Shinobi no ie: House of Ninjas (2024)

Finally some effort for Jdramas

This is the first ever review I gave a series out of so many that I've already watched. I told myself that I don't need to give reviews since I only use MLD as an archive and as information source, but for this drama, I feel really compelled to tell you my thoughts even if no one asked for it.

First of all, the storyline may not be for everyone. There is a lot of confusion on my part and a little annoyance about how things went. Gaku's personality shift is still quite shallow on my part and a little disappointing. Sure, I didn't expect the big brother to be the villain, but I feel like the "brother died but is actually alive and is not the enemy" trope is already overused, so the initial shock was immediately replaced by "meh". Although, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the majority of time I was watching this I felt more interested and on the edge of my seat with every episode. There was always a scene, or a happening that had me playing detective and trying to connect the dots. Plus, it's been so long since I've felt that hatred towards an antagonist, so me hating 19th Fuma leader whatever was actually a refreshing realization for me.

But, here's the main reason why I want to write a review. Whenever I would watch an asian series, I could always differentiate a Kdrama from a Jdrama. And often, it's because of the effort put behind in production. The main thing I vaguely noticed was that Kdramas seem more...expensive. Also more quirky, comical, and bright. While Jdramas are more laid-back, casual, and quite dull. Then after a few observations, I realized that maybe it's the camerwork or the dialogues, or everything that are out of the actors' hands.

You see, the reason why Kdramas are such a hit is because of how much big streaming sites like Netflix put so much effort in creating them. Even if the plot is garbage or the dialogues are horrible, people still watch it because it's in their subscriptions. It's kinda sad to see the fixation that streaming companies put in Kdramas (at least in what I notice anyway) and not invest in others.

But after seeing House of Ninjas, I was quite surprised to notice that most of the time, I couldn't tell thar it was a Japanese Drama if not for the dialogues and settings, because, it's production is on par with just any other action Kdrama out there, if not, then at least it's gradually getting there.

It's pleasant to see Netflix pouring effort in Japanese Dramas, especially action at that, and successfully showcase how much potential Japanese dramas can also put in the table. It's most likely this will get a season 2, and I hope they imrpove the stiry a bit and give more depth to each character and their life choices (i.e., Gaku), so that the drama feels more spectacular and complete.

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Good Enough

Japanese Drama '' House of Ninjas '' is an action-packed drama about a family of ninjas and a big criminal case they get involved with.

The whole '' mythology '' around ninjas, their tactics, their way of life, and their secrets, they were intriguing and enjoyable, even though the drama gave a more humane side to the supernatural warriors.

They also focused more on the family, even though there were plenty of fighting scenes to keep things entertaining. However, the dynamics of the family members, their love for each other, and the way they worked together, were the most enjoyable part of the story. The twists of the story were also well handled and unpredictable.

And yet, the story felt somehow anticlimactic and lukewarm. The ending was also not the typical happy ending, probably suggesting a second season to follow.

Finally, the performances were all enjoyable.

So, overall, seven out of ten.

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House of slayers

House of Ninjas wraps its family dynamic in the fight-functional garb of its titular warriors. While it may not revolutionise the genre, its ability to entertain and intrigue makes it a worthy addition to the streaming landscape. The series does struggle to find a consistent tone, vacillating between dark themes and attempts at levity and romance, which affects its pacing and overall cohesion. As a whole though, House of Ninjas is a great watch for action fans. More importantly, its ensemble cast makes this series unique with humor and innovative takes on tropes that pay off in spades. House of Ninjas is a fun and entertaining story about a family living in the most unusual of situations. The way the action is shot in many sequences feels sloppy, and the pacing suffers towards the middle, but the series is still worth watching.

My Rating : 7/10

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Ninja is a word used by the ignorant. The proper term is shinobi!

"House of Ninjas" offers an entertaining blend of action, humor, and conspiracy, wrapped in a tale of family dynamics with a secretive twist. Set in a household where three generations coexist, each member grappling with their own desires and obligations amidst a dark family secret, the narrative unfolds with a mishap from a past mission looming over their present lives. Soichi, the patriarch, strives for normalcy while managing a failing sake brewery, while Yoko, the matriarch, seeks excitement through shoplifting. Their children, Nagi and Haru, navigate their own paths amidst ninja traditions and modern desires, while Grandma Ninja keeps a watchful eye, especially on the youngest, Riku.

The film strikes a balance between humor, romance, and intense fight sequences, with well-choreographed ninja battles and amusing moments, particularly the grannie-on-grannie ninja action. However, the occasional inexplicable decisions and lack of interpersonal communication among the characters may leave viewers scratching their heads. Nevertheless, the ensemble cast delivers commendable performances, capturing the essence of their characters, from Haru's solemn demeanor to Nagi's mischievous spirit.

