Summary
Again, the episode is far too long. However, the developments in Sam’s story are interesting, making Sam the highlight of the episode. It’s unclear right now how her story will coincide with Jake’s plot, but hopefully, it’ll be wild regardless. Unlike the previous episode, this one has much story development and, therefore, it makes for a better watch.
This recap of Tokyo Vice season 1, episode 5, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
Tokyo Vice season 1, episode 5 recap
In a flashback to when Sam was 21, and at the time that she originally arrived in Tokyo, she wears the ring that the last episode saw her fixate on. Sam goes under the name Sister Porter, and after offering free English Lessons and countless doors closing in her face, it appears that she gets tempted by a better lifestyle. Cutting back to the 90s and Sam reveals to Polina that she stole 4 million yen ($40,000) from the missionary. And now Sam fears that she may be sent back to America.
Jake’s mother, Mrs. Adelstein, calls him. And the actress who plays her is none other than Jessica Hecht (from Friends and Breaking Bad). She tells Jake that his sister is getting worse and asks him to come home for a short visit. The phonecall comes to an abrupt end when his mother tries to force him into speaking to his father. Meanwhile, Sato gets asked if he sorted his “girlfriend” (Sam) out, to which he says that he did.
Jake believes that he has been looking in the wrong place. He learns that the victims were all turned down by one agency, before being directly advised to apply to the “sketchy f**ks”. And so, Jake goes to investigate and speaks to Sugita-san. Off the record, Sugita-san admits to the crime whilst saying that there are wire transactions that will criminate those that are involved. After Eimi learns what Jake is involved within, she claims to not have enough faith in letting Jake lead the story, so she insists on the address book.
Kume learns that Sat never straightened out Sam, so now the boss wants to see him so he can answer for his failings. Sato gets forced to go on his knees, to”take responsibility for his actions”, whilst Kume (who Tozawo made him betray their boss) gets told to jump to his death. When he refuses, Sato gets handed a gun to shoot Kume with. Knowing that there is no way out for him, Kume tells Sato that it’s ok, and he jumps to his death.
The Ending
Sugita-san worries about the press’s potential involvement. And shortly afterward, when Jake looks for him, Sugita-san is found dead with a suicide note that claims responsibility for everything. Detective Katagiri advises Jake to get “good and drunk”. And later, Jake rants to Sam about work and says he wants to “rock the boat”. But he bores Sam, and when he kicks off, she tells him they can be friends outside of work hours, so he must respect that. Sato pulls Sam aside and tells her about the rules with the warning that “everybody pays”.
After Sam has sex with Sato, she pays off the man blackmailing in the hope that he’ll go away. But he won’t. He wants what she will not sell, aka sex. He says that if he continues to get what he wants, so will she. Yet, if not, he will make one call, and then she’ll be back in the States. In the closing moments of Tokyo Vice episode five, Sato finds that his boss has been attacked. In an attempt to save them both, Sato fights off one of the attackers. Although, he is unable to fight back as the attacker nearly strangles him to death. Just as it appears that Sato may die, his injured boss gains the strength to stab the attacker through the back.
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