Blue Eye Samurai Show of the Year

[@Lrn2Bebop]

*Speaking of things comming full circle. During epi 2's flashback "Blood soaked" Chiaki said to Mizu, "your foot announces your thoughts". Then at the end, Mizu listened to Chiaki's footsteps among the wave crashes to time her no look sword throw. Details like these are littered throughout the show and it's soooo dope!*

[@Backseatdirecting]

This is an awesome detail you noticed. It’s such a well crafted show from writing to animation to voice acting

[@dudea3378]

Bruh I did not even think about that detail. Good observation!

[@LuisMorales-qk7tx]

I noticed that she was paying attention to something but did not notice that she was listening to footsteps. Amazing and I’m not surprised by how deep this show is.

[@oni4883]

Specifically episode 5 was I think the best. The juxtaposition between the past, present, and the puppet play was masterful.

[@ln9256]

Are there awards for things like episode 5? Because holy moly does it deserve some recognition

[@Backseatdirecting]

I just have a soft spot for episode one because it made me fall in love with the show and it has my favorite fight scene. But 5 is amazing the way they masterfully dole out the backstory and the use of the traditional music building suspense on top of everything else.

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@ln9256it has a 9.6 on IMDb which is insane. I don’t know that there are awards for specific episodes but the series definitely could win awards based on that episode and more! It would be cool if those awards do exist though

[@MrAmirul14]

It makes total sense how Mizu has such raw strength & toughness. Other than the wrist and ankle weight thing, she also spent her childhood assisting the swordfather, hammering steel and shit all day every day. It makes total sense how she can throw/carry men around like a bagpack despite being beaten bad in some instances.

[@Backseatdirecting]

The show is so well thought out!

[@indiesongwriter5474]

The people behind this show were a total dream team

[@Backseatdirecting]

Seriously they crushed

[@codyhughes1147]

This show is a masterclass in story telling. Ive watched it 6 times through in the last 3 weeks. Its absolutely genius. If it dosnt continue im getting revenge on netflix.

[@codyhughes1147]

I wish i coulda joined this talk. Was fun to listen to.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Wow! 6 times. I’ve started it for the second time. It’s one of my favorite shows. The animation, action and story is all top tier. Thanks so much for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed the conversation

[@codyhughes1147]

@@Backseatdirecting its already moved up the ranks to 3rd fav of all time. First is atla followed by miazaki. I train in martial arts and katana and seeing the attention to detail to make the fights more realistic is so badass to me.

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@codyhughes1147 ATLA is a premier first pick it’s mine too. we have a couple other episodes on avatar if you have the time. Have you seen the boy and the heron?

[@codyhughes1147]

@@Backseatdirecting im going to be seeing it in the next few days. I cant wait. 😌😌

[@Beatrichay]

Another full circle moment that Im sure everyone noticed - in the first episode, the master of the Shindo Dojo performs his Shindo Ryu for the Swordfather. This is how Mizo masters it and learns to beat it.

[@wisconsindonna]

This isn’t typically a style of show I’d watch but boy oh boy I’m hooked! The scenes and details are just incredible, The storyline is fantastic. I can’t believe we have to wait so long for the next season. 😢

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@wisconsindonna I just finished cyberpunk edgerunners on Netflix and I recommend that along with arcane if you loved BES.

[@joshuataylor5080]

WAIT! KENNETH BRANAGH voiced Fowler! No wonder he sounded so familiar! Branagh's Shakespeare movies are absolutely goated, especially his portrayal of Othello and Hamlet. This just made me love this show even more. That is top-tier casting right there.

[@montybrewster7]

I was a little late to the party with blue eyed samurai but i've just finished my second run through it in 5 days. It is utter genius & by far the best thing i have watched in any medium since arcane. It's immediately in my top 5 tv shows of all time. Possibly even top 3, it's that good. Great vid guys, i could have listened to you talking about this show for another 2 hours.

[@Backseatdirecting]

We do have another episode reviewing the first episode of BES specifically with some clips so you can check that out if you want. Thanks for watching. Which character was your favorite?

