BAKI has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix. Every one of its 2 seasons holds up. Its 8/10 TMDB score, built from 1,382 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Nobunaga Shimazaki's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

There is a reason BAKI keeps coming up in conversation. At its heart, BAKI understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. While martial arts champion Baki Hanma trains hard to surpass his legendary father, five violent death row inmates descend upon Tokyo to take him on. Nobunaga Shimazaki and Kenjiro Tsuda lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. Across 2 seasons (2018–2020), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The plot mechanics of BAKI never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find BAKI proves them wrong. If you have already watched Baki Hanma, BAKI is a natural next step. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Nobunaga Shimazaki carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.

BAKI wrapped up in 2020 — and 2 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.