REVIEW: ‘Ninja Kamui’ Episode 5

Despite the tease at the end of Episode 4, Ninja Kamui Episode 5 fails to deliver on the showdown between Higan (Kenjiro Tsuda) and Zai (Yuichi Nakamura). Instead, the two men’s dynamic merely bookends the episode. Considering the buildup, it’s a lackluster follow-up. But the episode careens through the plot to move the story forward. As Higan battles through AUZA, the series finds its next step. The question is if the next step will continue to keep viewers engaged long enough to finish the series.

By the time Higan has his major showdown at the end of the episode, there begins to be the nagging thought of how much more story there is. We know who the big bads are. And we know why they’re after Higan. So either Higan gets his retribution, and that’s it, or he becomes a changed, relatively healed man. But currently, he’s working off of sheer fury and grief on what amounts to a suicide mission. With no personality to speak of beyond “family man,” that doesn’t make for an engaging protagonist.

Higan is a means to deliver a visually engaging story, a tool on which action can happen. Most of the episode sees him on the run through AUZA City. He dispatches countless henchmen, leaving blood and carnage in his wake. His brutality and the design of his mask convincingly depict him as monstrous. He’s been allowed in the city by the heads of the organization to fight him themselves. By letting him in, they, led by Yamaji, believe they can take him out. They don’t care how many bodies Higan leaves behind; the dead ninjas and mercenaries are mere collateral to them.

And neither do we as viewers, because the action has no emotional weight despite its physicality. Again, there’s no denying just how good this series looks. Ninja Kamui Episode 5, directed and storyboarded by Sunghoo Park, is gorgeous. The direction is cohesive, making it easy to follow the action despite the dizzying levels of bloodshed. It’s why it’s so frustrating that the story lacks any depth or personality. It epitomizes style over substance, made for bite-sized second clips. By the time Higan makes it to the rooftop in the showdown between him and the four top brass ninjas donned in armored suits, we’re fatigued.

The fight between him and the four suited-up ninjas is momentarily electric. No matter the holdups, it draws us in. This is especially true when Higan goes for broke and uses his special technique. His goal is to use it, kill Yamaji, and reunite with his wife and son in death. His warning came in Episode 2. If he uses this technique again, it will kill him. It being only Episode 5 dampens that threat, but still, it’s the most insight we’ve gotten to this emotionally impenetrable character since the premiere. However, Zai interrupts this moment, effectively taking the chance away from him. It’s a shame since the technique is uncomfortably brutal.

The series opens up a bevy of new questions when, right before defeat, Higan is rescued by one of the brass ninjas. Who the ninja is has yet to be disclosed, and the cliffhanger is relatively earned. Less compelling is Mike’s (Atsushi Ono) storyline. Mike, like Higan, suffers from apathetic writing. Higan is the rogue; Mike is the straight-laced man of the law. They work within the strict confines of their tropes. Higan fares better, though, because he’s the fighter while Mike is following leads.

While Mike’s storyline is less visually engaging because of the nature of his pursuit, there are some notable frames. There are some beautiful backgrounds in the town he arrives in to meet Jason Cardenas. Slapped with graffiti and doused in the oranges and pinks of sunset, the imagery highlights the robust landscape and scenery work. It doesn’t elevate the slumbering pace of these sequences, but it’s a reminder of the artistry.

Mike finds Cardenas because he has insider knowledge of accessing AUZA’s servers. Through Cardenas, they can discover a list of fake identities used to plant operatives. Most notable is that Mike sees his coworker, Emma, on this list. However, before they’re able to discover anything greater, mercenaries find Mike and Cardenas and set off on a car chase. At this rate, it’s surprising that Mike has survived this long.

Ninja Kamui Episode 5 opens up more questions while sticking to what they do best: the action. It’s fine and engaging to look at, and that’s about it. There’s no denying the talent on board, which makes it a frustrating series. Because with the pedigree, it should be something extraordinary rather than by the numbers. It should be more than just impressive action.

Ninja Kamui Episode 5 is available now on Max.