Parasyte: The Grey Pays Tribute to the Original Series with a Small Detail

This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Parasyte: The Grey

On April 5th, Netflix premiered its latest live-action adaptation, Parasyte: The Grey, gaining a largely positive reception from viewers. Notably, the series delighted fans with an unexpected cameo, paying homage to its original story.

Based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s beloved manga series and its acclaimed anime adaptation, Netflix’s premiere of the live-action Parasyte series was highly anticipated. While its adaptation into a Korean drama initially caught many off guard, it was met with enthusiastic approval from fans. Adding to the excitement, the show featured an unexpected cameo by the character Shinichi Izumi, a delightful surprise for many viewers.

Initially, fans theorized that Shinichi, the main protagonist of the original manga and anime, would not appear in the Netflix series. However, in a surprising twist, the final episode featured a scene introducing a Japanese investigative journalist by the same name. This unexpected appearance has sparked theories about Shinichi’s story potentially continuing in the second season of the series.

In a pivotal scene set within Team Grey’s headquarters, an investigative journalist claiming expertise in parasites seeks to relay crucial information to Captain Choi Jun-kyung, leader of the parasite special forces unit. Initially skeptical, Choi enters the room to confront the journalist, and their conversation transitions to Japanese, the manga’s original language. The journalist then introduces himself as “Shinichi Izumi” (played by Masaki Suda, known for his role in The Boy and the Heron), a name familiar to fans of the original series. Just before their handshake, the camera subtly focuses on Shinichi’s right hand, a nod to Migi, Shinichi’s parasite companion. Many fans anticipated Migi’s appearance at this moment, mirroring the original source material, but were surprised when it did not happen. This moment is crucial as it bridges the Korean adaptation’s universe with the anime, where Migi is expected to be asleep following the anime’s end.

Upon its initial release, Parasyte: The Grey was advertised to take a different narrative path, deviating from the source material, much to the disappointment of fans. Departures from the original story are generally frowned upon by manga and anime fans. The reveal of the poster in February indicated that the main protagonist would not be Shinichi, but a girl named Su-in, played by Jeon So-nee. This news was met with disappointment, as fans felt excluded from seeing their favorite duo, Shinichi and Migi, in the adaptation. However, despite initial skepticism, fans appear to be generally satisfied with the series. While it took a darker and more sinister turn compared to the original source material, it managed to maintain the essence of the story. The unexpected appearance of Shinichi in the final episode came as a significant shock, sparking theories about his potential storyline in the second season of the live-action series.

Parasyte: The Grey is now streaming on Netflix.