[@montybrewster7]

​@@Backseatdirecting I will check that out especially since ep.1 was my favourite i think. My favourite character was mizu by far followed by akemi & taigen. But the genius of this show is that there are no redundant characters. Everyone of them adds so much to the show. Thanks again for a great vid. P.S: Favourite fight, the four fangs.

[@SmartFool24]

When Fowler tells her to look at the burning city as all about revenge. I was glad he could stay alive. He’s just too good to kill off too early.

[@Backseatdirecting]

I agree. I like dramatic revenge sequences but his character is fun to watch on screen and I’m curious about the season 2 dynamic where Mizu will be keeping him captive

[@DimaRakesah]

I usually cannot stand 3D animation, it just looks strange and jarring to me. But the way they did this one really works. It still feels like standard 2D animation just with a bit more depth. Just one of many, many things this show does right! The fight scenes are excellent. The perfect blend of realism yet not, so it still feels grounded but exciting to watch. You can also see small details in the fight scenes that show someone who really understood sword arts and martial arts was involved in adding those details, which makes it all the more realistic that these characters are career fighters. One of my favorite one liners is the Dojo fight when one of the students asks her how many fights she's won and she looks around at all the dead/injured people lying around her and says "Was I supposed to be counting?". It so perfectly encompasses the expectations of the typical samurai vs Mizu's goals. Samurai fight for honor and valor, counting every kill as a way to increase their reputation. Mizu fights for revenge, and nothing else (at least at this point in the story) so how many random people she fights on her path to her goal means nothing to her. In one line she dismisses all their rules and expectations as meaningless. It makes their duels for numbers and complicated samurai codes seem petty. I also just really love "It is trash" and "It is also trash" they're just so FUNNY and badass even though you're watching this painful ass fight scene where you're wincing at all the blood and teeth flying! Of course my other favorite memorable line is "Peaches!". That is my battle cry for this movie. I can say it to ANYONE who has watched the show and they immediately are in on the joke!

[@Backseatdirecting]

Peaches and pumpkins lmao. It’s so cool seeing the BTS because of how they filmed so many of the stunts. They would use wires and cables so that it’s still fantastical but realistic at the same time just like you said. Can’t wait for the next season!

[@hbpencil5325]

I enjoyed your discussion on BES, especially narrative/ writing, also, I had a thought wasn't it revealed by Fowler that the women who raised her was not her birth Mum in the final episode(s)? I noticed not all viewers spotted this. That could be an interesting twist in the show's second season as more unravels in London. People have been discussing interesting theories of Mizu's birth Mum being a high-status, white European women, rather than 1 of the 4 white men, and I would find this such a fantastic switch up. Especially making her consider power dynamics of race and misogyny across cultures and class systems - I'd like to see the complex narrative this outcome could spring for Mizu.

[@Backseatdirecting]

That’s interesting I hadn’t considered that option. So you’re saying a European woman came to Japan and slept with a Japanese man then left her in the care of the woman we think is the mom in the show. That would be an interesting switch. I was shocked to see her leaving Japan and letting Abijah Fowler live at the end of the season. I’m sure they have other twists planned for us and we likely won’t know the culprit till all 4 of the men are dead since that will keep the show going longer and keep the suspense.

[@Nkami__]

How does this channel have less than 1k followers? The quality is so good

[@Backseatdirecting]

That’s exactly what I’m saying tell your friends and family for us 😂. Seriously thanks for the compliment we work really hard at it!

[@medianvideos]

My favourite animated series of the year for sure. Blew me away and was completely unexpected. Great writing, great characters, powerful storytelling. Another amazing animated show is Pantheon, probably number 2 for me this year. Can’t wait for season 2 of Arcane. This season of Invincible hasn’t done much for me this year sadly.

