Following the success of FX's Shogun, it seems like every streaming service is looking to add a brutal samurai series to its library. Netflix followed first, with the incredibly brutal Last Samurai Standing (which is a fantastic action series you should check out, if you haven't already watched it). Earlier this year, HBO Max was next up to bat. For its brutal samurai series, HBO Max turned to one of the best samurai manga (unfortunately, it wasn't Vagabond). The show was incredibly well-received when it debuted in May 2026. After receiving strong reviews and great viewership figures (especially considering it's a subtitled Japanese series), the show has made an unexpected comeback on streaming.