Silver-haired Sakamoto was the coolest of all hitmen. He could take on twenty men at once, John Wick style, and leave a mountain of bodies behind. Every hitman, young Shin especially, looked up to him, and he was a big man in the criminal underworld. But, tale as old as time, he fell in love, got married, had a daughter, gained weight, grew a mustache, and…started running a convenience store! When Shin, who has some psychic powers, visits him among the crowded shelves of cheap products, he is not happy to see that his hero has changed so much. Sakamoto was a legend: why throw all that away? Sakamoto’s abilities are as sharp as ever, though, and he can still see, in his mind, the best way to kill his enemies. But he uses his reflexes now just to ensure the no-smoking sign is respected, or to discreetly protect a kid who is going to be punched by an angry customer. He also does not want to hear a word about returning to the criminal life. This is unfortunate, as Shin’s instructions for this eventuality are to dispose of him. Nobody leaves the gang. Nobody.

So far, this has to be my favorite show of the season. What a fun, fun first episode! Who knew the premises of John Wick and The Way of the Househusband could be combined to such a stellar effect? I came into this show completely blind, felt slightly skeptical during the first scene, and then was won over in the first three minutes. The tones are so masterfully blended that nothing here feels jarring or convoluted. Things flow swiftly, which is no small feat in itself. No matter how absurd, the action scenes always feel tense and sophisticated, the jazzy score is on point, the colors are striking and somehow melancholic, and Sakamoto’s straight-man act is nothing short of hilarious. It never gets old. I laughed out loud twice that I remember, and had a smile on my face the whole time I watched. And, best of all, there is genuine heart here, genuine warmth behind the character interactions. There is a gentleness to the show and its protagonist that brings it close to series like Mob Psycho 100 or Trigun, celebrating the joy of normal things and the beauty of little moments. I love the direction the show takes in that last scene, and I’m 100% here for it. If Sakamoto Days keeps this up, it will no doubt become one of my all-time favorites.

Sakamoto Days can be streamed on Netflix.