[@Backseatdirecting]

This was the show I didn’t know I needed. It came out of nowhere and blew me away. Arcane was great too. It has some of the coolest animation. I hope season 2 has less of the round table campaigning though. It slowed down the pacing too much for my liking. I think my expectations for invincible were so high that there was no way they were going to be met. With that said, I hope the send of season 2 picks up and knocks it out of the park

[@theDaoistBean]

You guys do true honor and justice to such a masterpiece of animation and storytelling!!! I really enjoyed watching this discussion!!! Everything is so well done on this show and the research the makers did pays off in big ways and small details. For example, there are two scenes when they are walking through Akemi's house and the floors squeak...perhaps you might think it's just folio showing it's an old house, but it is indicating something else and is quite purposeful. They were called 'nightingale floors,' the floor boards have nails underneath that rub against metal and make that singing sound like a bird (and since they sing at night...nightingale floors). Their purpose was to act as an alarm in samurai and noble houses so that no one can sneak in and attack, which is also why you see ninja in movies et al. avoiding floors and jumping around in the rafters.

[@miyoko_17]

"San, Ichi, Ni..." 3, 1, 2...?? 😂 33:49 Akemi was saying that bc she knew Taigen's pride was wounded & he was telling her (rightly so) that her Lord Father wouldn't allow them to marry now that he's "disgraced" & she was explaining how she'd finesse her father (yet again) & also try to get Taigen to focus on them/their marriage bc what SHE wanted was to be married to him/a man she chooses. She was finessing him, as well. However, Taigen took her words & did the opposite of what Akemi wanted. She thought he'd stay, so when he chooses to leave, she says her true thoughts...but it's also still thinking about herself: if Taigen dies or leaves for too long, her father will try to marry her off to another man.

[@Backseatdirecting]

I knew it was wrong right after I said it

[@Backseatdirecting]

I skipped the read more button in my first response. That’s an interesting dissection of that seen. I think it goes to show how akemi is always looking out for herself and struggling to get by in the beggining then she evolves by the end where she refuses to run away. Great character work.

[@SmartFool24]

Good pronunciation on Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa. Also Shang Tsung. Super cool dude though.

[@tadesubaru1383]

This channel is really small but you guys deserve a bigger audience!!! This video was super insightful and interesting, thanks for your work! ❤❤

[@Backseatdirecting]

Wow, thank you so much. We both appreciate that!

[@Jnnfr0803]

I figured the gender plot twist in the first few minutes of the series...you know when whe pushes the table at the ramen place and there is a close up of her hands. I was like "those are hands of a women"

[@Backseatdirecting]

Yeah that’s fair I was just way to misguided by everyone calling her a man

[@SnakeWasRight]

I think this show is western, but its funny how the best show (blue eye samurai) and the best movie of 2023 (godzilla minus 1) are both set in Japan.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Japan has such an awesome and rich culture. I love how dramatic anime is and I think that translates over to other stories from there. I have to see minus one still 😮

[@VampireHunter5790]

"The problem with Shindo-Ryu is.... it's trash"

[@Backseatdirecting]

🤣

[@vbmorris81]

I love Invincible, but I agree , Blue Eye is amazing. The animation style...the story...fantastic. ❤

[@Backseatdirecting]

It’s tough to say that a show is better than invincible because of how high I hold season 1 but blue eye samurai was more inventive and surprising than Invincible’s second season so far. Maybe that will change once we get the rest of season 2?

[@vbmorris81]

@Backseatdirecting I hope so. I do like the deeper character development in season 2 of Invincible, though( Debbie in particular). I adore the Atom Eve episode. I am just happy to be living in a time of such innovation in this medium.

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@vbmorris81the atom eve special was so amazing we did an episode on it where we hyped it up a lot

[@vbmorris81]

@@Backseatdirecting I'll check it out.

[@cwalker94]

Swordfather definitely knew Mizu was not a boy.. I forget which episode, but Mizu was going to tell Swordfather that she was a woman before she left on her revenge (in a flashback), and he said something like that "you arrived as a boy, and you're leaving as a man" or something to that affect.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Yeah I also think he knows. They made it seem like he doesn’t but he’s just too wise not to know.

[@nana7318]

Love this show!

[@Backseatdirecting]

It was so good and I didn’t see it coming!

[@cancelcancel8812]

Can you post a link to your t-shirts?

[@Backseatdirecting]

linktr.ee/backseatdirecting If this does not work it is also in the video description at the bottom. Thanks!

[@benogidan]

I would put this above Season 2 invincible so far but not Season 1. Thank you for talking about this show

[@Backseatdirecting]

I wish Amazon would drop all of season 2 of Invincible at once. Season 1 was amazing we both read all the comics right after. Thanks for watching!

