The most recent show from Netflix Animations, Blue Eye Samurai, is set in Japan's Edo period and follows lonely traveler Mizu, a mixed-race sword prodigy seeking revenge. The warrior disguises herself as a man to pursue her enemies while wearing glasses to hide her blue eyes, which mark her as an outsider. In her quest, she meets other characters who join her, including Ringo, a cook who dreams of greatness; Taigen, a proud samurai who initially challenges Mizu; and Princess Akemi, Taigen’s lover who is trying to escape a forced marriage arranged by her father.
Written by husband and wife duo Michael Green and Amber Noizumi (who together wrote Blade Runner 2049), the series features a stacked voice cast, including Maya Erskine as Mizu, Masi Oka as Ringo, Darren Barnet as Taigen, Brenda Song as Princess Akemi, George Takei as Seki, Randall Park as Heiji Shindo and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Swordmaker.
Distinguishing itself with a unique visual style and an aptitude for combining traditional storytelling with modern cultural reflections, Blue Eye Samurai offers a deep and engaging take on the samurai genre. Gaining popularity on the Netflix platform, reaching as high as the fifth spot in top TV shows so far, many have already clued into just how phenomenal the series is. However, some have yet to dig in and realize that Blue Eye Samurai is the revenge story you need to be watching.
Honoring the Past While Looking Toward the Future
Throughout the series, Blue Eye Samurai pays homage to Japanese culture during the 17th century and the cinematic/literary storytelling inspired by the era. Notably, the series feels heavily inspired by the stories of Lafcadio Hearn, the Anglo-Greek writer and translator responsible for chronicling much of Japanese culture, superstition, and folktales and introducing them to the West. There are subtle nods to Hearn: Mizu writing the Heart Sutra on her skin, a text of protection made iconic in the story Hoichi the Earless (also in the landmark horror-anthology film Kwaidan inspired by Hearn's stories) is one of many gems found throughout for those in the know.
Regarding cinematic influences, the series takes a page out of Tarantino's book, using the grittiness of the '70s era of period flicks from Japan and infusing them with modern flair. One can see echoes of titles like Sex and Fury, Lady Snowblood, and even elements of Hanzo the Razor with how Blue Eye Samurai uses sex to further specific points in the story. While having familiarity with past Japanese cinema greats adds extra value to viewing, the project can easily be approached without that knowledge.
This groundwork shows that the husband and wife team of Michael Green and Amber Noizumi can also look forward to the future, using a traditional storytelling approach to frame modern issues. Green, an experienced writer who has worked on such series as Smallville, Heroes, and American Gods, undeniably benefits from working with his wife and drawing from her cultural experiences. Expounding on these experiences, Blue Eye Samurai graciously addresses issues of homogeneous culture and how Mizu is inundated with the idea of her mixed race being an object of inescapable shame. This constantly hangs over the warrior's identity and interactions, and is essential in understanding her complex personality. The thought process behind this approach was wonderfully explored in depth in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
I found it very interesting that what they call their golden age was when it was the most homogeneous. It’s kind of like people here maybe saying “the good old days,” when it was more white in America. (Amber Noizumi)
Other elements in Blue Eye Samurai play on modern issues, including Mizu's relationship with her gender. However, these deeper elements are never at the forefront of the content, and the work is wholly approachable for those who want some stylized escapism. Blue Eye Samurai is a competent series first, and those who want to dig a bit deeper will find additional value to cement the poignant writing of the husband and wife team. Whichever way the viewer approaches the story, they won't be disappointed by its sincerity.
Unapologetically Violent and Mature
As mentioned, the work draws heavy influence from the stylish and violent era of Japanese '70s cinema and Tarantino's modern re-imagining of a particular brand of frenetic and flashy action. With mature animated features few and far between — outside of extreme Japanese anime — this is a welcoming shift of pace for an adult audience craving mature substance beyond the abundance of crass comedies available.
Much time is spent within the pleasure district, "yūjo" hotels, as Mizu utilizes them to stay more inconspicuous, given the privacy afforded to its patrons. Here, the acts that women were forced to endure are not shied away from, as the selling of daughters into such servitude was not uncommon during the period. At times this can be uncomfortable, but the accuracy and willingness to show what was endured is to the greater benefit of creating an engaging story that is honest in its portrayal of daily life.
Comparatively, the violence is sensationalized, but... who would want it any other way? The kill counts are high, with specific episodes focused almost entirely on Mizu facing hordes of enemies. The second-highest-rated episode on IMDB, "All Evil Dreams and Angry Words," is probably the best example of this, tasking Mizu to take on an entire castle's defenses.
In particular, that episode involves a fight in a tight corridor against a dozen armed soldiers, with a wounded Mizu brutally forcing her way through pain to execute flashy kills. During parts, the 'camera angle' spins around Mizu, chopping through the crowd with limbs flying toward the screen. The second half sees the warrior poisoned by a hallucinogenic when fighting against a behemoth of a fighter, offering a trippy and blood-soaked brawl that acts as a visual highlight of the entire series. This episode could easily be watched on its own with no context of the grander story and still be enjoyed.
Embracing both violence and sexuality gives an honest portrayal of the potential brutality and injustices of the era. It is a substantial draw for the animated show, and the intensity of these moments is gripping when considering how well-written the tale of revenge is. There is undoubtedly a cathartic release in seeing Mizu strike down all foes, but the build-up ensures it is not just empty flashes of violence.
A Sleek Visual Design and Inspiring Score
Blue Eye Samurai presents a unique visual style, blending Eastern and Western animation styles — not quite anime or animation, and somewhere between puppetry and live action. It makes for a consistently striking visual work where the promo material leading up to the release turned out to be the same visuals presented throughout. No detail is amiss; from the lush Japanese landscapes to the fashions of the people, the world feels fully realized. Working alongside Blue Spirit Animation, Netflix Animations outdid themselves. The limited series acts as an accomplishment for the platform.
The score is an excellent mix of old and new influences, with traditional music acting as a steady background to the story and a blend of Japanese rock and pop punctuating the bloody duels. Essential in building the atmosphere of the series, this further elevates the stylish visuals. Moreover, it touches on sleek cinematic work, like Tarintino's Kill Bill, utilizing an upbeat soundtrack that you can bop along with to help bolster the excitement. As creator Michael Green said in that same Hollywood Reporter interview:
We are here in California — we are in the West — and we’re going to be doing something that had elements of East meets West. So the animation style had to do that, too.
Blue Eyed Samurai is a near-perfect series, with some general pacing issues keeping it from being exemplary. The pull between stylized violence and deep story seem at odds with one another in the ebbs and flows between slow-paced dialogue exchanges and explosive action. Eight episodes is too excessive, especially considering the highs of the two highest-ranked episodes on IMDB, which land at 5 and 6 in the show. Still, Blue Eyed Samurai is utterly impressive in many ways and is the revenge story you need to watch.
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