This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Parasyte: The Grey
Summary
On April 5th, Netflix premiered its latest live-action adaptation,Parasyte: The Grey, gaining a largely positive reception from viewers. Notably, the series delighted fans with an unexpected cameo, paying homage to its original story.
Based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s beloved manga series and its acclaimed anime adaptation,Netflix’s premiere of the live-actionParasyteseries was highly anticipated. While itsadaptation into a Korean dramainitially caught many off guard, it was met with enthusiastic approval from fans. Adding to the excitement, the show featured an unexpected cameo by the character Shinichi Izumi, a delightful surprise for many viewers.
Initially, fans theorized that Shinichi, the main protagonist of the original manga and anime, would not appear in the Netflix series. However, in a surprising twist,the final episode featured a sceneintroducing a Japanese investigative journalist by the same name. This unexpected appearance has sparked theories about Shinichi’s story potentially continuing in the second season of the series.
In a pivotal scene set within Team Grey’s headquarters, an investigative journalist claiming expertise in parasites seeks to relay crucial information to Captain Choi Jun-kyung, leader of the parasite special forces unit. Initially skeptical, Choi enters the room to confront the journalist, and their conversation transitions to Japanese, the manga’s original language. The journalist then introduces himself as “Shinichi Izumi” (played by Masaki Suda, known for his role inThe Boy and the Heron), a name familiar to fans of the original series. Just before their handshake, the camera subtly focuses on Shinichi’s right hand, a nod to Migi, Shinichi’s parasite companion. Many fans anticipated Migi’s appearance at this moment, mirroring the original source material, but were surprised when it did not happen. This moment is crucial asit bridges the Korean adaptation’s universe with the anime, where Migi is expected to be asleep following the anime’s end.
Upon its initial release,Parasyte: The Greywas advertised to take a different narrative path, deviating from the source material, much to the disappointment of fans. Departures from the original story are generally frowned upon by manga and anime fans.The reveal of the poster in Februaryindicated that the main protagonist would not be Shinichi, but a girl named Su-in, played by Jeon So-nee. This news was met with disappointment, as fans felt excluded from seeing their favorite duo, Shinichi and Migi, in the adaptation. However, despite initial skepticism, fans appear to be generally satisfied with the series. Whileit took a darker and more sinister turncompared to the original source material, it managed to maintain the essence of the story. The unexpected appearance of Shinichi in the final episode came as a significant shock, sparking theories about his potential storyline in the second season of the live-action series.
Parasyte: The Greyis now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix
Netflix is one of the most popular and widely viewed streaming services in the world. Beginning with its mail order DVD service, Netflix has since grown into an entertainment juggernaut, with original shows and movies including Squid Game, Stranger Things, The Irishman, and The Killer.
