Most critics respond warmly to Giri/Haji, praising its ambitious London–Tokyo storytelling, visual experimentation and attention to character. The performances draw particular approval, with Will Sharpe’s charismatic, vulnerable Rodney singled out by Radio Times. Animation and playful direction are generally seen as purposeful, while the treatment of both cities avoids tourist imagery. The strongest notices also value the way the series combines violence, humour and emotional depth without losing interest in the people caught up in its crime story.
The spread is wide, though only one review is negative. The Times finds the early yakuza material slow before the London story gains energy, while The Ringer admires the profusion of ideas and genres but thinks the series cannot fully contain them. The Guardian dissents more firmly: despite some freshness in the depiction of Tokyo and use of animation, it finds familiar police-drama tropes and too few thrills.