Morgan, one might not think that there's anything new to learn about the episode "Bushido" 35 years after it aired but they would be wrong. "Bushido" is an uncredited remake of the 25th episode of the Japanese TV series "The Yagyu Conspiracy." The original episode was entitled "Release From Vengeance." This series aired, among other places, in the Los Angeles area which is probably how scriptwriter John Leekley saw the episode and later reworked the story as an episode of "Miami Vice."
As the character of Castillo was one of my favorite aspects fo the show, this episode has always been one of my favorites. It finally gives us some insight into what Castillo is really all about, and explains his mannerisms.
Thank You Morgan, one of my Favorite Episodes!! I noticed that the "KGB Goon" who gets skewered, has a Cameo in the MV Movie. He plays the Air Traffic Control Supervisor, who is asked to look at Radar return of the possible 2nd Aircraft.
"What do you want me to do about it?" Pause (10 years in television time). "Nothing." With that scene they perfected the smoldering, minimal, almost morose bundle of tension that would become a signature vibe of the show.
In the conference room Debriefing of the DEA agent, also had some of that smoldering. Watch the moment when DEA calls Sonny a "Cracker Cop", Crockett actually tenses to strike, but Castillo notices and preempts him.
This is the first episode I ever saw and still my favourite. I saw Blade Runner around the same time and they both made a huge impression on me and I still watch this regularly.
My multiple rewatch episode, very moody and mystic, loved the Castillo theme which I think was birthed here. This isn't really any kind of analysis but actually just a restatement of the episode.
My top 3 episodes are Evan, Out where the busses don't run and Bushido. They're all such great but different episodes that the order switches depending on the mood.
The corny "Surf's up" line by Crockett after shooting Surf was very appropriate and in --imo, didn't come off corny at all. And that is simply because of the Surf character. Throughout the episode Rasche's brilliant portrayal of Surf was a completely over-the-top caricature of an American California "surfer dude." Juxtaposed against his cunning and efficiency as a KGB assassin as well as his tenacity as a hunter in this episode, he really came off grating and annoying with his attitude and the lines that he spouted. You could tell Sonny was genuinely put off by this guy given how both annoying AND deadly he was. Giving him a corny send-off line after killing him could only be PURE CATHARSIS for Sonny...and so to me it was fitting.💯
yeah, i meant to, but decided not to correct Morgan with my latest comment. Crockett says "Surf's Up Pal" BEFORE Surf turns and fires at them - Not after. It's still an appropriate thing to say given the circumstance, but would seem much more cold and aloof with a very different meaning if Crockett had shot the guy, then stood over him and quipped "Surf's Up, Pal" JS
I never understood this episode...it's such an outlier and doesn't really progress Crockett or Tubbs' storylines, lots of people seem to love it but I just didn't get it - a bit too weird for me.
Good episode. I vaguely remember another Castillo-centric episode that has an opening scene in a Thai restaurant and some Asian assassin tries to take out Castillo, who gets the upper hand but before he can interrogate the assailant, the guy kills himself by biting off and swallowing his own tongue. Later in the episode, Castillo is reunited with an ex-wife or lover who appears to be Thai or a northern Thai ethnic minority hill-tribe member (played by Joan Chen, as I remember it), with the son or live child dressed in a Karen hill-tribe vest. I believe she is held captive by Castillo’s former Golden Triangle nemesis and was used as emotional bait to lure Castillo in for the kill, or something like that? Guess I’ll have to Google it…
I know this is Years old but i'm just getting here. and im nitpicking; at 1:30 you id' one of the CIA agents as Thompson but incorrectly state he was played by Thomas G. Waites. TGW is in the episode but he palys the smarmy DEA agent at the beginning who beefs with Crockett and Castillo. I know because im a fan of TGW as evidenced by my youtube video series "The Warriors 1979-character analysis-The Fox" th-cam.com/video/kLt4Q4S1QSs/w-d-xo.html Big fan of yours though, band i endeavor to watch your MV series with great anticipation
I always wondered about Castillo’s remark at the end about the $460k he used to get Gretsky’s family to safety. It was $ from another drug bust wasn’t it? He said it would all be back where it was supposed to be by the end of banking hours the next day. I doubt he went through all he did just to have the two handed to the KGB after all, or American authorities. So, who paid the money back? Doesn’t sound like the CIA’s style, or DEA.
Morgan, one might not think that there's anything new to learn about the episode "Bushido" 35 years after it aired but they would be wrong. "Bushido" is an uncredited remake of the 25th episode of the Japanese TV series "The Yagyu Conspiracy." The original episode was entitled "Release From Vengeance." This series aired, among other places, in the Los Angeles area which is probably how scriptwriter John Leekley saw the episode and later reworked the story as an episode of "Miami Vice."
One of the greatest episodes!
Recently watched it since I was a kid in the 80s - still holds up - and EJO steals the show.
"Bushido", along with "El Viejo", would be my favorite Miami Vice episodes of all time. And this was a superb analysis. Nicely done, Morgan Richter!
As the character of Castillo was one of my favorite aspects fo the show, this episode has always been one of my favorites. It finally gives us some insight into what Castillo is really all about, and explains his mannerisms.
Thank You Morgan, one of my Favorite Episodes!!
I noticed that the "KGB Goon" who gets skewered, has a Cameo in the MV Movie.
He plays the Air Traffic Control Supervisor, who is asked to look at Radar return of the possible 2nd Aircraft.
