‘Final Draft’ (2025) Netflix Series Review - Unique Concept for a Reality Show

For those who are big fans of reality shows involving hard physical tasks and sports, this show is perfect to watch. Directed by Kazuaki Hashimoto, Final Draft has a unique concept. It is a Japanese show that invites 25 retired professional athletes to play the game instead of new, rising stars. The participants invited were at the best of their careers. Post retirement, whether forced or voluntary, they face challenges in the game- how to survive this physically demanding game and get a chance to win 30 million yen. Running for 8 episodes, the show directly jumps into testing the contestants without wasting any time at all. What separates the Final Draft from other physically challenging reality shows is that this one doesn’t call the newbies; in fact, it wants the contestants to reclaim their lost glories.  Some of these contestants include renowned names such as  Atsushi Arai, Yoshio Itoi, Yoshito Okubo, Ryudai Onikura, Akira Kaji, Yosuke Kashiwagi, Eri Tosaka, Hozumi Hasegwa, and Kaho Mita, and many other famous ones. Their never-give-up attitude is also worth a watch.

The show does force you to think about the past lives these athletes have led and how they are leading their present lives. The Makers of this show wanted to know about them, which we successfully did. Coming to tasks, the tasks are designed in a way that requires both mental and physical endurance. Truly, it’s like a big test these former champs have to appear for.  The game is also truly unexpected. Commonly, we all have a perception that muscular people tend to be more dominant. But this is where we see the tables turn. Perhaps as the specialty of the game, even the leaner ones, surprisingly, ace their tasks. All in all, the design of the game makes it fun to watch.

One of the things that I personally like was the fact that even though I didn’t know most of the players of this game, being an international audience, it still didn’t hamper my viewing experience. I came to know about them as and when the show progressed. The finale is gripping because by the time we reach it, it is interesting to see who ultimately wins. We do, at the end of it, become intrigued by this show. Also, there is no unnecessary drama done/showcased just for the sake of bagging TRPs. We can see a sense of camaraderie between the players as they get along in the show. They have respect and mutual admiration for their fellow participants.

What is actually the problem, and probably the only issue in the show is its pacing. Some tasks are quick, and some take longer to finish. We can’t do anything but watch as the participants try to finish it. This makes it a bit boring and frustrating to watch.

So, while task-wise the show does bear similarities with other reality shows, the idea of getting former athletes back is what makes it stand out from the rest.  But you have to be ready to invest time and effort in this show because each episode is 45 minutes long. It will take you some time to grasp the show and understand what’s happening. Only when you are ready to do that, go for this show. It would be fun to see a second season of this show. I would love to see which new participants come for it.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Time