Yu Yu Hakusho Review: Netflix Series Proves To Be An Effective Entertainment Product
Cast: Takumi Kitamura, Kotone Furukawa, Shuhei Uesugi, Sei Shiraishi
Created By: Akira Moriie and Kazutaka Sakamoto
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and a half stars)
Yu Yu Hakusho, a serial adaptation of the manga of the same name by Yoshihiro Togashi lands on Netflix in a live-action of Japanese origin all synthesis and action, valid and pleasant despite its obvious defects. 2023 is undoubtedly the year of shōnen manga on Netflix: after the very successful adaptation of One Piece (among the most viewed serial products ever on the platform to date), comes the transposition of another comic book work that is particularly loved both in the homeland as in the rest of the world, Yu of the ghosts. As we will see in this review of Yu Yu Hakusho, the series created by Akira Moriie and Kazutaka Sakamoto starts from the same premise as One Piece, that is to adapt the manga as much as possible without distorting it: if this worked in the show based on Eiichirō Oda’s manga also thanks to the extremely fantastic setting of the story, not everything in this new transposition is convincing. Yu Yu Hakusho starts in an urban context, and the eruption of the supernatural into the realistic tends at times to clash (which is the impression we have had many other transpositions of comic works on the small screen).
However, the plot is particularly interesting and brings together all the most typical elements of this type of story: the training journey of a chosen hero who, one fight after another, will become increasingly stronger and discover unexpected sides of himself. Building solid friendships along the way. Indeed, it is probably almost at the antipodes of the pirate story with Straw Hat, being among the shortest successful shonen ever, which ended thirty years ago and has become a cult manga to be rediscovered for younger generations. This is to say that, on the merits, Yu Degli Spectra’s adaptation (as he is known in Italy) did not require the same Western mixed Eastern sensibilities that One Piece needed instead. Yu Yu is in all respects a manga-to-series translation of Japanese origin, with those artistic sensibilities developed in that production bubble that doesn’t look that far beyond its borders. The fact is this, however: surprisingly, despite some doubts, it works precisely for this reason, however helped by an unexpected creative and financial glow up which on balance, for what it is and wants to be, makes it even more convincing than One Piece.
Yu Yu Hakusho Review: The Story Plot
Yusuke Urameshi (Takumi Kitamura) is the typical tough guy with a heart of gold: he has no respect for authorities and never follows the rules, he does poorly in school (when he deigns to go) and loves to fight, but he also has a very strong sense of justice. He can’t stand bullies and, even if he isn’t recognized, he is always ready to defend the weakest. The moment to demonstrate his true value comes when he sacrifices himself to save a child from a crazy vehicle: Botan (Kotone Furukawa), a soul ferryman with the appearance of a beautiful blue-haired girl, will take him to the presence of little Enma, the son of the Spirit King, who wants to bring him back to life, entrusting him with the task of detective of the spirit world. The strange deity explains to him that the balance between the human world and the demonic world is in danger, and more and more evil creatures are crossing the barrier that divides them: Yusuke’s task will be to find – and defeat – the demons that have escaped control.
Yusuke, who initially did not want to accept the task, decides to undertake the task after seeing how upset his mother, best friend Keiko (Sei Shiraishi), and friend/rival Kuwabara (Shuhei Uesugi) are by his death. The boy, right from the start, will have to face attacks from demons, even if some of them seem not to be entirely evil, capable of feelings such as love and compassion. However, someone is plotting in the shadows to definitively break the boundaries between the worlds, and Yusuke, now capable of focusing spiritual energy into very powerful rays, will have to overcome increasingly difficult and deadly tests…
These first five episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho move from Yusuke’s resurrection to the meeting with Kurama (Jun Shison) and Hiei (Kanata Hong) up to the Black Martial Arts Tournament, essentially covering the first and second part of the manga. The series brings together several events and eliminates others, such as the Saga of the Four Venerable Beasts, working mainly by subtraction, contraction, and rereading. It almost completely avoids the bland and scholastic rhythms of the beginning to throw itself headlong into the most well-known and interesting plot, with the transition between the first and the second episode which, for example, knows no solution of continuity between the incipit of the story and the introduction of Kurama, Hiei, and Gouki with the mini-saga of the three demonic objects.
Meanwhile, the live-action anticipates antagonists and secondary characters to create a serial-style narrative fabric capable of following a well-defined path in the medium even if different from that of the manga. In its generality, the choice works discreetly, but for fans of the comic it will be impossible to effortlessly digest certain accelerations of the story and an emotional writing that does not allow the relationships between protagonists to flourish as they should, rapid in their unfolding. In essence, introspection and psychological content are lost, even if they are there. But Yu Yu Hakusho gives the best of him where it was most requested.
