In the final moments of Parasyte: The Grey, the appearance of Shinichi adds a layer of intrigue, suggesting the show’s connection to manga and its anime adaptation.
Parasyte: The Grey is a live-action spin-off of the manga series Parasyte by Hitoshi Iwaaki. Set in South Korea, it follows humans battling parasitic organisms that fell from the sky and are now seeking to take over human civilization.
The manga adaptation, on the other hand, is set in Japan and follows Shinichi Izumi, who is infected by a similar parasite.
However, Shinichi manages to stop the parasite from traveling into his brain. As a result, both entities maintain their distinct intellects and personalities.
Throughout the series, Shinichi and the parasite fight other parasites that have taken over the brains of their human hosts and are wreaking havoc.
In the live-action spin-off, Su-in fills in the shoes of Shinichi as the lead of the show. She is seen sharing her body with a parasitic organism, who, in an attempt to save her life, failed to take full control of her brain.
While Parasyte: The Grey maintains an original story with original characters, the appearance of Shinichi at the end of season 1 hints that the two stories connect.
The cameo
At the end of season 1, at Team Grey’s headquarters, Choi Jun-kyung is informed about a journalist who has come to visit her. The journalist claims to be an expert in the field of parasites. The man, played by Masaki Suda, introduces himself as Shinichi.
The background score and the camera’s special focus on Shinichi’s hand, where his parasite resides in the anime and manga, seem to hint that it’s the same Shinichi Izumi from the manga and the anime.
However, the show doesn’t confirm it, keeping things under wraps for now. For the first season, it ends up being more or less a fun cameo.