supporting female characters. Despite these issues, there are glimmers of potential that suggest "Yasuke" could be so much more.
Q&As
What is the Netflix adult animated series ‘Yasuke’ about?
The Netflix adult animated series ‘Yasuke’ is about history’s first Black samurai.
Who voices Yasuke in the show?
LaKeith Stanfield voices Yasuke in the show.
What elements does the show mix with its more grounded setting?
The show mixes outlandish fantasy and sci-fi elements with its more grounded setting.
What is the primary plot of ‘Yasuke’?
The primary plot of ‘Yasuke’ is Yasuke's quest to escort a magical girl.
What does the show do to characterize Yasuke early on?
The show does an excellent job of showing, rather than telling, what life is like for the protagonist and ordinary people in an era where the country is controlled by a more-or-less supernatural monster to characterize Yasuke early on.
AI Comments
👍 "Yasuke" does an excellent job in its first three episodes of showing, rather than telling, what life is like for the protagonist and ordinary people in an era where the country is controlled by a more-or-less supernatural monster.
👎 The show's fantasy elements don't add much except confusion, and there's a noticeable lack of attention for the show's supporting female characters.
AI Discussion
Me: It's a review of the Netflix show "Yasuke". It's about a historical figure, the first Black samurai in Japan, and how the show sidelines a great character in favor of fantasy nonsense.
Friend: Interesting. What implications does the article have?
Me: Well, it suggests that the show fails to explore what Yasuke's boundary-breaking work actually means to him and the people he coexists with. It also highlights the lack of attention given to the show's female characters, and how its fantasy elements don't add much to the plot. It's a shame because there were glimmers of potential that suggest the show could have been better.
Action items
- Research more about the real-world Yasuke and his impact on history.
- Watch other films and television shows that explore the mentor-student relationship.
- Analyze the representation of female characters in the show and compare it to other media.
Technical terms
- Yasuke
- The real-life samurai who served Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century.
- Oda Nobunaga
- The “Great Unifier” of Japan in the 16th century.
- Katanas
- A type of Japanese sword.
- MacGuffin
- A plot device in the form of some goal, desired object, or other motivator that the protagonist pursues, often with little or no narrative explanation.
- Astral Plane
- A plane of existence beyond the physical world.
- Telekinesis
- The ability to move objects with the power of the mind.