Does Yu Yu Hakusho live-action series deliver? Reviews of Netflix's new show

The five-episode live-action version of Yu Yu Hakusho is now out on Netflix. Will the fans of the '90s anime be satisfied? We've checked what the critics think about the show.

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Pamela Jakiel15 December 2023

Source: Yu Yu Hakusho, Akira Morii, Netflix, 2023.

Yu Yu Hakusho, a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi, has received a live-action adaptation. A new five-episode series has recently arrived on Netflix, narrating the tale of Yusuke Urameshi, a young delinquent with a kind heart, who, following a tragic death, ends up in the Spirit World and is given the opportunity to become a spirit detective. Do the adventures of a rebellious teenager who exposes a conspiracy of corrupt businessmen also succeed in the live-action adaptation?

Critics have differing opinions on the matter, but the majority of them praise the live-action series, stating that it serves as an excellent introduction for new viewers who aren't familiar with the anime from the 90s. Long-time fans may be disappointed by certain shortcuts made during the adaptation process, but they will also find something that should make them happy.

Reviewers appreciate the choreography, brutal action scenes, interesting conflicts, acting, and stunts. They guarantee that the creators of the show have succeeded in capturing the essence of beloved characters. The first episode is considered the most successful of the whole series. Below, we have listed some journalists' opinions:

Yu Yu Hakusho doesn't hit the high of other Netflix manga adaptations like Alice in Borderland or One Piece, but it shows an unrelenting amount of promise carried by its actors – But Why Tho? A Geek Community.

Unfortunately, the manic pacing of this adaptation’s back half simply doesn’t offer enough space for these bonds to develop naturally. As a result, these characters feel flattened, lacking any real pop to convey the strength of their resolve or newfound ideals – Paste Magazine.

Its commitment to engaging action and sincere melodrama, led by two talented performers as Yusuke and Kuwabara, are enough to outweigh how shallow the series can sometimes feel – IGN Movies.

Yu Yu Hakusho has a lot of thoughts about its action set pieces. Those violent brawls are excellent nearly across the board. Some of the VFX remains unconvincing, but CGI is far from the only string to the show's bow – Game Rant.

Those hoping to get an explanation about the whats and whys of the Human, Spirit, and Demon Worlds will have to settle for hints of brief exposition. The mythology here is rendered as little more than table scraps. […] There's a lot to love about this series though – Polygon.

You can use the series trailer to help you decide whether to watch the live-action Yu Yu Hakusho.

Akira Morii and Kazutaka Sakamoto are the creators of the series, and they also collaborated on Alice in Borderland. Both productions can be found on Netflix.

RELATED TOPICS: anime TV series Netflix Yu Yu Hakusho

Pamela Jakiel

Finished film studies, graduate of the Faculty Individual Studies in the Humanities at the Jagiellonian University. Her master's thesis was about new spirituality in contemporary cinema. The editor of the Filmomaniak service since April 2023, supports the lead editor and the boss of all newspeople. She used to write for naEkranie. If she's not watching The Ninth Gate for the hundredth time, then she's reading books by Therese Bohman and Donna Tartt for the first time. She prefers gnosis over dread, dramas over horrors, Jung over Freud. She looks for symbolist paintings in museums. Runs long distances, and does even the longer ones on a gravel. Loves dachshunds.

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