This New 100%-Rated Netflix Hit Is a Perfect Mix of 'Squid Game' & 'Shogun' You Can't Miss

On November 13, Netflix released the miniseries Last Samurai Standing, which instantly captivated viewers. The series combines the historical accuracy of the epic Shogun with the intense premise of the deadly game from Squid Game.

What Is 'Last Samurai Standing' About?

The story takes place in 1878, a pivotal year in Japanese history. Following the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the samurai – once the elite of society – found themselves in dire straits, deprived of their status and livelihood.

At this time, 292 samurai participate in a deadly tournament. The winner will receive a prize of 100,000 yen. The rules are simple yet brutal: participants must pass seven checkpoints along the route from Kyoto to Tokyo while eliminating each other.

The organizers of this bloody competition prefer to remain in the shadows, and their motives are one of the series' main mysteries.

'Last Samurai Standing' Combines a Japanese Medieval Setting With the Deadly Concept of 'Squid Game'

While comparisons to Squid Game are inevitable, Last Samurai Standing has a crucial distinction that sets it apart. Here, the participants are professional warriors and master swordsmen for whom combat is a craft and an art, not desperate debtors.

This enables the creators to depict not only chaotic carnage but also carefully crafted, virtuoso duels.

The historical context lends depth and tragedy to the proceedings – the samurai fight not only for money but also for their lost dignity in a world that no longer needs them.

'Last Samurai Standing' Is an Adrenaline-Pumping Show That You Can Binge in One Evening

Last Samurai Standing features impeccable fight choreography, combining plausibility and cinematic impact.

However, Last Samurai Standing isn't just pure action. At the center of the story is Shujiro Saga, a legendary assassin who enters a tournament to save his family.

Along the way, he finds unexpected allies – a ninja and a devout archer – and together, they strive to survive and uncover the conspiracy behind the tournament.

The six episodes, which can be binged in one evening, build nonstop tension, making you empathize with the characters and eagerly await the conclusion.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Last Samurai Standing'?

• Last Samurai Standing has 100% from critics and 96% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.4/10.