Sunghoo Park’s direction is famous for “silent action” beats—moments where the only sound is wind or footsteps before an explosion of movement. The Japanese audio track follows these beats perfectly. However, the English dub takes a creative risk by adding whispered internal monologues during these silent pauses. In Episode 2, during a 45-second sequence where Joe evades heat-seeking missiles in a cornfield, the Japanese track is silent. The Ninja Kamui dub adds a whispered countdown in Joe’s head. It sounds like a small change, but it adds a tactical, almost John Wick -like layer to the scene.

🔥 THE BLADE IS DUBBED. 🔥

But if you want to feel the story—if you want to flinch at every punch and tear up at every funeral—the It respects the source material while adapting it for a Western audience that understands the setting. Mike McFarland does not just “replace” the Japanese voice; he reinterprets Joe Higan as an American tragedy.

The series has garnered a polarizing reputation among viewers and critics: