Last Samurai Standing Review: Squid Game with Katana Carnage

BOTTOM LINE
Squid Game with Katana Carnage

PLATFORM
NETFLIX

RUNTIME
6 Episodes | 47–58 Minutes Each

What Is the Film About?

Set in Japan’s Meiji era (1878), where the revered samurai class has been made destitute and their status revoked, Last Samurai Standing follows former samurai Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada). Haunted by his past as the “Manslayer” and desperate to save his cholera-stricken family, Saga enters the Kodoku, a brutal, high-stakes death game.

Over 290 skilled but impoverished warriors must fight each other, stealing wooden tags and passing seven checkpoints on a treacherous journey from Kyoto to Tokyo, with the sole survivor winning a massive cash prize. The competition is secretly orchestrated by shadowy, wealthy elites and political figures aiming to eradicate the samurai class without getting their hands dirty.

Performances

Junichi Okada is remarkable as the protagonist, a broken warrior who has sworn off violence but is forced to awaken his deadly past to protect his loved ones. His performance is stoic, complex, and deeply human, while his exceptional skill as the show’s action choreographer elevates every fight sequence.

Yumia Fujisaki as Futuba Katsuki is compelling as the young teenage girl whose resilience shines through her shattered circumstances. Her bond with Saga provides the show with a fragile, emotional core.

Masahiro Higashide as Kyojin Tsuge is fascinating as a mysterious figure whose true intentions remain ambiguous, adding a layer of intrigue and complexity to the main group’s alliance.

Kaya Kiyohara as Iroha Kinugasa delivers a firm performance as Saga’s foster sister and ally, a fierce warrior in her own right. The rest of the cast is solid, effectively portraying the desperate and varied individuals forced into the deadly tournament.

However, several other characters, such as the antagonist Toshiyoshi Kawaji (played by Gaku Hamada) and Gentosai Okabe (played by Hiroshi Abe), feel severely underused despite showcasing high potential. The reveal of the real antagonist also feels highly predictable, making no impact at all.

Analysis

Last Samurai Standing is a fun watch, though its central plot is relatively straightforward, looks like a samurai spinoff of the Squid Game format in the beginning. The simplicity of the premise, win or die, is its greatest strength in terms of pacing and action, but it is also its biggest weakness, as it prevents the show from becoming a deep, complex historical epic.

While there are flashbacks at the beginning of each episode to add character depth, they don’t significantly push the emotional or character development forward. The series truly shines once the game begins, picking up a good pace after a slightly slow opening (the first 30-35 minutes) dedicated to setting the scene and establishing Shujiro Saga’s motivation.

The second episode is where the show truly starts to elevate its action, tone, and fight sequences, and by the time we reach the finale, the thought of the show being a Squid Game ripoff completely leaves our minds.

The historical backdrop of the fading samurai class and the political conspiracy behind the Kodoku adds another layer to the carnage, making the desperation of the fighters chillingly plausible.

The Meiji Restoration led to the official abolition of the samurai class, leaving thousands of highly skilled warriors poor, disgraced, and unemployed. This real-world desperation paves the way for a secret, deadly tournament offering vast riches, chillingly plausible and provides a tangible, heartbreaking reason for the characters to fight.

The series effectively uses visual storytelling to highlight the new political order. The samurai are often in traditional, tattered clothing, while the game’s organisers wear European suits and military uniforms, visually symbolising the Westernisation of the Meiji government and the irreversible downfall of the samurai warrior code.

The Meiji-era context adds a layer of tragedy and political intrigue that elevates the series beyond simple gore. The action is rooted in a cultural trauma, the extinction of a noble class, giving weight to every death, even if the show prioritises entertainment over a deep, complex historical epic.

The show’s biggest highlight is the high-quality, raw sword fight choreography, helmed by lead actor Junichi Okada himself. The fight sequences are swift, brutal, and use minimal cuts, making the combat feel immediate and visceral. This focus on realistic, physical action is where the show truly succeeds.

Overall, Last Samurai Standing is a highly entertaining survival thriller, essentially a samurai Squid Game, distinguished by its brilliant performances and exceptionally raw sword-fight choreography. While the central plot is straightforward and lacks deep character development, the show uses its historical context effectively to present brutal but enjoyable action. If the series had ended as a mini-series without dragging on for another season and without a cliffhanger, it would have been a more satisfying watch.

Music and Other Departments?

The cinematography is stunning, utilising the Japanese landscape and historical settings beautifully. It carries a serious, high-stakes aesthetic, drawing favourable visual comparisons to recent period epics like Shōgun.

The production design is gorgeous, effectively creating a vibrant yet brutal post-feudal world. The action choreography, helmed by lead actor Junichi Okada, is exceptional. The samurai fight sequences are the absolute highlight, being swift, raw, tactically nuanced, and growing in scope and thrill, especially in the later episodes.

Highlights?

Exceptional Samurai Fight Sequences

Brilliant Performances

Stunning Cinematography and Setting

High-Octane Pace (Post-Setup)

Drawbacks?

The central storyline is straightforward and lacks many complex, thematic layers

Character Development is limited

Under-utilisation of several characters

Weak reveal of the main antagonist

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes, especially the action episodes!

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, if you’re okay with heavy Squid Game vibes but want your bloodshed with katanas.

 Last Samurai Standing Netflix Series Review by M9