Blue Eye Samurai (TV Series) The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride (2023) User Reviews

Top tier episode of a top tier series

[virgonoshaka · 10/10 · 7 November 2023]

This episode was truly amazing. There are flashbacks intertwined with the present action, that give a whole new perspective to the harsh battle that Mizu is facing.

Some elements reminded me of the Bride in Kill Bill, of which I'm very fond.

The music elegantly illustrates the beats of the story.

What an emotional rollercoaster neatly packed in a single episode ! A true beauty filled with old school puppets, romance, sadness, sweetness, betrayal, combat, bravery and cowardice. This episode was like a noodle soup where the writer/cook uses only the best ingredients for the broth, noodles and toppings : each bite makes you long for more while being exactly satisfying.

It's rare that I'm afraid to discover the next episodes of a series because I'm enjoying the story so very much.

Blue Eye Samurai is so well written, the action is so visceral, the characters so endearing and true to themselves, that I'm torn between the need to know what is going to happen and the sadness of consuming each episode because it's the last time that I'll be able to discover its beautiful contents for the first time. I guess if Schoppenhauer was alive, he would come up with the accurate german term to express this state of inner turmoil which I feel when finishing an episode and asking myself if I should wait at least 24 hours before watching the next one. Something like Schadenfreudebingewatchoderwarten.

This is incredible

[jamesduncan-74565 · 10/10 · 12 November 2023]

I almost never leave reviews but I had to this time!

I am 60 years old. I've been an ardent fan of Chanbara since I was 8 or 9. I studied Kenjutsu and Iaido for about 10 years when I joined the military and have been in love with Japanese culture my entire life.

I went into this series with a "oh well whatever" attitude. I got knocked off my feet!

The animation is awesome, the story is incredible and rarely have I seen animated action that was almost equal to the live version! The only thing I didn't like was that it ended.

When they broke out with "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" I almost lost it! There were even a handful of Wilhelm Screams!!!

If you are a fan of innovative and retro Samurai action and want to see something you've never seen before...this is your drug!

Spellbinding

[bmcarbaugh · 10/10 · 8 November 2023]

A towering accomplishment of animation and storytelling. Everything that makes this show great, this episode delivers in spades. The flashback framing device is the beautifully poetic stuff of episodes that win Emmys, the visual presentation is the most lavish it's ever been, the actual story is heartbreaking, and the writing shifts gears from myth to harlequin romance to ghost story to kick-ass action epic until it's coming on like a thunderstorm.

And the FIGHTS. Man, the fights. This episode plays it close to the chest for a while, opting for the unsatisfying grittiness of realism for much of its runtime. But when it finally cuts loose and goes full anime, it SOARS. I went from tears to fist-pumping "HELL YEAH" in record time. There's a particular moment with a transforming naginata that is one of the coolest moments I've seen in anything in years.

It hits like a graphic novel. It moves like a videogame. It evokes awe like a great fantasy novel. It touches the heart and speaks to a particular corner of the human condition with all the tools of pulp and genre, like a bona fide piece of cinema.

It is a masterful piece of work.

Blue Eye Samurai ROCKS.

As close to perfect art as you can get.

[henriquealves-50586 · 10/10 · 14 November 2023]

The title pretty much sums it up, this 1 episode may be as close to perfect as you can get. Its story telling is phenominal in the way it intertwines the past, present and future whilst also using the theatre play in the future as a metaphore for both the present and past.

This show is also a perfect example on how to write women well in tv/film which unfortunately feels as if it has been lacking in hollywood as of late.

It almost impossible to describe just how amazing this episode (and show as a whole) is without feeling like you've given it a diservice.

...

Please, if you haven't already... go watch it.

This is what perfection looks like

[richardbentoski · 10/10 · 10 November 2023]

From the onset of the episode you can tell its going to be different. The way the writers intertwine the current events happening in the show with the Bunraku theatre telling its own story, is truly unique. I have never seen anything like it.

From what I can tell, the writers put a lot of effort into portraying the history of Japan in the detail of the show. The theatre's details are very well done.

On the other side, getting to see more of Mizu's adult backstory, which was prefaced in an earlier episode, worked well to add character depth. Mizu is a deep character and the events of this episode clearly, in my opinion, help to justify her outlook and goals.

A Perfect Episode

[mikelmallow · 10/10 · 29 November 2023]

I'm not sure what the Emmy awards give out for animated series these days, but they need to give this episode... something.

This is the best episode of anything that I've seen all year. There have been a lot of contenders, but this is by far the best of the bunch. It is action-packed, weaves all the threads of Mizu's tragic upbringing into one thread, and manages to tell the story simultaneously from past, present, and future perspectives. It all comes together so perfectly that I am reeling from the experience!

This episode is going to sit with me for a while and I have absolutely no problem with that at all.

Unbelievable

[saglambarisali · 10/10 · 13 November 2023]

The most striking episode of the series. It will satisfy you incredibly and raise the bar in cinematic terms.

I think you will feel great pleasure in finding yourself in a completely different story, because it is impossible not to be like that. Mizu's character becomes completely ours, you understand her and you connect much more.

