Blue Eye Samurai – Season 1 Review
Guys… you’ve got to watch this one.
It’s just stunning.
Blue Eye Samurai has it all. Fantastic story. Gorgeous visuals. Compelling characters. Amazing character arcs.
To me, it’s one of the best animated series since I don’t even know when. I love it.
Plot
Blue Eye Samurai is about Mizu and her bloody quest for revenge.
You see, this story occurs in Edo-period Japan. In this period the Tokugawa shogunate (the military government at the time) had a strict policy of severely limiting trade and any relations between Japan and foreign countries. Foreigners were banned from entering the country and mixed race children (hāfu) were pariahs.
Mizu is the child of a Japanese woman and a European man. Her blue eyes have told the story of her mixed heritage her whole life, leading to the death of her own mother and her living a life disguised as a man for her own protection. Filled with hatred and seeking vengeance against the man who raped her mother, Mizu is on a mission to find and kill the 4 European men illegally living in Japan, knowing that one of these men must be her father. Don’t feel sorry for the men who aren’t though… these men are bloodthirsty, cruel, and far too used to living a corrupt life without rules.
Blue Eye Samurai has a compelling cast of supporting characters each with their own personalities, drive, and development.
Ringo is a disabled cook with dreams of greatness. Upon meeting Mizu and seeing her in action, he decides to become her faithful apprentice, whether she wants one or not.
Taigen is a self-made samurai who grew up in the same village as Mizu. With hard work and quite a bit of talent, he became the star student of Shindo Dojo and won the favor of Lord Tokunobu Daiichi, who agreed to the marriage of his daughter Akemi to Taigen. This is great for Taigen and Akemi who have a mutual attraction and have been scheming how to be together. Taigen’s life is upturned though when Mizu beats his ass in a duel.
Akemi is the daughter of Lord Tokunobu Daiichi. She is a bit spoiled but confident in what she wants – to marry the man she loves. This is somewhat difficult to a woman of her birth though, as her father sees her as a chess piece to be married off to the most eligible suitor. Akemi manages to sweet talk her father into a marriage with Teigen, but this all falls apart when Taigen is bested by Mizu in a duel, causing him to lose his honor and to Lord Tokunobu Daiichi, his value.
My Thoughts
This is one of my favorite animated series and it really had me stuck to the screen from the first episode to the last.
I better shut up now before I spoil any of the story but if you like animated shows and you’re interested at all in this kind of theme, check out Blue Eye Samurai, you won’t regret it!
Pop some popcorn for me while you’re at it!
