The Grip of Khun Thee

It's not often such a brief production leaves me speechless. The story follows Odajima, a young Yakuza grunt who's tasked with accompanying Kataoka while he's on the run from people targeting him. Kataoka is the adopted son of the Yakuza big gun who's recently passed away. While Odajima has been tasked with assisting him, he also has a secret mission to kill Kataoka.

The set pieces of this show are eerily beautiful, showing a haunting visage of the seedy underbelly of different parts of Japan. Kataoka and Odajima have fascinating chemistry because O wants to kill K just as much as he's enthralled by him. Kataoka is enigmatic, flamboyant, alluring and Odajima seems to hate and love him for it.

Through their few adventures, Odajima comes to terms with what it means to have a reason to live. And how just fine the line is between passion and hatred.