Rosario Monachino
A new Netflix show has been dubbed the best series of the year by critics.
This past year alone, the streaming service has dropped some of its best content that viewers can’t get enough of.
Bodies, The Fall of the House of Usher and Beef were all released to positive fanfare and critical acclaim.
But as the year comes to an end, one series has emerged that people are heaping praise on.
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Blue Eye Samurai is an animated series that follows Mizu, a mixed-raced swordmaster who lives in 17th-century Japan – where borders are closed to the outside world and citizens never see a face that is not Japanese, except in rare cases of illegal trade.
She knows there were only four white men in Japan at the time of her birth and sets off to kill these men – even though one of them might be her father – as they made her a ‘creature of shame’.
But revenge is not an option for women, so Mizu must forge her revenge quest while hiding her gender, and her blue eyes.
The series features a stellar voice cast, including Maya Erskine (Man Seeking Woman), Brenda Song (The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody), Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express) and Randall Park (Wandavision).
It’s produced by the French Canadian animation house Blue Spirit which means it’s not technically an anime – as anime has to be made in Japan to classify, according to most specialists (as per CBR).
However, the show captures the anime aesthetic and Japanese setting – which is why most fans are hailing it as part of the genre.
Blue Eye Samurai has scored a hugely positive 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics singing the show’s praises.
Forbes critic Paul Tassi branded it as Netflix’s best series of the year, while David Opie from Empire described it as ‘a gorgeous, addictive thrill-ride’.
And it seems fans of the show share the same sentiment.
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One viewer pens on social media: “I need everyone to go watch Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix. 10/10.”
Someone else adds: “Don’t often post my recommendations, but I’m three eps into Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix and it’s REALLY good.”
“Begging everyone to watch Blue Eye Samurai,” suggests a third.
Another fan writes: “Why is no one talking about Blue Eye Samurai? Why is no one watching this absolute masterpiece? This is officially my favourite animated show.”
A fifth person says: “I’m not a huge anime guy, I like it, but don’t seek out animes like a lot of others do.
“That being said, I just watched Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Just incredible from all aspects.”
The show was created by Michael Green, who is best known for his work on Blade Runner 2049 and Logan, and his wife Amber Noizumi.
Speaking to Netflix, Noizumi described the show as Kill Bill meets Yentl – a musical about a girl who disguises herself as a boy.
The couple came up with the concept of the series shortly after the birth of their child — who has blue eyes – and from Noizumi’s personal experiences of being half-Japanese.
She explained to Netflix: “Why am I so excited that my daughter has blue eyes? What’s the big deal about that? And why am I so excited that I have a baby who looks more white?”
Due to this, Noizumi felt a personal connection to Mizu.
Alongside Noizumi and Green, Jane Wu – who worked on projects such as Mulan, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – served as supervising director and producer.
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Like Noizumi, Wu shared a personal connection to Mizu and understood the character’s choice to disguise herself as a man.
She explained: “Describing Mizu is almost like describing myself in the way that her journey of self-acceptance was a journey I had to go on.
“Starting in this industry, I was in a very male-dominant industry, and I noticed that if I put in my portfolio with my name on it, I generally wouldn’t get the job because I was female.
“Often enough, my portfolio wasn’t looked at because I was female, so then I just started using my initials so you couldn’t tell whether I was male or female, and you would have to judge me by the work.
“That’s kind of what Mizu went through to complete her revenge, and I guess that’s what I’m doing – completing my revenge.”
Watch the trailer for Blue Eye Samurai below…
Blue Eye Samurai is now available to stream on Netflix.
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