IR TV Review: BLUE EYE SAMURAI [Netflix]
The essence of a good anime is trying to bridge worlds. In the completely Japanese style, there are certain cultural references that might be lost on Western audiences. The same can be true in reverse. What "Blue Eye Samurai" does is meld those two ideals and set them in the old school element where it feels authentic and new. "Warrior" did this in a similar way with the slang and approach of their show. But it also brings in voice talent appropriate to their roles and ethnicity. This tends to balance everything. Every facet of this show is top notch from the animation to the story to the music. There was no expense spared but the creative team (whether overseen or not) knew what they were doing and it shows.
This is undeniable in Episodes 6 and 7 specifically. 6 has an almost kabuki style storytelling which shows a different kind of origin story to Mizu, the lead character, than we specifically see at the beginning. 7 is a siege on a castle that rivals aspects from "Kill Bill" and "The Raid". The reason it works is because the context of Mizu as a character is one we can understand because we know something most of the world inside the series doesn't. That is what engages the viewer. It can't be that alone though. All the characters and their motivations are clear. Their intentions and ambitions are not cheesy, just stubborn. Everyone has their own flaws and decisions. Some choices the characters make are done wisely. Others incorrect with a degree of immaturity because of their flaws. But again the choices makes sense and there are stakes even if it takes a more mythic overarch in the final episode of the season.
The story also doesn't shy away from the darker elements of sex and violence in that world. While it doesn't glamorize it, it doesn't shy away from it either. The animation studio seems to be French Canadian it seems in Blue Spirit but that has not been verified. That said, the work here is akin to the darkness that Production IG does and similar. Michael Green also was the writer on Blade Runner 2049 which likely led to "Black Lotus" which has a similar aesthetic but nowhere near the accessibility this show has. Green also worked on "Murder On The Orient Express" as a writer, which shows how he was able to get Kenneth Branagh for the main Western character role. And what is great is that Branagh brings a darkness that we haven't seen in a while, despite it only being in voice.
The rest of the cast from Masi Oka to George Takei to Randall Park to Cary Tagawa are top notch. There is no winking at the audience so everything feels very much new. They add some great fusion and rock but it works in a way Tarantino would be proud of. He influenced this but one could say this could influence in reverse because of the ways it takes its lead character. Watching it, one thinks about live action but it likely couldn't be anywhere as good. "Ghost In The Shell" proved that and that is why "Akira" has had a hard time making the transition. When the source material and build is exceptional, it is just best to enjoy it in its beauty, viciousness and storytelling. A
By Tim Wassberg
