Netflix Summary:
Driven by a dream of revenge against those who made her an outcast in Edo-period Japan, a young warrior cuts a bloody path towards her destiny.
(Hilariously, my Netflix includes the very helpful “This show is: Violent”.)
FYA Summary:
I know it seems like Mad Libs in the Fix label up top, but “Kill Bill x Mamma Mia x Mulan in Edo Japan” really is the most succinct way I can describe this show. (Although for the Mamma Mia part, just swap musical for, like, murder.) And I hesitate to describe it further, since I went in with very few details and I don’t want to ruin a similar experience for a new viewer if they want it.
In the two months since Blue Eye Samurai has been available, my timeline’s been full of praise for it. It’s also an increasingly rare Netflix show that got renewed for another season. But what really gave me the final push was this tweet (which has more details about the premise, so scroll past if you must).
OH HELL YEAH, I’M IN.
Familiar Voices:
Maya Erskine as Mizu
So this is when I reveal that I’ve never watched anything starring Maya Erskine. I know! But based on what I knew of Pen15 and Plus One, I’d only associate her with awkward comedy — which this is definitely not that. Maya Erskine has THE RANGE.
Masi Oka as Ringo
For anyone who’s familiar with Masi Oka’s filmography, it’s probably no surprise that his character provides a lot of humour and heart.
(What was surprising: he worked as an English/Japanese/Spanish translator during the 1992 Olympics, and he has a video game studio?! Thanks, Wikipedia!)
Darren Barnet as Taigen
Real talk: I couldn’t not hear him as Paxton Hall-Yoshida, although thankfully in a much more interesting role than the later seasons of Never Have I Ever.
Brenda Song as Akemi
As a princess, Akemi has a pretty cushy life. But it’s still 17th century Japan, so the only paths available to women are to be “a proper wife or an improper whore”. Akemi, however, wants to be a secret third thing: a fully formed person with, like, actual agency??!
I could go on and on about the cast, but I’ll just highlight a few more standouts:
- George Takei as Seki: THE LEGEND.
- Randall Park as Heiji Shindo: Playing against type as a conniving schemer.
- Kenneth Branagh as Abijah Fowler: Taking time off his Poirot steez to play a character who’s truly reprehensible and brazenly self-aware about it.
- Ming-Na Wen as Madame Kaji: It’s Ming-Na, so obviously she’ll never not kick ass, regardless of any literal ass-kicking.
Couch-Sharing Capability: Bloody Good Time
… and by that, I mean this show is BLOOD. DEE. Between the gore and the sex, it’s certainly not family viewing, but the masterful storytelling will provide LOTS to discuss with any appropriate viewing companion. (Or you can start an unintentional late-night full-season solo binge, like I did.)
Recommended Level of Inebriation: As Much As Necessary
Mizu* doesn’t drink alcohol — gotta be ready for revenge at any moment! — but the show would pair well with a hot sake or tea, or any other soothing beverage to counteract THE INTENSITY IN TEN CITIES.
* Fittingly, “mizu” means “water”.
Use of Your Streaming Subscription: Fantastic
I’m always a little wary of internet hype (yet here I am adding to it lol), but Blue Eye Samurai did not disappoint. Not only is every frame a work of art — mostly brutal and bloody, yet still beautiful — but the writing is sensational and subversive. The thrilling action might be the main draw, but there are also plenty of emotional stakes, including POTENT SHIPPING FUEL. (Seriously, there are a few lines that will be SEARED into my subconscious.)
