--- title: "Giri/Haji: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/giri-haji/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/giri-haji" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Giri/Haji (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. 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. ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Rating 5/5. 10 January 2020. The critic calls it the BBC’s best crime thriller of the season, a masterful sprawling story set between London and Tokyo with ambition, style and likeable characters. They single out Will Sharpe’s standout performance as the charismatic yet pathos-filled Rodney for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/giri-haji-review/) ## The Telegraph — Michael Hogan Rating 5/5. 17 October 2019. The opening episode is impressionistic, playful and unashamedly arty, with stylish flourishes like anime sequences and strong performances that reward attention. It is ambitious and bold, lifted by fine acting and virtuosic direction, and could be something truly special. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2019/10/17/girihaji-episode-1-review-arty-ambitious-bit-bonkers/) ## Evening Standard — David Sexton Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2019. The striking opening sequences hook viewers immediately with their confident, non-cliched cross-continental storytelling and willingness to use subtitles and radical devices like animation. It avoids turning either city into a travelogue, offering a fresh perspective through the eyes of a Japanese detective in London. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/london-and-tokyo-combine-for-a-gangster-thriller-with-a-difference-a4264096.html) ## The Times — Carol Midgley Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2019. The series begins with a strong, Tarantino-ish set piece but the yakuza focus initially drags; it improves markedly with the arrival of a charismatic character who injects energy and wit into the London-set story. It promises to be more than a standard crime thriller thanks to sharp scripting and standout performances. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/giri-haji-review-promises-to-be-much-more-than-just-another-crime-thriller-9d8tmxxp8) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2019. The series has an intriguing premise involving yakuza intrigue across Tokyo and London but ultimately feels like a familiar, unoriginal police drama with tired tropes. It offers some novelty in its unfetishised depiction of Tokyo and occasional animation but lacks revelatory elements or thrills. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/oct/17/giri-haji-review-kelly-macdonald-bbc-netflix) ## Paste — Allison Keene Rating 9.5/10. 9 January 2020. The series is a masterful, emotionally engrossing international thriller that blends dark violence with humor and heart while exploring duty, shame, family, and self-discovery across cultures. It stands out for its character-driven storytelling, organic twists, stylistic innovations like animated flashbacks, and deep understanding of its British and Japanese settings without gratuitous violence. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/giri-haji/giri-haji-review-netflix) ## The Ringer — Brian Phillips Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 2020. The critic finds the series exhilarating for packing in more ideas and genres than it can fully contain. He singles out its genuine, unironic interest in its characters and psychological depth amid the wild narrative shifts. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/02/13/tv/giri-haji-netflix) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/giri-haji.md