I love that ninjas permeated 80s culture so much that it got into Miami Vice. (Yeah samurai, but it fits under the same umbrella)
Thank you for the details re: Natasha. I had no idea who she was. Wow.
frrr one of my fav musicians
The creepiness of Castillo smiling is surpassed only by Castillo wearing a speedo.
Lol
“Bushido” is perfect television
"What do you want me to do about it?" Pause (10 years in television time). "Nothing." With that scene they perfected the smoldering, minimal, almost morose bundle of tension that would become a signature vibe of the show.
In the conference room Debriefing of the DEA agent, also had some of that smoldering. Watch the moment when DEA calls Sonny a "Cracker Cop", Crockett actually tenses to strike, but Castillo notices and preempts him.
Kate Bush's Hello Earth is enough to make me love this.
I'll never forget being a kid & watching Lt. Castillo behead a man in this episode!
And it shows you don't need all the excess Gore, to make the point...
Bushido & The Great McCarthy are 2 Of My Favourites!
Best episode over! Great review...
I really love this channel!!!
Hahaha Surf's up! First thing i remembered about this episode iast seen in my late teens!. Ehe... um... sorry....
I loved Sledge Hammer! Never got to see the final episode, though, so this was a nice revelation. I can see it happening. 🤣
As always a prefect Review.
Fantastic episode and review! And as a Sledge Hammer fan, David Rasche was a great choice for this bad guy.
Castillo smiling is like Clint Eastwood smiling... It opens your heart, but with the feeling it's done via a scalpel.😆
Ultimate Super Hero Team up Lt. Castillo & A Man Called Hawke.
I'm glad you summarised the plot because I did not follow this episode at all, it was so bizarre.
There are actually a lot of subtle hints throughout the series that Castillo was a C.I.A. operative before he was in the D.E.A.
Great. Thumbs up.
This is the first episode I ever saw and still my favourite. I saw Blade Runner around the same time and they both made a huge impression on me and I still watch this regularly.
My multiple rewatch episode, very moody and mystic, loved the Castillo theme which I think was birthed here.
This isn't really any kind of analysis but actually just a restatement of the episode.
"I could use a drink."
-Martin Castillo
Should have had some Castillo kung-fu in this episode
My top 3 episodes are Evan, Out where the busses don't run and Bushido. They're all such great but different episodes that the order switches depending on the mood.
The same guest star appeared in a Star Trek Voyager episode also being similarly crazy.
Castillo I is a bad ass 🎉🎉🎉 silent but deadly like a ninja
The corny "Surf's up" line by Crockett after shooting Surf was very appropriate and in --imo, didn't come off corny at all. And that is simply because of the Surf character. Throughout the episode Rasche's brilliant portrayal of Surf was a completely over-the-top caricature of an American California "surfer dude." Juxtaposed against his cunning and efficiency as a KGB assassin as well as his tenacity as a hunter in this episode, he really came off grating and annoying with his attitude and the lines that he spouted. You could tell Sonny was genuinely put off by this guy given how both annoying AND deadly he was. Giving him a corny send-off line after killing him could only be PURE CATHARSIS for Sonny...and so to me it was fitting.💯
yeah, i meant to, but decided not to correct Morgan with my latest comment. Crockett says "Surf's Up Pal" BEFORE Surf turns and fires at them -
Not after. It's still an appropriate thing to say given the circumstance, but would seem much more cold and aloof with a very different meaning if Crockett had shot the guy, then stood over him and quipped "Surf's Up, Pal" JS
But after Surf got shot by Sonny, didn't Tubbs say "He's still alive"?
I never understood this episode...it's such an outlier and doesn't really progress Crockett or Tubbs' storylines, lots of people seem to love it but I just didn't get it - a bit too weird for me.
Good episode. I vaguely remember another Castillo-centric episode that has an opening scene in a Thai restaurant and some Asian assassin tries to take out Castillo, who gets the upper hand but before he can interrogate the assailant, the guy kills himself by biting off and swallowing his own tongue. Later in the episode, Castillo is reunited with an ex-wife or lover who appears to be Thai or a northern Thai ethnic minority hill-tribe member (played by Joan Chen, as I remember it), with the son or live child dressed in a Karen hill-tribe vest. I believe she is held captive by Castillo’s former Golden Triangle nemesis and was used as emotional bait to lure Castillo in for the kill, or something like that? Guess I’ll have to Google it…
Correction: “Surfs up Pal!” Otherwise funny reviews.
I always liked it when Crocket would end a conversation by saying, "I'm tired of dancing with you, pal."
I know this is Years old but i'm just getting here. and im nitpicking; at 1:30 you id' one of the CIA agents as Thompson but incorrectly state he was played by Thomas G. Waites. TGW is in the episode but he palys the smarmy DEA agent at the beginning who beefs with Crockett and Castillo. I know because im a fan of TGW as evidenced by my youtube video series "The Warriors 1979-character analysis-The Fox" th-cam.com/video/kLt4Q4S1QSs/w-d-xo.html
Big fan of yours though, band i endeavor to watch your MV series with great anticipation
I always wondered about Castillo’s remark at the end about the $460k he used to get Gretsky’s family to safety. It was $ from another drug bust wasn’t it? He said it would all be back where it was supposed to be by the end of banking hours the next day. I doubt he went through all he did just to have the two handed to the KGB after all, or American authorities. So, who paid the money back? Doesn’t sound like the CIA’s style, or DEA.
I always assumed he just took out a mortgage or something.
This episode became an "almost" backdoor (unwittingly) for.... The Americans. Almost because Gretzky dies but same plot