IR TV Review: TOKYO VICE - EPISODES 6 & 7 [HBO Max]
The focus of ambition versus survival is placed in a sphere of knowledge and then decision dictates how it is used. With Episodes 5 & 6 of "Tokyo Vice", those ideas are brought more into play along with a texture of trust. After the more violent and brutal elements of the previous two episodes, these episodes focus more on small moves in a way. These two episodes are again directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka (who directed Episodes 2 & 3) who has a little more of a broader canvas but also needs to balance the interpersonal that was introduced in Hakari's episodes (4 & 5). The greater politics of the different factions are at play but Katagari (Ken Watanabe) understands the greater pictures. The continuing perspective of Adelstein (Ansel Elgort), Samantha (Rachel Keller) and Sato (Sho Kasamatsu) is interesting because, like many people, they can see consequences of certain actions but are blinded by others, not because of their lack of instinct and intelligence but the blindness of their ambition crossed with their situation. Adelstein has that representation but is young and sometimes lacks patience which is reflected in Sam and Sato though theirs has another layer on top because of their respective jobs. Mistakes are made but all of them point to an eventual detonation point.
This series is based upon the book "Tokyo Vice" by Adelstein so many points of this are based on real life though likely built up for dramatic context of course. The key is not, at least with this reviewer, delving into the book or any of the relevant text. Both Michael Mann and showrunner JT Rogers know that this is a story of power but one from those further in a way down on the rung and moving up (I hesitate to mention a parallel to "Lower Decks" from Star Trek but there is a texture of that). These people have heart but the key is the characters don't have the necessary experience but only by failing per se do they become the people they are destined or are cursed to be. These episodes (6 & 7) show in a way those failures because of actions earlier on but also because of those angles of the narrative they cannot see. This in a way can also relate to "The Godfather" because the older players of the game know what it takes to keep power but also what can happen when ambition and ego take over. B
By Tim Wassberg
