Like 'Squid Game'? Watch 'Last Samurai Standing' Now on Netflix

If you've been looking for a new show to fill the brutal, high-stakes void left by Squid Game, Netflix may have just dropped your next obsession. A new Japanese live-action series, Last Samurai Standing, premiered on November 13 and is already making waves. The show has debuted with a perfect 100% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, drawing immediate comparisons to a mash-up of Squid Game's deadly competition and Shōgun's rich historical setting.

The intense comparisons are rooted in the show's thrilling premise. Based on the 2022 manga by Shogo Imamura, the series is set during Japan's Meiji era. The plot follows 292 samurai who are drawn into a brutal battle royale. They must fight to the death for a massive prize of 100 billion yen, with only the last survivor taking the reward.

What gives the show its human touch is the main story, which centres on protagonist Shujiro Saga (played by Junichi Okada). He enters the deadly game not for glory, but in a desperate attempt to save his sick wife and child. This gives the audience a relatable stake in the pulse-pounding competition, with reviewers praising the show's "gripping narrative" and "exceptional pacing".

What Critics Are Saying About the 'Bloody Survival Premise'

It is important to note that the perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is based on the initial wave of six critic reviews, so that number is expected to fluctuate as more are tabulated. An audience score is not yet available. Still, those early reviews agree that the adaptation delivers on its "bloody survival premise", thanks to stunning visuals and major technical efforts to recreate 19th-century Japan.

Early reviews, including one from Screen Rant, have hailed the action sequences as some of the "best in a long time." However, the show is not without its mixed aspects. Some critics have pointed out that the show's characters can feel "simple" or "not as complex" as those in other dramas and that some themes feel "outdated".

Despite these points, the overall consensus is that Last Samurai Standing is a satisfactory and worthy adaptation that delivers on the violent thrills audiences expect. The series is written by Kento Yamaguchi and Michihito Fujii and also stars Yumia Fujisaki, Kaya Kiyohara, and Hideaki Itō. 

Netflix has not yet confirmed a potential Season 2, as the decision will likely depend on reception and viewership over the next few weeks. All six episodes are available to stream on Netflix.