Blue Eye Samurai: Revenge, Gender and Race

This week, I dove headfirst into Blue Eye Samurai, and let me tell you, within seconds of the first episode, I was HOOKED. So hooked I had to restrain myself, one episode a night, just to savor every damn moment. The storytelling? Impeccable. Animation? A work of art. Acting? Foley? Soundtrack? All top-notch. I’m already re-watching the series, man.

Amber Noizumi and Michael Green? They’re the creators of Blue Eye Samurai. In an interview, Amber said the series was 15 years in the making, and it shows. It’s not just your average revenge tale, nah. It’s deep, layered, complex. Talks about everything from gender, race, culture, tradition — you name it.

My whole life has been a battle.

Speaking of gender, that’s the rabbit hole I’ve been going down. See, in VIKINGS vs SAMURAI, I’ve been wrestling with the whole shield maiden and samurai women deal. Despite the myths, there were no shield maidens in Viking culture and few samurai women (although the number is debated). I’m telling a yarn of counterfactual history, so there’s no reason women aren’t fighting side-beside with the men. My work of fantasy doesn’t have to stop at sexism, as the saying goes. But here’s the kicker: in Blue Eye Samurai, they dive headfirst into that. It’s the heart and soul of the story. Got me rethinking my whole stance on shield maidens and samurai women.

Look, go watch Blue Eye Samurai and see for yourself. You can thank me later.