I just binged through Netflix's new live-action adaptation of the classic anime Yu Yu Hakusho, and I've got some thoughts to share.
Overall, I'd say it's a fun watch, especially for fans of the original series. The cast is great, the fight choreography rocks, and it nails a lot of the key emotional moments. However, condensing 112 manga chapters and 65 anime episodes into just 5 hours definitely leads to some pacing issues. Lots of arcs and details get cut or rushed through.
The Story: Remixing and Speedrunning Key Sagas
The show remixes and combines storylines from the first two sagas of Yu Yu Hakusho:
Episodes 1-3 adapt the early Spirit Detective stuff
Episodes 4 & 5 smash together a simplified Dark Tournament arc.
They trim a lot of fat, but also cut out some meat in the process.
For example, Yusuke's initial death and revival feels too quick - in the manga, he's dead for much longer, which gives his choice to come back more weight. We also blow through Hiei's early villain phase in like 5 minutes. Meanwhile, the Dark Tournament is reduced to just Team Urameshi versus Team Toguro, stripping away all the rival battles and twists that made it so epic.
Plus, by putting the tournament first, we miss out on lots of great team bonding moments. The psych tests and fights they go through in the earlier Saint Beasts arc forge them into, well, a team.
And yet, while the plot cuts hurt, I have to admit condensing the story works fairly well at times. Kurama's backstory plays out beat-for-beat from the source material, just at 4x speed. The initial Spirit Detective cases also survived mostly intact, just with the fat trimmed.
The Cast: Penomenal Performances
Easily the adaptation's strongest point is the cast. Our main four leads totally embody their characters:
Takumi Kitamura's Yusuke mixes cocky punk attitude with surprising heart
Kanata Hongô's Hiei nails the cold, badass warrior shtick
Jun Shison's Kurama plays up the gentler, intellectual side nicely
Shûhei Uesugi's Kuwabara is a particular standout - he captures the honor student's passion, bravery, and goofiness perfectly! His reactions to Yukina are hilarious.
The supporting turns are great too:
Elder Toguro is creepy and cruel
Tarukane oozes corrupt sleazeball energy
Ayano's Toguro balances musclebound menace with unexpected depth
I also liked some of the small changes, like having Keiko rescue herself instead of waiting around as kidnapping fodder. The cast deserves tons of praise for selling the remixed storylines.
The Fights & Effects: Mostly Solid Spectacle
With superpowered spirit warriors unleashing crazy attacks all over the place, capturing the look and feel of Yu Yu Hakusho's fights was always going to prove tricky. But I'm happy to say that the show's production values are pretty darn good for the most part!
The CGI stands out on some of the more exotic demon creatures, but key props like Kurama's rose whip and Yusuke's spirit gun look fantastic realized in live-action. Little aura and energy effects go a long way toward selling the vibe.
They also clearly spent time on the fight choreography, with slick, varied battles:
Yusuke uses street fighting skills against Goki
We get flying leaps and swordplay with Hiei
Kurama relies on plants and trickery
Kuwabara awkwardly swings his spirit sword around
And the Toguro smackdown is packed with earth-shaking punches and grimaces!
Are the effects flawless? Nah – budget limitations show at times. But they get the job done, and the martial arts action shines through.
Final Verdict: A Rushed But Fun Adaptation
Listening to fans nitpick everything left out or changed from the manga, you might think this adaptation totally fails. But here's my take:
As a complete replacement for Yu Yu Hakusho, it falls short. Too much richness gets lost condensing over 100 chapters into 5 episodes. But it never seemed interested in fully adapting everything.
As a flashy sampler platter to lure new fans and treat old ones, though? It delivers. The core cast and charm shine through the slick production and fight scenes even with plot cuts and pacing issues.
I'd definitely be excited for a second season with more room to breathe. But I enjoyed this fast and furious cliff notes version too. It reminds me how much I love these characters and this world, while showing off fantastic anime-to-live-action potential.
So if you're a longtime fan anxious they'll ruin your favorite series? Chill out and have fun with it. This brisk remix celebrates the greatness instead of sullying it. And if you've never seen Yu Yu Hakusho before? These 5 action-packed episodes make a nice flashy intro. You'll just want to watch the original afterwards to get the full experience!
There are my extended thoughts, friends! What did you think of Yu Yu Hakusho's live-action debut? Let me know in the comments!
Answering All Your Questions
Is it worth it to watch Yu Yu Hakusho?
Yes, it is worth watching Yu Yu Hakusho. The show offers a good balance of comedy, action, and serious moments, with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. It has been praised for its unique concepts, engaging action scenes, and its contribution to establishing anime as a mainstream medium. While some may have differing opinions, many viewers find it to be a great show with plenty to offer, and it has been recommended for those who enjoy anime with mature themes and well-executed storylines.
Does Yu Yu Hakusho have good fights?
Was Yu Yu Hakusho successful?
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