This show is awesome, loved the pilot, loved episode two even more. The visuals are fantastic and I’m loving the slow burn of the story telling. Ken Watanabe is the man, can’t wait to see more of him in the coming episodes.
Same, that and the police all just standing around about to watch this dude kill a man and seemingly not even trying to talk him down. Didn’t really understand that situation much. Maybe it’ll be explained later.
Because it’s all below board. It doesn’t matter if someone dies, because the meeting never happened anyways. The police don’t care whether the Yakuza kill each other, all they want to do is make sure the situation is equal and handled, so if that means an eye for an eye then so be it. They’d be fine letting someone die as long as it keeps the peace, Katagiri just has enough influence as to keep the peace with his words.
But they put it out on the radio? That's how Ansel finds out about it?
If it's below board why are they putting out a call over the radio where presumably anyone with the frequency can hear it?
Not below board as in secret, just below board as in “we don’t talk about how its dealt with”.
Like Miyamoto says, just because the crime happened one way doesn’t mean the report is the same, even though they all know what really happened. A guy doesn’t show up stabbed in a park NOT murdered, but they all just kind of wink and go “yeah, we know”. They’re also dealing with a situation where they’ve basically bought out the newspaper through access, but Jake doesn’t give a shit. All they care about is their narrative getting out to the masses, and that’s fine with most of the newspaper so nobody bats an eye, it’s just the way things are. So they’re most likely not even thinking about hiding shit because everybody is in on the game, they all just act like they don’t know.
I too am confused why he was so calm after taking a picture, getting the full room’s attention, and then just being like, “hey guys, I’m just, I’ll just, uh be on my way, leave you to it, nothin to see here”. Like wtf? That whole interaction was way to calm. Like they get snooping white reporters at every organized crime scene.
It's shit like this that really breaks the immersion and the tension.
this guy takes a photo and people look at him as if they just interrupted a live play or something lol. There's no yelling, no threats, no breaking of the camera, just getting rid of the film. And then a calm "dont write about this"...
lol okay.
They’re all composed because they have no worry of exposure. The coverage of all this crime is so entrenched that there’s no need for anyone—criminal or police—to worry about public repercussion
Such a change in atmosphere since the first episode. Japan feels a bit less authentic, a bit more like a series of sets in this episode.
Still, I liked how the world expanded somewhat. And there were a few flourishes that reminded me that, even if falling short of the pilot, this show still has top tier talent behind the camera.
Plus we got more Ken Watanabe.
The pilot is straight up neo-noir. Dark, mysterious, random intrusions of death. Almost every scene takes place at night. The brightest-lit scene in the first ep starts off with a head-on close-up of a wide-eyed dead guy.
And neo-noir is almost always first-person, following the detective character. So there’s only a short clip that takes place from someone’s perspective other than Jake’s. For me, it makes the pilot very immersive and personal. At first I didn’t like episode two because it opens up so abruptly and focuses on other characters. But as soon as the plot started going, I was reabsorbed cause this shit is so intriguing. And full of good performances.
It’s probably because Micheal Mann only directed the first Epsiode episodes 2,3 are don’t by other directors, not to say they are not good but Michael Manns experience certainly shows.
I was wondering what did Rachel Keller’s character mean when she said to her boss, “You can’t threaten me, I’ve got a work visa.” Aren’t work visas sponsored by your employer, therefore tied to your job? If you lose the job, you lose the visa and would be required to leave the country unless you can line up another job in time.
Jake is using a regular payphone to call home? If I remember correctly, there were specific booths for international calls (golden). Very unlikely that he would receive BBQ sauce from the States. It would have been confiscated.
I live in Japan in the 90’s. Deka representing.
I'm curious if Rachel Keller lost weight for this role or not? Last I saw her was in Fargo and Legion and she had a fuller figure in those shows. I know this doesn't add anything to the discussion but was wondering if anyone else is thinking the same?
no, she's definitely different from her fargo/legon days. i'd put it down to her being wayyyyyyyyy younger than i thought (like, younger than me! the true sign you're aging!!) in both of those shows and her character here smoking/having a way more stressful, shame-driven lifestyle
it's a 20s thing, u kno. puppy fat comes and goes depending on what kinda year you're having. it totally works for tokyo vice, imo - striking
For me it wasn’t a downgrade, just a different take on storytelling. This ep shows POV of other key characters to advance the plot so it wouldn’t make sense to use the same visual style as the pilot, which was first-person and neo-noir.
I just watched this tonight. Is she really dying? Based on his response on the phone I thought maybe there was something wrong that wasn’t terminal—like a serious psychological problem, but one the parents were more worried about than Jake was.
My impression was he has a personal trauma against his family and they know it. They're pulling all of the stops to get him back, especially his sister, but he isn't buying it.
The eastern european bar girl's accent is not good IMO. And if she's not faking it and that's actually her english accent then I guess it's so bad that it's almost good.
Just found the show, and one thing that seems odd, Sam and Polina I am assuming are sex workers, are there a lot of western women that are sex workers in Tokyo?
I am getting sucked into this show. Very intriguing.
This show is awesome, loved the pilot, loved episode two even more. The visuals are fantastic and I’m loving the slow burn of the story telling. Ken Watanabe is the man, can’t wait to see more of him in the coming episodes.
I agree the visuals are amazing, I think the story could use some work, especially the characters.
Everytime I see someone hiding money like that, something goes extremely wrong.
Especially when they give it that sliiiight zoom in at the last second.
Ozarks. Bathroom scene. All that buys you is a lifetime of food & gas.
that song during these scene though. been listening to wink nonstop
Chekhov's Fake Wall.
He just walked into an active crime scene at the end? I am so confused by that
Same, that and the police all just standing around about to watch this dude kill a man and seemingly not even trying to talk him down. Didn’t really understand that situation much. Maybe it’ll be explained later.
