IR TV Review: TOKYO VICE - EPISODE 10 (“Endgame”) [Max]

With the season finale of "Tokyo Vice", the intention of the characters needed to come to a head with stakes. The question overall is where the story goes from here (if it does), considering what happens with many of the characters. The inception point that was established in the pilot episode has come around full circle finally. Of course, this is actually dependent on the life of Jake Adelstein in real life. With Episode 10 ("Endgame") of Season 2, the pivot that was required to help Jake reach his objective shifts a bit because of forces he cannot control but also incorrect decisions he has made. Adelstein ( as played by Angel Elgort) is seen as both ambitious and naive, talented but also flawed. That is why seeing his character and Samantha (Rachel Keller) navigate this world is interesting. Both actors went to lengths to be more versatile in Japanese this season (as well as last season).There is one moment on a balacony that encapsulates there exactly journey (and does it with a wink of humor and irony)

The interesting dichotomy that is Katagiri (Ken Watanabe), understands that the politics and culture of what really needs to be done is outside both the press and the police. In recent episodes, Katagiri seemed more desperate. But here, he seems to know more about what needs to fall into place, even if it doesn't quite turn out the way some of the other characters want. The trajectory of Sato (Show Kasamatsu) turns out to be one of the most dynamic in the show because it is about love and responsbility but also honor and sacrifice. There is one detail in the final 1/4 of the episode that interestingly enough shows opportunities lost but also bigger grievances in knowing things could have turned out diffferently. It did not need to come to this and yet it has, That said, as the final shot comes through, there is a bit of humor that betrays both human fallacy and arrogance and yet belies the essence of humanity as well: laughter. A-

By Tim Wassberg