This Crime Drama Gem With 92% on RT Is the Most Underrated TV Series of the 2020s

Tokyo Vice, a Max crime drama, finished its second season this year. The lack of widespread popularity did not prevent the series from gathering an army of devoted fans and securing its status as a great show that no one watches.

We will tell you why Tokyo Vice is worth watching and will appeal to many people – from fans of Shogun and Japanese culture to connoisseurs of atmospheric neo-noirs and dark thrillers.

What Is Tokyo Vice About?

In 1999, reporter Jack settles in Tokyo. He dreams of passing a language exam to become the first foreigner at the capital's largest newspaper. The goal is achieved – the gaijin miraculously gets a job at the publication.

However, he soon has to temper his hopes for a quick career: in Tokyo, there is no talk of sensational investigations.

Jack is disappointed to learn that the authorities and the influential Yakuza underestimate the crime rate in the city. In an attempt to understand what is going on in Tokyo, Jack meets several people: an honest investigator, a young yakuza disillusioned with the criminal organization, and an American woman working in a club.

Tokyo Vice Is Based on a Real Story

Tokyo Vice is an adaptation of the memoirs of Jack Adelstein, who actually got a job at the capital's largest publishing house in the 1990s and encountered the absurd reality of the time: as the locals told him, people do not get killed in Tokyo.

The veracity of Adelstein's stories is still debated, but it is certainly excellent material for a series. Audiences have always loved stories about the adventures of foreigners in Japan.

Tokyo Vice Is Another Worthy Story About a Foreigner in Japan, Just Like Shogun

For example, Shogun – perhaps the most important series of 2024 – reminded viewers how great it is to watch one episode a week and wait with trepidation for the next episode.

Ironically, the airing of the historical drama coincided with the release of the second and final season of Tokyo Vice – a series about the same attempt by a gaijin to oppose Japanese traditions with his own concepts of honor and dignity.

While the main character of Shogun eventually assimilates and resigns himself to his fate, Adelstein is always looking for opportunities for cultural clashes.

An individualist in a society where it is not customary to stand out, Jack does not respect the local hierarchy, oversteps personal boundaries and, unlike his colleagues, does not think about a perfect reputation.

Tokyo Vice Is a Slow and Meditative Show

Tokyo Vice is not an action show. The creators prefer oppressive tension and leisurely discussions about what is happening to car chases and shootouts. The most dynamic moment of the season can be called passing the exam, and the main action scene is a knife stab in the stomach.

If you are fascinated by the captivating atmosphere of Japanese megalopolises, and criminal worlds hidden from everyone, then Tokyo Vice is a perfect series for you.