Like a Dragon: Yakuza Season 1 is a superb adaptation of a classic game series

Based on the beloved franchise of the same name, Like a Dragon: Yakuza is both an adaptation and reinterpretation of the first game and it's remake Kiwami.

Set in the fictional district of Kamuchoro, Yakuza is a story of generational trauma, family, and vengeance. Its protagonist is Kazuma Kiryu, a young man fresh out of prison after a ten year sentence for murder. In his abscence, his family has fallen apart, a vast sum of money has gone missing, and Kiryu must find a way to put things right – if such a thing is even possible.

At six episodes, Yakuza packs in a lot of story, to the point that it's often in a hurry to get from one twist to the other. For fans of the franchise, this won't be an issue. For everyone else, it will be. Characters come and go at a rapid pace, and the sprawling saga moves between different periods with little warning. This is not a series you can watch half-heartedly. It demands patience and focus, and rewards viewers with a rich tapestry of complex characters and fates.

Ryoma Takeuchi plays Kiryu, and he's mesmerizing in the part. It's no easy feat to tackle an iconic game character and make it your own, yet that's precisely what Takeuchi accomplishes. His Kiryu is not the hardened gangster with a heart of gold we know from later games. He's inexperienced, lost, and quick to anger. Yet we can see the spark of who he can become. Takeuchi's internalized performance stands out because of what he doesn't say, and how he carries the weight that Kiryu shoulders.

Equally compelling are Kento Kaku as Akira Nishikiyama and Yuumi Kawai as Yumi Sawamura, Kiryu's childhood friends. Both have a history that unfolds throughout the six episodes, and each play their broken, rightfully angry parts beautifully. Even when we don't agree with their actions, we understand them, and that's at the heart of every good gangster movie.

Superbly written, Yakuza hits the high notes of the game series, while it strips some of the more ludicrous elements in turn. Nobody beats another with a bicycle, and this is a considerably more violent and darker version of events than the game. Yet, at its core, it's still a story of seeking forgiveness, which gives it an empathetic and moving heart.

By the time the first season wraps up, Kiryu's story has only begun. Fans will recognize the leaping off point, and can guess what's to come in future seasons. Everyone else are in for a ride they won't forget. This is a beautifully composed adaptation of a great story, one that achieves the right balance between respect for the source material and reinvention for another medium.

It's a mature, smart crime saga that you can recommend for everyone.

Like a Dragon: Yakuza premieres on Prime Video on October 24th.