While instilling this in us, you will also be dragged between intertwined stories in this episode.

This series will be highly valued and you will tell people about this episode in the future. You will wonder what that fifth episode was and you will want to watch it again. Have a good time in advance.

This is a MASTERPIECE.. This is ART!!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 2 January 2024]

MY GOD... I am speechless! It is rare to see a TV episode that makes you feel so much in so little time! This was legendary! A combination of beauty and horror! Love and hate!

This episode combined a beautifull and tragic lovestory with nervewracking action! And to top it off, its all wraped around "The tale of The Ronin and The Bride" in this one big Crescendo! Who came up with this? This was unreal!

By the end my heart was in pieces, poisened by hate and betrayal! At first I cried, but then i was in shock.. cold! The character of Mizu makes sense and the origin of her bloodlust was painfull!

This episode deserves its place among one of the GREATEST of 2023! Please go watch this if you haven't!

This is a tale i will always remember.. and never forget!

It doesn't get any better than this.

[GraXXoR · 10/10 · 6 December 2023]

Enough here have mentioned the (quite literally) killer storyline and similarities to certain cult classics, so please, if you will, allow me to focus on the animation.

This entire show is a visual poem and a graphical ode to beauty in its many forms: from the light to the very very dark. Every single scene and shot of every episode is steeped in it; each is carved out like a woodblock print in meticulous detail with loving care and attention and rendered frame by frame for our viewing pleasure.

I've lived in Japan the better part of my life as an immigrant and a long time ago, as a youngster, I would eagerly take part in all those traditional things that young foreigners enjoy... shodo, kendo, kyudo, sado, kado etc. Etc...

And have watched many Kabuki and Noh but one of the most remarkable things I have ever watched since coming to Japan was Bunraku, the puppet shows. The puppets seem to take on a surreal life of their own and someway through the show, you cease to even see the men in black that manipulate the characters and the master puppeteer himself merges into the background, despite often remaining entirely visible the whole time he manipulates the protagonist.

All that remains is the puppets, living their lives that feel as real as yours and mine. Amazingly they managed to express that remarkable transition from wooden object to living being via the medium of animation in such a convincing way that I found myself moved to tears at a few points in this incredible episode.

This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful pieces of animation I have had the pleasure of watching.

Outstanding.

Happy I saw it, sad it ended

[vigilanteds · 10/10 · 1 December 2023]

My first review.

This is an episode that stands alongside the best in episodes in History, the feeling I got when watching that episode in Breaking Bad, the best of Game of Thrones or the recent one from Succesion that are all 10/10 episodes all deserve to have this episode alongside those.

I don't want to spoil this episode it had me thinking how amazing the dialogue fits in with the pace and the action and the scenes and how everything is interwoven together is quite literally breathtaking.

I am sat here open mouthed, heart beating a little faster unsure to whether I should cry now because its going to be such a while before I See anything as this good for the first time.

It's so good I want to rewatch it again while it is still raw. Greatness.

The most heartrending hour of television this year

[EvelynBuijs · 10/10 · 10 January 2024]

What an incredible episode. The way it intertwines a disjointed play, with both past and present sent shivers through my spine, as I anticipated the ultimate conclusion. This episode took the cold, nothing but cool character of Mizu and turned her into a homeric hero, with tragic backstory and all. I-... I just can't describe in words how beautiful this was.

I already enjoyed this show, I already found its animation beautiful and its directing gorgeous, but this episode elevated all that to a new level, truly. On paper this episode is nothing but a standard "low point" for the story, where each of our characters get seperated and the story changes, but this one does it so well. I genuinly started to feel emotionally attached to the romance in this episode, even though from the get-go you could tell where it would end. Gosh what a sincere breakdown of a character. Fills me with anticipation for the rest of the show.

frustrating to watch

[grenadekiller-08318 · 6/10 · 7 April 2024]

This episode was annoying to watch because the puppet show kept disrupting the action every time the action became interesting. This is like watching kill bill except every 2 seconds in the action sequence it cuts to someone reading a book, pretty unsatisfying to watch. The disruptive nature of the puppet show not only detracts from the intensity of the action but also undermines the audience's emotional investment in the unfolding drama. Instead of being fully immersed in the unfolding events, viewers find themselves constantly pulled out of the narrative, left to wonder when they will once again be able to witness the resolution of the conflict they've been eagerly anticipating.

Moreover, the constant back-and-forth between the action and the puppet show disrupts the pacing of the episode, making it difficult for viewers to fully engage with either aspect of the story. Just as they begin to feel invested in the fate of the characters, they are abruptly pulled away, left to languish in the whimsical world of puppetry before being thrust back into the fray once more.

Enjoyable, but sad

[LaylaMoonie · 10/10 · 20 November 2023]

The storylines in this episode weave into each-other beautifully, creating a tense atmosphere as you wait to find out what happened in the others. Many heartbreaking scenes as it touches on Mizu's backstory further. The puppet show is a beautiful idea and was also quite entertaining just on its own.

The fights are beautiful, though. Showing how she learns from her past, and showing the multi-purpose use of her attire. Mizu is badass in this episode and the pacing is amazing too.