[@Dwayne971]

I just discovered the channel with this video. Great discussion! The end of the year is pretty amazing in terms of animation. For me Scavengers reign remains first, but I put Blue eye samurai just after in second place.

[@Backseatdirecting]

There’s a few things I’d still like to watch for animation I just saw the boy and the heron last night. I want to watch scavengers and I’ve got a few other recs as well to hurry up with lol.

[@Dwayne971]

@@Backseatdirecting Nice! I liked the boy and the heron, although I think I'll need a second viewing to fully grasp everything. As for Scavengers Reign, I can't wait to hear you talk about it next year. Congratulations once again, you've got a new fan from France! The chemistry works great and the production value is top notch. All the best to both of you for what's next ;D

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@Dwayne971thanks so much and we are glad to have you join us. Maybe we can get some recommendations for French media some time as well. We will check out scavengers!

[@skrollreaper]

just listener here to say, "but....just listening" xp

[@Backseatdirecting]

Totally fair thanks for listening 👂 🎉

[@jayi.6448]

You guys are awesome. Great review. I need to have my wife watch this so I can convince her to get Netflix back up and running. I never did see a review from both of you on Vinland Saga (may be worth while as its on Amazon Prime). Do you ever do reviews of shows that happened a bit ago? Great review! I watched it all the way through btw (even with spoilers). Arron with the rage inside! Honestly, I never thought about how you would need to channel focus when lifting crazy high weights, etc. Oh if this reminds you of Daredevil, I 100% have to watch it!!!! Daredevil was amazing. (Also side note: So was Luke Cage -highly underrated series).

[@jayi.6448]

WAIT YOU SHOWED A CLIP??? Please do this more often if you can!!! It wasn't a paint brush it was a calligraphy pen (that was thrown). This is such a beautiful, amazing art style. WOW. Thank you both again for great work, great reviews!!

[@Backseatdirecting]

I have seen Vinland saga and have some of the manga but arron doesn’t watch anime because he’s a scrub so you would have to convince him lol. If you do watch the show let us know what you think. The videos spoiled some peak moments in the show tho.

[@jayi.6448]

@@Backseatdirecting Appreciate it. I knew it would but its worth if it if I can convince my wife lol.

[@SmartFool24]

Not sure if it was clear to people but “mizu,” means water.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Ah interesting I didn’t know that. There’s a lot of ways to take that.

[@jimlight5137]

5:00 I don’t enjoy it when people who don’t seem to know much about animation try to speak confidently about how it works. They invariably get information wrong, and pass that wrong information on to viewers. For example: 2D animation has had rack focus effects since the 1930’s when Walt Disney introduced the multi plane camera. Switching focus from foreground to background is a technique that has existed for a LONG time in animation. And it’s made even easier to do now with computers. This notion that somehow the 3D models gives the creators an opportunity that didn’t exist in 2D is just patently false. As is suggesting that 3D gives a painterly effect to the backgrounds that 2D doesn’t have… when in fact the majority of background are actually just 2D paintings. There’s no trickery here. If the background looks gorgeous and painterly, 9 times out of 10 that’s because it literally is just a painting. Maybe some 3D elements added in to give the illusion of depth or to help the characters interact with the environment, but from a technical standpoint this is a very simple and common technique. It is costly to build 3D models. It is cheaper to just paint the background if you’re not going to move things around much. I know this show is a blend of 2D and 3D, and they do it well… but I wish people would learn more about HOW it’s done and not make assumptions.

[@Backseatdirecting]

In going back and listening to us talk I’m honestly not sure what you’re talking about. It sounds like you’re making inferences of what we think rather than basing your statement on what we actually said. Nobody says racking focus is new. We don’t claim to be animation experts but any information presented was taken from interviews with animators for the most part and the rest is opinion based as viewers and how the art made us feel. I’d love to invite you on the show to talk about animation if you have new information to share!

