Ranked #1969

Yugo the Negotiator

Generally I fall into the range who is to lazy to write a review, however after stumbling upon this series I am compelled to write one.

Yugo the Negotiator is simply amazing. It will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to finish. The series can be broken down into two arcs. Each are is different however the feel is similar (in that they both rock). What I found very interesting was at the beginning (prior to starting the series) I worried that it being only 13 episodes it wouldn't be sufficient time to build a solid story however this anime feels very complete. Each arc has a solid finish. I would recommend this series to anyone who is eager to watch a series that has a great plot, great characters, will leave you feeling very glad you invested the time into the series, and for those ready to have a good time.

This series does have some blood, but the cheer enjoyment is "How is Yugo going to get himself out of this one?" And the best part is, you as the viewers are left dumbfounded till it actually happens. Unlike some series where you can tell how the climax is going to un-fold this series leaves you in suspense till the very last minute.

I highly recommend you go out and download the series, as I am positive you will not regret it. read more

A solid mystery/ suspense series, Yugo the Negotiator features the titular character of the series taking two different cases where he is trying to work out the release of a hostage from hostile foreign groups set in Pakistan and Russia. This series does quite a bit to stand out from many conventional anime titles. First off, Yugo comes off as a crafty and intelligent man who does enough at researching the mentalities and cultural significance that individuals within both countries would have in regards to their personal beliefs. This is essential as his very profession is quite the dangerous one where he puts his life at risk at investigating the activity of some shady figures within these hostile countries and working out a release for the hostage he is hired to rescue. In addition, the guy knows enough about whatever terrain he enters and prepares thoroughly for it from Pakistan's hot deserts to the frigid cold temperatures of Siberian tundras. Yugo is about on par with Master Keaton in terms of exploration of hostile environments and having a protagonist who is all-around knowledgeable in moving around said countries.

Another area that Yugo excels in is its realistic details in covering the culture and beliefs of the countries that the man visits. The show isn't afraid to tackle just how harsh the real-life hardships are for people living in oppressed conditions within Pakistan and Russia, as well as the deeply-engrained beliefs that the people Yugo deals with have. This applies to both the Muslim jihadists in the Pakistan arc and the shady Siberian military branch in the Russia arc. Touchy things such as prostitution, torture, poverty and oppression are the norm in these countries which Yugo is well aware of and often comes to odds with during his jobs. The characters within both arcs are fleshed out enough where you get the sense of how strongly they feel in regards to either their religious beliefs and/ or nationalism.

Oddly enough, both arcs to this series were animated by different studios and it does show in regards to color shading and detail. The Pakistan arc had subdued color shading and better polished details in regards to character designs and scenery. This went well with the subdued and tense mood that Yugo gave off while trekking in the country. The Russia arc made use of brighter color shading and noticeably had rougher details in animating characters and scenery.

The show isn't without its faults. The resolution to the Russia arc did feel rather contrived considering it went against how complex and well laid-out otherwise that developments within it and the Pakistan arc were. In addition, this is a slow-paced series that takes its time with laying out the developments that Yugo has with prominent characters with a good amount of it being conversation-driven. If you are used to anime with faster pacing and being more action-oriented, then you might not get much enjoyment out of the show.

But if you are someone that craves realistic and intelligence-focused titles within your anime, then Yugo the Negotiator is well worth the time to look into. With believable depictions of settings and cultural beliefs within the countries visited by Yugo and the guy knowing well enough to adjust to his surroundings and talk his way into earning the trust of some pretty dangerous characters, this proved to be quite the interesting hidden gem for me to get latched on from Netflix. read more