Notably, the soundtrack, featuring tracks like Graham Nash's "Our House" and several by The Zombies, complements the scenes effectively, enhancing the overall viewing experience. While "House of Ninjas" may not cater to those seeking a serious, blood-soaked drama or a romantic saga, it offers a refreshing take on the ninja genre, blending high stakes with light and dark humor, family drama, and a touch of romance. Despite its flaws, the series proves compelling and entertaining, earning a solid recommendation for those in search of a unique and enjoyable experience.

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Mainly a arama about ordinary people's slice of life with a tiny bit of ninja slashing

A Drama about ordinary people is boring, but what if we make them retired ninjas and make the show about them wanting to be ordinary people?

I think everyone who made this show knew that ordinary life is boring, so they added some ninja elements to make it more exciting.

But while filming and writing the script, they forgot that ordinary life is boring, and made the entire show mostly about ordinary life with a tiny bit of ninja action, which gets you this show.

It's incredibly boring and unless you ignore 80% of the entire show, what you're gonna be watching is a slice of daily life. If you like that, then you'll probably like this otherwise just watch something else.

I think the trailer drills it in pretty hard too about what you should expect, which is again, ordinary slice of life mostly with a tiny bit of ninja action.

Oh also guns still exist in the drama so...yeah...

Honestly this show deserves less than a 1.

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Ninja mode: activated. ⚔️ Only a Shinobi can stop a Shinobi

Loved it! Liked it even more than I was expecting to, and I had been keeping an eye on this show ever since it was first announced. I lived in Japan for a while and have long been a fan of Japanese classic samurai/ninja cinema. It is so awesome to see this show bring back some of the great shinobi tropes, themes, lore, etc. From the great classic shinobi films of the 1960s (which are largely little unknown outside Japan). I particularly REALLY liked the depth of character/family development here, the emphasis on the human element of being a shinobi/ninja, and to see excellent martial art action that is done in a very grounded, realistic manner. The action was fast, visceral and not over the top, which made it all the more impactful.

The show is not perfect of course, but on the whole very entertaining and well done... The acting, production quality and action are all top notch and this is the exact kind of high quality drama series that I've been waiting to come out of Japan for a while now. There are so many original, interesting things Japan could be doing with TV/streaming series incorporating unique, rich cultural elements and the unmatched cool factor of samurai/ninja history, lore, etc. We will hopefully see even more productions in the future along these lines!

I really hope House of Ninjas gets a season 2! The first season has wonderfully established a world, a unique style/aesthetic, characters we care about, interesting themes and realistic badass action which could really be expanded upon in future seasons. More please!

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HATTORI HANZO FOREVER…

I started watching this drama without any expectations and, before I knew it, I was completely hooked on the story and the characters. The drama, created and developed by the excellent Dave Boyle, presented a sense of common reality of Japanese everyday life in a family composed of “shinobis”, and the storyline was well tied and conducted in just 8 episodes, unfortunately. The fight choreography was so realistic that it became unnecessary to use visual effects to speed them up, where the viewer gets lost in the performances and ends up not watching anything but a bunch of fast movements. Here, Boyle took care to let us enjoy all the choreographies. As for the actors’ performances in the drama, it is noticeable that they were restrained and within the Western standard of acting, far from the theatrical performances that are trademarks of Japanese dramaturgy. Now, I confess I am looking forward to the second season and hope Netflix renews it, however, Japanese dramas tend to end with open endings and continuations simply do not exist. I hope it’s different here.

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FIRST JAPANESE DRAMA I WATCHED

This is my first Japanese drama and like it...I rated overall 8.

It's about the Tawara family, the last shinobi clan, who lived in a traditional 'house of ninjas' in present-day Japan. Six years earlier, the eldest son died during a mission to rescue a kidnapped politician, and the Tawaras abandoned their discipline. They aim to be a normal family, but struggle with some idiosyncratic dysfunctions. Some family member were longing for action because of the boredom, separately they involved in questionable activities while the Dad, the head of family strive to hold family together as ordinary as possible. The head of the Bureau of Ninja Management insisted the Tawara family to take on mission although been rejected multiple times.

When a crisis unfolds, the family is drawn back into the shadows of its past, the son that they thought died was actually survived and recruited by the enemy. The family must take on the greatest crisis as it became personal one and that threaten the nation on political trouble.

Action, little romance, family dynamic, revenge, mystery and comedy. Japanese has special dark humor that I can appreciate.

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