[@paulchavez3039]

Mizu is Beatrix Kiddo ❤

[@Backseatdirecting]

She’s got the one woman army thing going for sure

[@younghan3573]

An animator uses a mirror for 90% of all reference details

[@Agentcproductionss]

I ain't gonna lie. It was pretty obvious mizu was a girl

[@Backseatdirecting]

Andrew: (shamefully) you are correct

[@Backseatdirecting]

Arron: I agree with you. Andrew was trippin

[@timothyhocker600]

Why do people keep saying it’s a big reveal at the end episode one that she’s a girl when in the beginning of the episode her so called mom is shaving her head and telling her that everyone should be made to think she’s a boy.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Are you sure that’s in episode 1?

[@ShadowProject01]

Tiegan…still doesn’t know the Blue Eyed Samurai is a girl does he🤔

[@Backseatdirecting]

No he does not lol which adds some interesting context to the last couple episodes. I’m rooting for them

[@EaMarieKhan]

Are yall gonna do a part 2 lol

[@Backseatdirecting]

What should we go over?

[@Backseatdirecting]

We got inspired by your comment and made a follow up reviewing the first episode of the show: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYGxeamGZddlhqssi=2U8H_dbDQvbtqx02

[@hellblazer8543]

id rate this tied with Pluto.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Never seen it but it has an 8.3 on IMDb so I’ll take it as a win!

[@hellblazer8543]

@@Backseatdirecting you should see it. It covers the whole story

[@vongoethe111]

San, ni, ichi… 😅

[@Backseatdirecting]

Lol it was a last minute effort

[@cactusshell1975]

You talked for 50 mins?

[@Backseatdirecting]

Oh believe me that’s us holding back we could talk for hours

[@cactusshell1975]

Haha

[@Roni_fuzzy_durrg]

This is nice and all, but the second you said you cant do a blur effect on 2D animation you lost me. The real reason they wanted it in 3D is because of the insane details on the characters to make it more realistic and truly represent that time period. Do some more research on animation guys.

[@trex70]

Episode 5 is the best. 6 is ok but 7´and 8 doenst make it

[@Backseatdirecting]

You’re not a fan of the last two episodes? I thought there was some good fights, visuals, and character development in there. The first episode is definitely my favorite though.

[@trex70]

@@Backseatdirectingah yeah i dont want to spoiler...but you remeber the thing with the foot in the dungeons ? and how they ignore it. And oh boy the jump from the cliff and the handstand and then there is a BIG FAT BAD GUY and she cant hold up with him...naaaahhhhhhh. The story is good but realy has problems.

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@trex70 I think the characters are really interesting with good arcs and that’s what drives the story for me

[@trex70]

@@Backseatdirecting have fun with it.

[@Daniel__Nobre]

Show is cool but I don’t understand Americans adoration of it. There are thousands of better samurai movies, anime and manga that have came before, straight from Japan, that have such a bigger authenticity in its story, despite Blue Eye Samurai trying to rip stuff directly from a lot of them (it shares so many topics with Sword of the Stranger that it feels weird even). To me it felt like its biggest inspiration was actually Tarantino and regarding Japan’s culture more like some loathing of it actually.

[@Backseatdirecting]

I feel like making something interesting is bound to have things to critique within it, but I don’t mind them taking inspiration from elsewhere. There’s always going to be something better, but for me that doesn’t take anything away from loving something new. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I’ve enjoyed watching anime this year also.

[@Daniel__Nobre]

@@Backseatdirecting I completely agree with you. I just mean that the show has been hyped up so much, mostly by American audiences, that it makes it weird to me. Specially given that by comparison there are thousands of other stories from manga to anime that are not only better, but actually much more authentic to the historical period being represented. It’s almost like if content with similar topics comes from Asia it will not be recognised or accepted by American audiences as much as this.. but then again it is an American show, focused on contemporary American social issues so that may play a role as well..

