Get Jiro Review

Join Swimpedia as we review screeners of the brand new series Get Jiro, and find out if Adult Swim was able to successfully adapt Anthony Bourdain’s graphic novel!

[MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD]

Have you ever wondered what a mob drama would be like if it unfolded in a world where culture and crime are based entirely around food? If so, then Get Jiro might be the show for you.

Based on the best-selling graphic novel (and its prequel, Get Jiro: Blood and Sushi) by Anthony Bourdain, Get Jiro takes place in an alternate future Los Angeles centered around the criminal underworld of fine dining cuisine. The story of Get Jiro makes chefs into kings, or better yet, mafia bosses. However, in the lawless Outer Rim, sushi chef Jiro lives a quiet life and has managed to make a name for himself as the owner of the best sushi restaurant in Los Angeles. The only problem is, he takes his food deathly seriously, and will quite literally cut your head off for violating his one rule. This kind of attitude ultimately gets him the wrong kind of attention, forever changing his life and those around him.

Jiro soon finds himself in the crosshairs of a war between two rival factions: Bob, a ruthless psychopath who owns several of the city’s highest profile restaurants, and Rose, his rival and the leader of a local-food-only vegan collective. After Jiro messes with the wrong people, both Bob and Rose decide they want Jiro on their team, setting the events of the series into motion, with tons of surprises, twists, and story beats that we won’t spoil. That being said, Bob and Rose are not the only ones who want a piece of the sushi chef, as police officer and health inspector Cynda is intent on bringing Jiro down. Unfortunately, being the only cop in the city not on someone’s payroll has its downsides, so the pair may end up needing each other as the city begins to drown in blood. And on top of all of that, things only get worse when a young woman and her sister get involved.

When it comes to our protagonists, particularly Jiro and Cynda, the show runs the risk of becoming a little generic. Parts of this series almost feel like a Netflix Marvel show, such as Daredevil or The Punisher. You have the strong and quiet hero, the love interest and her little girl she’s protecting from a violent world, the cop on the edge, and so on. Where Jiro truly shines is the theming. Every single aspect of this world revolves around food, as does every character in it. The backstories and motivations, every insane setting, even the mundane conversations between henchmen: all of it goes back to the central idea of how food can bring us together. Or in some cases, actually tear us apart.

In terms of the villains, Bob and Rose are a complete delight. Their sadistic treatment of Jiro, their henchmen, their back-and-forths, and anyone else that gets in their way provides a dangerous and unpredictable force of pure chaos that drives the show’s madness. You’ll be watching to see what they do next and how our “good guys” manage to take them on.

The show’s animation is fantastic. Some of the walking cycles can be a little awkward, but the action scenes, gore, and camera work are extremely impressive. As shown in the trailer, there’s a big car chase and shoot-out early on featuring various food trucks that immediately sets the tone for the level of violence this show is going to deliver. Interestingly, Get Jiro’s action feels decidedly western, seemingly more inspired by American live action television shows than anime, which adds a different flair to Adult Swim’s action output. Similarly, the dialogue is also solid and even dramatic at times; it’s not quite as humorous as you might expect from typical Adult Swim programming, but it’s still punchy enough to be consistently amusing. It doesn’t all fully land, but there are definitely some top lines throughout the show. Either way, the true comedy actually lies in the absurdity of just how seriously everyone takes the food throughout the series.

Yet again, the food is the real star of the show here, as the creators clearly love the food depicted as much as the characters. From Jiro’s signature sushi, to the dishes served at Bob’s restaurant The Summit, to Rose’s organic, vegan fare, the cuisine is depicted with an extremely high level of care and quality. It’s hard not to get hungry watching this show. If you’re not wondering about what Bob and Rose are up to next, you’ll be thinking about the delicious food animated right before your eyes.

Moreover, the show is based on two graphic novels, and the stories of both are brilliantly interwoven into the narrative. There are certain scenes that are directly adapted, but for the most part, this isn’t a 1:1 adaptation. Instead, it uses the original comic’s story beats as a springboard to tell its own story. Get Jiro expands on the source material’s world with plenty of additional characters and locations, as well as new ways people utilize, deify, and revere food in this unique setting. Fans of the graphic novels will recognize a lot, but the series will still feel fresh to longtime readers while also being accessible to newcomers.

Overall, if you love food and Anthony Bourdain, along with unique settings and action animation, Get Jiro is worthy of your time. Bon appétit, check it out!

The first two episodes of Get Jiro premiere on Toonami on Saturday, October 3rd at midnight, and next day on HBO Max!