Yu Yu Hakusho Review and Analysis
As we mentioned, the intention from which this adaptation originates is to safeguard the soul of the original comic as much as possible, reconstructing its atmosphere in its entirety (therefore not worrying about sometimes leading to the grotesque and “cartoonish”). In particular, the aesthetics of the manga are respected as much as possible: the characters move in a world without smartphones and with limited technology (the manga is from 1990), wearing clothes with a strong Eighties cut and moving through the streets of a Tokyo that seems to belong to another time. This slightly particular mix works quite well and creates a unique reality in which to mix the realistic and the fantastic. If the atmospheres are faithful to those of the original manga, the plot, although starting from the same premises, becomes detached from it along the way: this, in our opinion, can be functional to the transition between media, from the printed paper to the small screen, but it ends up accelerate too much what happened in the manga over longer periods.
The training with the teacher Genkai, for example, which in the manga lasted for a good six months, here seems to take place in a couple of days: this ends up making Yusuke’s training “journey” less convincing, the development of the relationship with Kuwabara and, in a more general sense, his path of rebirth and adaptation to the new role of detective of the spirit world. The plot, therefore, limps a bit due to the hasty with which certain moments are transposed; having said this, however, Yu Yu Hakusho is still an engaging and intriguing work: the adventures of Yusuke and his friends (over time some really interesting group dynamics are created that recall those of One Piece or other comic masterpieces, such as Dragon Ball), drag the viewer into an extremely layered fantasy world. The human, spirit, and demonic dimensions intertwine, thus creating the right context to stage a very varied “bestiary”, made up of magical creatures belonging to Japanese folklore, capable of fascinating spectators from all over the world.
Net of the need to accept a way of acting of the interpreters which is directly the result of that Japanese vision of manga-to-screen adaptations which are a bit overacting and a bit cosplay (despite proving valid on several occasions), Yu Yu is a product that evolves a precise modus operandi for this type of project. Above all, there is a significant budget and much more efficient attention to special and visual effects, just enough to make the series compete with impactful American titles, even surpassing them (She-Hulk and One Piece, for example). Of course, don’t expect miracles, but an exhaustive and electrifying show where it was most requested, which is on the battlefield. The spiritual clashes between Yusuke and the yokai provide spectacle and excite, thanks as much to the amazing choreography and physical commitment of the performers and stuntmen as to the direction of Sho Tuskikawa, who sincerely manages to restore quality and credibility to the live-action fights, which are many, different and all intriguing and well-reasoned in their way, especially thinking about the context of origin.
Yu Yu Hakusho is also full of characters with an exaggerated look and a decidedly extroverted style – thinking for example of Toguro Maggiore -, which is why it is not always easy to manage to make these identities maximize their aesthetic-expressive potential. However, the series tries and largely succeeds, accepting physiological compromises between fidelity and synthesis, between CGI rendering and actual scenic impact. In terms of pure entertainment and spectacle, the battles far surpass those of One Piece, even if the best result is given by those less elaborate from the VFX point of view (Kurama transformed works little, so to speak) and designed with practical effects and bolder and more muscular choreography. In short, the production commitment is noticeable, especially in the battle shonen spirit of the work transposed into live-action, which proves to be among the most convincing – albeit questionable – of the last period, so much so that we hope for at least a second season.
Yu Yu Hakusho Review: The Last Words
Yu Yu Hakusho is a series that honors the atmosphere of the original manga but stumbles over a pace that is too fast and moments that lead to the grotesque. In conclusion, the live-action transposition of Yu Yu Hakusho proves to be an effective entertainment product, especially in the management of clashes and good visual care. The biggest problems are found in the narrative management of events, which brings together, rereads, and synthesizes that of the manga, as well as in the often “exaggerated” acting of the cast. In general, it remains a pleasant surprise, with just five episodes and a clash-introspection ratio that is entirely in favor of the former. If you are looking for entertainment and entertainment, aware of the nature of the product, Yu Yu Hakusho is the one for you.
Yu Yu Hakusho Review: Netflix Series Proves To Be An Effective Entertainment Product - Filmyhype
Director: Akira Moriie and Kazutaka Sakamoto
Date Created: 2023-12-14 18:59
3.5
Pros
- All in all, it's a decidedly faithful adaptation to the original.
- There is a significant budget compared to the average of sister productions.
- The direction is pop and effective.
- The battles are exciting and well choreographed.
Cons
- There is loyalty but also a lot of synthesis and unification.
- This feeling of continuous overacting mixed with cosplay that never goes away.
- The hastiness of events does not help psychological introspection.
