What Is the Story About?
Created by Dave Boyle for Netflix, House of Ninjas follow an almost retired Ninja family, getting back to business when threats of anarchy and fascism loom over Japan. The family that had to leave their Ninja ways owing to a tragedy in past is drawn back to old ways for a larger good years later.
Performances?
House of Ninjas is aptly cast. The chemistry between members of a family is rightly seen onscreen, owing to the chemistry the actors share.
While Kento Kaku is the MVP of the show, he plays Haru with the right amount of guilt he’s been carrying for years. His eyes are lifeless from the deaths and violence he’s seen over the years, while also seeding the repressed need to live a normal life.
Yosuke Eguchi and Tae Kimura adds the comedic touch to the show as the Father and Mother holding a broken family together while silently grieving the loss of their first born. The parents unleashing their Ninja side is so much fun to watch, and their emotional scenes tug heartstrings.
Aju Makita who plays the sister is a fireball combination of a sister and fighter. Tenka Banya plays the youngest son in the family, the unaware kid who holds the innocence of the show intact.
The versatile Takayuki Yamada plays the cult leader Tsujioka, the threatening figure with so much aplomb, menacing charm and vivaciousness. The rest of the cast also does a good job with their parts in a show that has action, drama, deception, action and everything in between.
Analysis
Off-late Netflix has been spearheading Asian-action Marvels one after the other in series format. After Michelle Yeoh’s The Brothers Sun, the streamer is back with a Ninja themed Japanese action-drama ‘House of Ninjas’. While The Brothers Sun revolves around Hong-Kong’s gangs and triads, Chinese culture et al, House of Ninjas refreshingly depicts the Japanese culture, shinobis and history.
David Boyle alongside Masahiro Yamaura, Kota Oura, and Kanna Kimura created House of Ninjas from a story written by Takafumi Imai, Kento Kaku and Yoshjaki Murao. House of Ninjas follows the story of Tawaras aka the Tawara family, the last living Ninjas of Japan. They are the descendants of the celebrated Ninja icon Hattori Hanzo and consists of a father, mother, a daughter, 3 sons and a grandmother.
The Tawara family has left their Ninja ways and leads a normal life presently after they lost the oldest son in the family – Gaku in an ordeal years ago. The now grieving family appears to have completely let gone of their old ways, but as a huge threat looms over Japan in the name of a cult called Gentankai led by Tsujioka, everyone in the family gets back to the Ninja business..well except the father.
The administrative sort of an entity called BNM (Bureau of Ninja Management), more like a CIA for the spies nudges the family to adorn their Ninja outfits to Save Japan from Anarchy. While every member of the family (except the youngest son in the family who knows nothing about his family’s Ninja secrets) fights towards the single goal of defeating Tsujioka, old wounds regarding Gaku’s death rip open with revelations that could shake the core of Japan and the Tawara family.
The family reaches a point where they have to fight both agents of anarchy and agents of fascism and authoritarianism (BNM) to uphold the fabric of Japan. Without further spoilers, House of Ninjas is a thoroughly entertaining action dramedy. When the show is in drama mode, the Tawara family wins your heart with its agony, grief, emotional bonding and affection. The actors chemistry is appreciably effortless. While the show pulls back it’s action mode, you get to witness good looking leads doing terrific combats, chase sequences and physical action. There’s also a bit of romance here and there.
The only gripe with the series is that half way down the lane, predictability catches up. There are multiple instances that make you go ‘old wine in a new bottle’. The male saviour syndrome is also quite a bit too much. Unlike The Brothers Sun, there’s nothing outstandingly novel in House of Ninjas, but it serves the target audience rightly with action, comedy and drama. The actors seamlessly fit their parts and share immense chemistry with each other.
In short, House of Ninjas is a delicious full course meal for an east asian action fanatic. The show doesn’t have pointless action, but celebrates the culture, history and bravery of Japan and it’s saviours by presenting their valour, grit and determination nicely.
Music and Other Departments?
Akin to Michelle Yeoh starrer The Brothers Sun, House of Ninjas wear it’s action choreography proudly up its sleeves. The action is swift and stylish (something Ninjas are usually identified with), the hand-to-hand combat & chasing scenes are deliciously shot. The background music aptly aligns with the atmospherics the series goes for.
Highlights?
Cast
Story
Drama
Action
Choreography
Drawbacks?
Predictability
Low stakes
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes. If you liked the recent Netflix outing ‘The Brothers Sun’, House of Ninjas might be equally delightful.
House of Ninjas Series Review by Binged Bureau
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