While there are under-explored avenues, backstories, and contexts that would benefit from a longer season, it nonetheless excels as an adrenaline-pumping show that can't be missed — and the best live-action action television of the year.

Ultimately, “Last Samurai Standing” is a fully realized and epic action series that seamlessly integrates some of the most intricate action filmmaking to be seen on television in years with a beating human heart that makes us care.

Last Samurai Standing absolutely delivers all kinds of fights. The series’ lead actor, Junichi Okada, is also its action choreographer, and he puts together a wild variety of configurations that keeps the series fresh. .... For now, it hits upon some satisfying anti-colonialism sentiment, but it could also eventually collapse if Last Samurai Standing puts too much narrative weight on it. That’s an issue for season two to deal with, but the question of whether Japan was too influenced by outside actors is at least compelling in season one.

With furious fight action and a noble hero to follow through its pitched battle tension, Last Samurai Standing feels like a limited series well worth your time.

Last Samurai Standing is a series that, by and large, cuts through the dour plot of Squid Game towards something more hopeful, more human, and most importantly: a lot more fun.

The first five episodes offered enough bloody, ambitious set pieces and character development to keep me generally engaged, with the sixth episode being the first one to come close to blowing me away with samurai clashing, setting things up intriguingly for a second season that, unlike with Squid Game, is probably necessary.

The hints about Kyojin's role in everything remain compelling going forward, as do how the game at the show's center will develop. Learning more about each character and seeing them develop in season 2 would fix some of the depth issues in season 1.