All in all a beautiful episode i adore watching whenever i rewatch the show. It is difficult to describe how much i enjoyed the show and this episode.

A Landmark in Storytelling

[abzeid · 10/10 · 27 February 2024]

I felt too many goosebumps watching this episode. I really think it is the best anime episode ever made. The direction and storyline should be a reference for how to produce a perfect storyline.

This show is even better than one of my all time favorite movies, Kill Bill... Solid narration with perfect direction.

I texted a lot of people after this episode recommending watch this show. The thing is, I cannot wait for the new season.

Please keep up this level of work and don't ruin it for whatever reason.

That back story is solid to the extent I cannot remember anything more epic than this episode.

This show will also make a great video game.

This Episode had no business being this great

[shreehariaravindan · 10/10 · 30 December 2023]

As much as the first 4 episodes were all good, this episode went above and beyond everything. The entire story telling was absolutely perfect.

I found myself smiling, happy and all turn to sad and feel the emotions of Mizu. After a very long time, the emotional aspect of the character slowly peeling off and showing their other side is absolutely amazing.

The story of the Ronin, marriage flashbacks of Mizu and the depressing and devastating life she is currently leading. Akime's character perfect and the ending was totally devastating.

I'm hoping the characters meet a better end as the series continues, but this particular episode is an absolute example of storytelling and showing how good the makers are with their skills. This episode of an anime series had no business being this good.

One Of The Most Beautiful Things I've Ever Seen

[Uzer_error404 · 10/10 · 1 January 2024]

I wish I could give this 100/10 because it absolutely deserves it.

No question. I've watched the entire first season and by far this episode stuck with me the most. Other reviewers have already put into words hoe beautiful this one episode is.

Everything about this episode hit the nail square on the head. You will be left numb after seeing this thin. Numb because it's over. Numb because of the gorgeous animation, the genius storytelling--man, this episode had it all.

The show itself is already perfection but it's things like this, the smaller moments between the big fights that really elevate this show through the clouds.

Thats's all I'm going to say.

Ablosute masterpiece

[bergen-58841 · 10/10 · 14 December 2023]

This is masterpiece from world of 3d animation , best of best of 2023 , This series gives so many emotions - from joy and surprise, to sadness and devastation, cruel, brave, cool, with very unusual decisions in the script, talks about where the path of revenge leads. I would say that this is the Last of Us II from the world of samurai)

Huge thanks to Netflix, and of course the writers and production team for making season 1 truly awesome. Let's hope for more greatness in season 2. Notes to Netflix: please don't interfere in the creative process, please don't rush the writers and production team, please don't reduce the budget.

Story-telling at its Best

[alimajidi-12971 · 10/10 · 30 January 2024]

The Bride and the Ronin is a new standard in story-telling. In this episode, we finally understand how sad and confused is Mizu between her real identity-being a girl-and also living as a boy and her desires and that she can love! This Wonderful episode shows what fueled her to insist on her path of revenge.

The idea of telling the story in two parts-The tale of the Ronin and the tale of Mizu- and advance them to their peaks is breath-taking. Mizu left everything behind to take revenge. The World taught her some painful lessons which she would never forget. Those look in her eyes at the end. Those are The look we'll never forget...

The tale of the ronin and the bride

[netrapals-80437 · 10/10 · 22 November 2023]

The naginata is described as "a little old fashioned". Battlefield tactics in Japan had changed over the preceding century or so, and by the Edo period (when this is set) the naginata had largely been abandoned in favour of the katana (samurai long sword) or nagamaki (a glaive, somewhere between katana and naginata in design).

Movie so exited I was waiting for a long time when this movie would come, when I saw the trailer I did not stop, I was waiting for this movie to come or when I saw it, I had to read the description of the movie and then watch the movie. It was very good And the sound becomes even more exciting movie ko.

this should be an 11 or 12

[nerrdrage · 10/10 · 17 March 2024]

I've given episodes 9s so far, with a 10 for the previous, strongly emotional episode so I'm at a loss what to give this one. It just breaks the scale.

The three-part format is a brilliant idea, encompassing past, present, and a traditional puppet show that comments on the other two.

One narrative is an insane battle like you've never seen, where Mizu once again fights against unbelievable odds. The other is a sweet and bitter love story. The puppet show ties them together with the theme of love and hate and revenge.

Put all three together and now we understand where Mizu's rage is coming from and why she wants to kill four men she's never even met. What she really hates is her own bitter existence.

Relentless. No bulsh t. Peak. Instant classic.

[ahmxii · 10/10 · 10 March 2024]

This is some top tier stuff. Every new piece of media should take notes from this show.

As of this episode. The idea of showing two different tales, (tale of the Ronin and the tale of Mizu), dividing the episode into three separate segments, with the third segment representing Mizu's present, leading each of them to their ultimate climaxes, sets a new standard for storytelling excellence. Not to mention, leaving the viewers guessing how both stories relates to each other.

I honestly watch fair amount of cinema and tv but never ever came across to something truly as genius as this. This episode is the epitome of media. It at least made me to write a review on about it- on for God sake IM Db. (TT)