Lighthouse (Netflix) Review: Celebrating The Humanity in All of Us

Since last week we talked about music videos and Netflix’s A-List to Playlist, I thought that today, we could talk about Netflix’s Lighthouse, Hoshino Gen and Wakabayashi Masayasu’s 2023 talk show/documentary.

Ready? Let’s go!

How Did You Discover Hoshino Gen?

The first time I learned about the existence of a “Hoshino Gen” was in 2017, for a reason that might not surprise you that much. Actually, it might be exactly the same way you got to know Hoshino: 逃げるは恥だが役に立つ (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu or The Full-Time Wife Escapist, as you’ll see on Netflix), the 2016 TBS show that captivated Japanese audiences and got everyone addicted to Koi, its catchy theme song.

Hoshino gave such life to the unsmiling Tsuzaki Hiramasa that it was shocking to realise that actor and character couldn’t be more different. Hoshino is, after all, a cheerful singer-songwriter, a talented writer/essayist, a chameleon actor — and pretty much a full-fledged comedian with his Nise Akira persona. I remember that I started watching everything he had made that I could get my hands on, and I struggled to listen to his songs as most of them weren’t fully available on YouTube, let alone Spotify.

I’ve been a fan of Hoshino Gen ever since (and you can’t imagine the huge sigh of relief I let out when he finally released all his discography on Spotify). As such, I counted down the days to watch Lighthouse, his most recent Netflix endeavour.

What’s Lighthouse (Netflix) about?

Some would define Lighthouse as a reality/talk show, some others as a documentary. Produced by well-known director/producer Nobuyuki Sakuma, its six 35-minute episodes give stage to a very straightforward, very outspoken conversation between Hoshino and comedian Wakabayashi Masayasu. The idea was to have them meet once every month for six months, but due to scheduling conflicts, the project stretched for eight months (from October 2022 to May 2023).

Lighthouse feels incredibly organic. In the first episode, Hoshino decides to write a song based on each episode. From the third, their input gives the show different shapes, leading them to different environments: a random audience, a road trip. It’s like they are both creating their art in front of our eyes, and we don’t know exactly where they’re taking us next.

Not only organic, but the show is also raw. For someone like me, who has followed Hoshino for the past six years or so, it’s normal to unconsciously see him as an endlessly talented, crazy funny artist. I look up to him because he’s wholeheartedly embraced his artistry through music, acting, and writing.

But then, Lighthouse changes our perspective. Suddenly, Hoshino is a normal human being. One who gets angry and frustrated, one who struggles, one who doubts his own talents at times. Right then and there, in the dark of my living room and on the bright screen of my laptop, Hoshino was us. He shares his opinions on other musicians, his own art and society openly and fearlessly — and, at the end of the episode, he does what he knows best: transforms those ideas into musical poetry.

What Makes Lighthouse (Netflix) Work So Well

However, the audience establishes a connection with the show not only because of the opportunity to get to know Hoshino as an individual a little bit better. A couple of episodes into Lighthouse, it becomes clear that the most fascinating aspect of the show is Wakabayashi’s journey of self-discovery that unfolds throughout those episodes.

I’ll be honest with you: yes, I’d heard of Wakabayashi before the show and had watched a couple of episodes of Achikochi Audrey but that was pretty much it. But seeing Wakabayashi open up to Hoshino, share his own battles and react to the advice that Hoshino so earnestly gives him is pure magic. It gives the show a storyline: we find ourselves rooting for him. We want him to admit to his fears, to find himself again and, consequently, take the next step, one that will truly bring that thrill back into his life.

That’s why Lighthouse is so heartwarming and, in a way, cathartic: it shows these two beloved artists, those you could very well consider as well-established in their industries and, therefore, almighty and powerful, as two everyday people — just like that sleepless singer you’ve met once that wanted to break into the musical industry or that aspiring comedian who didn’t know whether their jokes really landed or not. Lighthouse reminds us that we, no matter where we are or what we’ve accomplished, are just human, and we, in our own way, all go through the same pains and joys.

A Quick Note on the Format

If you’re new to Japanese TV, you might find the presentation slightly overwhelming — besides the subtitles in your own language, you’ll also see subtitles in Japanese with different fonts and styles depending on what they want to highlight. Japanese shows and news programmes are known for their usage of text on screen. And, even though Lighthouse clearly aims at a more global audience, it still follows the setup that the Japanese crowd better respond to. Globalisation shouldn’t standardise everything (especially forcefully following Western methods). There’s a sense of comfort and bliss when a show reflects its culture, and it’s accessible to people around the world.

Should You Watch Lighthouse on Netflix?

Lighthouse is sincere, funny and, for the Hoshino and Wakabayashi fans out there, a real treat. If you don’t know much about them or even nothing at all, it excels at being a door into Japanese society and media industry and chronicling the highs and lows that even the famous creators we admire the most go through.

You can watch Lighthouse on:

Have you watched Lighthouse? What did you think of it? Do you have any talk shows that you really enjoy on Netflix? Share your ideas in the comments!