Tokyo Vice Episodes 4 – 5 are the 4th and 5th instalments of a crime drama created by J.T. Rogers based on the 2009 book of the same name by Jake Adelstein. The series is set in 1999, as American student Jake Adelstein becomes the first foreign-born journalist in Japan and starts at the very bottom at the Meicho Shimbun newspaper covering the Tokyo police beat.
S P O I L E R S
Tokyo Vice Episodes 4 – 5 are both very strong episodes as the story develops Adelstein’s major quest strongly while providing us with appealing secondary characters in Sato and Samantha, all set in the context of a Yakuza war of dominance. Like in the previous episodes, the latest chapters continues Adelstein’s investigation into the suicide deaths linked to loan sharks operated by one of the Yakuza gangs. Adelstein has an ally in Emi, his immediate boss in this quest but discovers that despite the support of detective Katagiri, the obstacles are almost insurmountable.
READ OUR ANALYSIS OF TOKYO VICE.
Samantha, the American hostess, is given a personal background – to Utah and the Mormon Church – with her dark secret about to be revealed by a private investigator. Sato, her Yakuza love interest, is determined to protect her but is caught in a web of Yakuza power play where his personal loyalties are at odds with his gang allegiances. Quite a tasty conflict developed by the series, for sure. A particular powerful moment is presented when Sato is caught in two minds between his gang boss and his big brother, with the resolution a heart wrenching moment.
Tokyo Vice Episodes 4 – 5 demonstrate why this crime drama is worth one’s time and effort, with excellent writing and characterisations in the five episodes thus far released. Highly recommended!
Now streaming on HBO Max.
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