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@Daniel__Nobre interesting perspective. Any recs for Japanese shows that depict this time period. I like anime so I’d be down for anything in that vein. I’ve also been meaning to watch akira kurosawa movies for a while

[@skrollreaper]

but no way jjk is better man, that show has terrible character development, it introduces new character every episode. its all over the place and its simple as a shonen typical plot. BES is wayy better

[@Backseatdirecting]

Have you watched the second season? The character development isn’t on par with BES but the level of action and the animation is amazing. I also love the characters even if they’re mostly static

[@skrollreaper]

I force binged through the first 5 episodes after your reply. jujutsu Kaisen season 2 spoiler warning for anyone reading this. first episode was interesting in the beginning, up till when the two sorcerers ran out of the haunted hallway. seeing gojo and sugurus fight off the weak sorcerers who were sent after the vessel was non eventful, but suguru fighting the old man and the scene flashing him back to his dog from 50 years ago was an interesting scene. Tojis plot to weaken gojo led to dragging through 3 episodes, I wouldnt have minded the drag, if it looked like it had some effect on gojo, he at no point showed fatigue for keeping his infinity up. the argument could be that he was hiding his fatigue for rika to feel safe. but there could have been some hint in the first couple episodes other then suguru mentiong that he hasnt gotten any sleep. and gojo nodding the 4th episode when we see gojo stabbed was definitely a moment that made me invested. seeing him get handled by toji was definitely shocking then the scene with rika and seguru and her getting shot definitely was a chilling moment, the fight after was all interesting. and eventually seeing gojo come back from the dead to use purple infinity to destroy toji is when things started to taper down. what confused me was how quickly we see a well rounded seguru, who seems to not have any problems with non sorcerers, suddenly flip. maybe he flipped that fast from getting beat by a non sorcerer who killed the person he was meant to protect. sure but for him to go 0-100 flip that quick I think in the span of like 15 minutes of an episode after hearing one sorcerer tell him that killing non sorcerers would be the way to go. and now he is full set on the path. it felt really rushed, idk if the manga dives in deeper, because it moved really fast there, I feel like the anime wasted potential buildup for that in the first two fluff episodes. we could have gotten a buildup of segurus hate for monkeys, etc. anyway, I did like the fight scenes, they never miss there. but my main issue is I had to force binge, other then ep 4 and 5. the flow of the episodes wasnt as seamless and easy tow watch as BES, Ive already seen BES for the second time with the parents, and it was so easy to rewatch, If I rewatched the beginning of jjk, I would skip the first few episodes. I dont know if I would even watch the first 5 again. I think Blue Eye Samurai is right up there with Samurai Champloo and Full Metal Alchemist for me. those shows held me compelled throughout the entire anime. and Blue Eye did that through and through Maybe jjk gets better, but after the 29 episodes or so im not in a rush to keep watching it. I could watch a recap and skip the filler and I would be ok with that @@Backseatdirecting

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@skrollreaperso the first arc which you watched is the hidden inventory arc which I thought was really good but the part that everyone is raving about it the rest of the season which is the shibuya incident arc. That arc is just nonstop action and shocking moments. If you have the time I would say watch the rest cause it’s truly great.

[@phatpat63]

As a show, it has some strengths and a lot of weaknesses, but that's really burying the lead which is how unbelievably racist it is. The people who made this show are evil.

[@Backseatdirecting]

Care to elaborate?

[@phatpat63]

@@Backseatdirecting What are you pretending to not understand? That the show depicts whiteness as outright demonic, that doing so is racist, or that pushing racism is evil?

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@phatpat63 I think it’s a bit of wires getting crossed. The main character is half white and she is an awesome badass. The point of the show is accurate historical context regarding 1630’s japan’s imperialism and nationalism. The only people who made it into the country were through illegal means and therefore were likely to be despicable. One of the writers is a white man and they have a mixed race baby with the other creator who is Japanese so I’m sure they’re not racist toward white or Asian people. Once we get to Europe in the show I’m sure we are likely to see more complex white characters who have a good nature. Again the racism toward white people in the show is part of history and seen as bad in the context of the show.

[@phatpat63]

​@@Backseatdirecting Ha, sure, it's not as if by the middle of the season she has no revenge motive other than being tainted by white blood, the villain does nothing but monologue about how utterly evil white people are, and Mizu is depicted with a demonic darkness that is explicitly correlated to her white half over and over. But it is like that, and I'm not pointing out anything you weren't already 100% aware of before you replied. So save the smoke and the act for someone who hasn't watched the show. You're trash for trying to defend this filth.

[@Backseatdirecting]

@@phatpat63I feel like this interpretation has more to do with you than the series