Disclaimer: My reviews are based on the fact that I’m a casual fantasy and sci-fi fan who works in advertising. I know a thing or two about good writing and story.
Breathing new life into the ninja character
This Netflix series is 8 episodes long. An episode lasts about an hour. Each episode wasn’t rushed. In fact, some episodes took the liberty to drag on. Establishing clues and important information that would set up the next episode.
The story has a simple premise with a straightforward arc.
“Nobody says Ninja. We’re called Shinobi.”
The series may have taken inspiration from Nolan’s Batman. The fantastic myths of these shadow warriors are heavily grounded. A good attempt to make viewers immersed in the world of House of Ninjas(HoN). It works.
Characters felt relatable to people we know in real life. It is also a criticism of today’s leadership within government. (But this is portrayed lightly.) Allowing viewers to fantasize about a reality where the general public had secret organisations protecting them from evil.
Subterfuge, espionage, then action.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a ninja story without good action.
In HoN, the action is exciting. There are gory moments. The fights are fantastic and keep you on your toes. At times, you feel the shinobi doing quick calculations while kicking, punching and slashing. With a focused aim to get the upper hand or trick their opponent.
However, not everything is resolved with violence. There is a good amount of investigating, spying, and negotiating. Showing different ways a shinobi would resolve issues.
The execution could be better
Now, I don’t mean to mislead you into having huge expectations for these series. Yes, we get a unique shinobi story but the execution can get lazy.
There were parts of the story that frustrated me. Made me question the shinobi’s expertise. Some characters conveniently lost their ability to think carefully to further the plot.
And what frustrates me the most?
These secret shinobi don’t seem to care about protecting their identity.
Final verdict: Is it good?
Netflix’s House of Ninjas is worth a watch if you want to unwind and relax with a side of snacks.
