Giri/Haji, a new crime drama co-produced by the BBC and Netflix, promises an intercontinental journey through the underbellies of Tokyo and London, featuring a Yakuza murder, a missing brother, and a detective caught between duty and family. Yet, despite its ambitious premise and strong cast, the series struggles to deliver the excitement its plot suggests.
The story follows Detective Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira), who is sent to London to secretly search for his younger brother Yuto (Yosuke Kubozuka), believed responsible for a murder that threatens a fragile truce among Tokyo's criminal underworld. In London, Mori navigates a world of rent boys, assassins, and bureaucratic hurdles, aided by the charismatic but vulnerable Rodney (Will Sharpe) and his course instructor, Detective Sarah Weitzmann (Kelly Macdonald).
While the performances are commendable—Hira brings a bone-deep weariness to Mori, and Sharpe injects brio and wit into Rodney—the narrative feels stale. Lonely detectives torn between loyalty and duty, corrupt superiors, and fish-out-of-water tropes are well-worn territory. Even the novelty of a Japanese protagonist in London and unglamorous depictions of Tokyo cannot mask the lack of originality.
The series does offer some unique touches, such as animated interludes from the creators of Hey Duggee, and cultural details like Mori bowing to a taxi driver who speeds off before he can straighten up. However, these moments are not enough to elevate the drama above its predictable core.
With only select episodes released for review, there is hope that later installments will inject more tension and depth, particularly for underused characters like Roy, the London detective sent to Tokyo. For now, Giri/Haji remains a crime drama that is all killer and no thriller.