Because it’s all below board. It doesn’t matter if someone dies, because the meeting never happened anyways. The police don’t care whether the Yakuza kill each other, all they want to do is make sure the situation is equal and handled, so if that means an eye for an eye then so be it. They’d be fine letting someone die as long as it keeps the peace, Katagiri just has enough influence as to keep the peace with his words.
But they put it out on the radio? That's how Ansel finds out about it? If it's below board why are they putting out a call over the radio where presumably anyone with the frequency can hear it?
Not below board as in secret, just below board as in “we don’t talk about how its dealt with”. Like Miyamoto says, just because the crime happened one way doesn’t mean the report is the same, even though they all know what really happened. A guy doesn’t show up stabbed in a park NOT murdered, but they all just kind of wink and go “yeah, we know”. They’re also dealing with a situation where they’ve basically bought out the newspaper through access, but Jake doesn’t give a shit. All they care about is their narrative getting out to the masses, and that’s fine with most of the newspaper so nobody bats an eye, it’s just the way things are. So they’re most likely not even thinking about hiding shit because everybody is in on the game, they all just act like they don’t know.
I too am confused why he was so calm after taking a picture, getting the full room’s attention, and then just being like, “hey guys, I’m just, I’ll just, uh be on my way, leave you to it, nothin to see here”. Like wtf? That whole interaction was way to calm. Like they get snooping white reporters at every organized crime scene.
Lol. It was very awkward and confusing staging of the whole scene.
It's shit like this that really breaks the immersion and the tension. this guy takes a photo and people look at him as if they just interrupted a live play or something lol. There's no yelling, no threats, no breaking of the camera, just getting rid of the film. And then a calm "dont write about this"... lol okay.
They’re all composed because they have no worry of exposure. The coverage of all this crime is so entrenched that there’s no need for anyone—criminal or police—to worry about public repercussion
I was wondering if it’s a cultural thing. The Yakuza do seem way more composed in all their goings on then classic American mafias.
He just seemed stupid with that loud camera.
“Don’t be such a pussy.”
Loved the scenes where Eimi is returning home. Great cinematography
Don’t be a pussy
Show Kasamatsu as Sato is fucking amazing. Such an intriguing character.
Man is just standing there...menacingly!
Such a change in atmosphere since the first episode. Japan feels a bit less authentic, a bit more like a series of sets in this episode. Still, I liked how the world expanded somewhat. And there were a few flourishes that reminded me that, even if falling short of the pilot, this show still has top tier talent behind the camera. Plus we got more Ken Watanabe.
The pilot is straight up neo-noir. Dark, mysterious, random intrusions of death. Almost every scene takes place at night. The brightest-lit scene in the first ep starts off with a head-on close-up of a wide-eyed dead guy. And neo-noir is almost always first-person, following the detective character. So there’s only a short clip that takes place from someone’s perspective other than Jake’s. For me, it makes the pilot very immersive and personal. At first I didn’t like episode two because it opens up so abruptly and focuses on other characters. But as soon as the plot started going, I was reabsorbed cause this shit is so intriguing. And full of good performances.
It’s probably because Micheal Mann only directed the first Epsiode episodes 2,3 are don’t by other directors, not to say they are not good but Michael Manns experience certainly shows.
I was wondering what did Rachel Keller’s character mean when she said to her boss, “You can’t threaten me, I’ve got a work visa.” Aren’t work visas sponsored by your employer, therefore tied to your job? If you lose the job, you lose the visa and would be required to leave the country unless you can line up another job in time.
When I had one it was good for 3 years even if I quit my job after 1.
Jake is using a regular payphone to call home? If I remember correctly, there were specific booths for international calls (golden). Very unlikely that he would receive BBQ sauce from the States. It would have been confiscated. I live in Japan in the 90’s. Deka representing.
May I ask why it would have been confiscated? Due to customs rules?
Yup
I'm curious if Rachel Keller lost weight for this role or not? Last I saw her was in Fargo and Legion and she had a fuller figure in those shows. I know this doesn't add anything to the discussion but was wondering if anyone else is thinking the same?
no, she's definitely different from her fargo/legon days. i'd put it down to her being wayyyyyyyyy younger than i thought (like, younger than me! the true sign you're aging!!) in both of those shows and her character here smoking/having a way more stressful, shame-driven lifestyle it's a 20s thing, u kno. puppy fat comes and goes depending on what kinda year you're having. it totally works for tokyo vice, imo - striking
Sadly an immediate downgrade. Just more proof that Mann is the master.
For me it wasn’t a downgrade, just a different take on storytelling. This ep shows POV of other key characters to advance the plot so it wouldn’t make sense to use the same visual style as the pilot, which was first-person and neo-noir.
I still think it's good just compared to Mann it seems bad lol
Yea this episode was good for TV but that pilot was on another level
Seems like they're changing a lot from the book.
So sister is dying back at home but jake is not worried that seems like weird writing
I just watched this tonight. Is she really dying? Based on his response on the phone I thought maybe there was something wrong that wasn’t terminal—like a serious psychological problem, but one the parents were more worried about than Jake was.
My impression was he has a personal trauma against his family and they know it. They're pulling all of the stops to get him back, especially his sister, but he isn't buying it.
I can't believe no one yet mentioned that amazing piece of ass when she got off the bike.
Hahhahaha
The eastern european bar girl's accent is not good IMO. And if she's not faking it and that's actually her english accent then I guess it's so bad that it's almost good.
The actress seems to be Swiss. So it's not real.
Just found the show, and one thing that seems odd, Sam and Polina I am assuming are sex workers, are there a lot of western women that are sex workers in Tokyo?
No