The Disturbing Ideology of "Blue Eye Samurai" 

Hi everyone, thanks for watching this video. I made a mistake early on in the video: Fowler is Irish, not Scottish. Thanks for the commenters who pointed this out.

2 minutes in and no… it is not “up to Mizu to stop Fowler.” Her stopping Fowler has absolutely nothing to do with what Fowler is attempting to accomplish. It’s in fact entirely incidental. She even SAYS so in episode 5. She has no desire to save Japan or the Shogunate at all. She literally doesn’t do so, and all of Edo BURNS as a result of her actions. That’s a HUGE misunderstanding of the narrative.

Interesting analysis but I think the fundamental comparison you're making here doesn't work, in my opinion, mostly because it elides the particular nuance that is deeply embedded in BES. Mizu's anger at Fowler and the other white men who may be her father is deeply personal. It has less to do with their nationality or their ethnicity in the abstract than it does with the effects that their behavior combined with their ethnicity had on her mother and herself. Indeed, at several points she shows a particular lack of interest in Japanese ethnicity and culture. The Shogunate, for instance, can be burned to the ground for all she cares. The specific cultural traits and character of say, the samurai mean nothing to her except to the extent that their skill can further her quest for revenge. She is, of course, influenced by Japanese culture because she has grown up within it but we are shown several examples of her disposition that the ONLY thing that matters to her is satisfying her quest for vengeance. Of course, as she develops as a character, this becomes complicated by other feelings and personal relationships. But her overriding concern is still always personal vengeance. Moreover, as much as Fowler is clearly a villain, those who oppose him and his plans for Japan are clearly also pretty villainous. The Shogun's wife is probably the closest thing to an ethno-nationalist in the whole story and she is coded as a particularly horrible human being. Heiji Shindo and his various co-conspirators clearly hate Fowler BECAUSE he is white and European and they are almost as awful as he is. To my sensibilities, and contrary to your thesis, the story is very much about how purity is overvalued. Swordfather on multiple occasions emphasizes that Mizu herself places too much value in the purity of the steel she forges and too little value in how her own "impurity" strengthens her (and steel). Finally, I have spent a lot of time and energy thinking and studying Birth of a Nation. There's something there but, with respect, I just don't think the comparison holds up very well.

Really missing the point of Blue Eyed Samurai. Mizu does NOT symbolize the warrior ethos. She symbolizes the monster and destruction. that irrational hatred can produce. She shows that vengeance is a destructive and selfish venture. Fowler even points this out in the last episode! In regard to the nationalist portrayal. I think it's an observation that Japan DID have a very isolationist/nationalistic view of itself in the past. It's not seen as good (because you can see several bad things in the traditional laws like the woman and her child not being allowed to travel.) It's just seen as the way it was back then.

idk if i agree with the comparison, but definitely BES wasn't subtle with any of its points -- like the writers didn't trust the audience to pick up on nuance. Rather, it seems like a modern western story with different dressing, and one that sort of fetishizes the idea of historic Japan. I genuinely don't understand why so many people like it.

by this analysis literally every story that features any kind of evil empire is like Birth of a Nation.

The media illiteracy is a real problem on RU-vid damn.

the blue eye samurai doesn't promote ethnic nationalism; it actually criticizes it every step of the way. But you can't place a story in Edo era Japan and pretend things were different. This is how society was, this is how people thought at the time and the show does a bang up job showing the injustices that can emerge out of that. Combine that with the Swordfather's teachings and the criticism is right in the open for everyone to see.

I really like this unique take, but I think there are some flaws in your analysis. 1. In Blue Eye Samurai (BES) the Revenge plot is the main focus not the imperialism. The series does discuss many themes through it's characters but Fowler is a personal antagonist for Mizu first and a power hungry European second, which is contrary to Birth of a Nation (BN) if I recall correctly. 2. The power dynamic for African-Americans in BN is in no way comparable to that of white people in BES. In the series the Japanese don't want foreign intervention by global superpowers that wanted to exploit them and the few white people present in Japan went there of their own volition in positions of power. African Slaves were brought to america forcefully and fought for their right to be seen as actual humans. These things are not the same. 3. It's very important that you brought up the fallout of Japanese ethnic nationalism, though I feel like that's reaching a bit far considering were in the Edo period and nobody is thinking about ethnic cleansing. The Japanese just wanted nothing to do with anybody else back then. This could be a totally biased take, but I'd be interested in what you think about this.

10:20 "And reimagine this nation more, to my liking" I believe replacing the term "nation" with "show" gives us an accurate description of the view you portray in this video. What could have possibly made you believe Japan is made out as some sort of "good guy" here? You claim "the supreme irony of using Japan as the backdrop of an anti-imperialist ethnic nationalist narrative was lost on the creators of the Blue Eye Samurai" Yet I fail to see what makes you believe the creators support in any way this model of Japan. I would argue the show is an overt critique of XVIIth century japanese traditions and customs (ex: the xenophobia the main character faces, the sexism Akemi faces, the ableism Ringo faces, the classicism Taigen faces). You claim the "samurai ethos" is romanticised. Does Mizu not have a character arc of revenge that culminates by the last episode with her lowering her defenses and openly asking for help to Ringo, exposing not only herself (metaphorically, she’s naked since she hides nothing) but also a "weakness" of hers (she cannot reach her back, so she needs the help of others to finish her task). Being vulnerable is a trait that stands in opposition to samurai values. After refusing to take Akemi under her wing, Ringo accuses her of being "no samurai", to which Mizu responds she never claimed she was, "you did". The only themes truly romanticised in any way in this show are the beauty of nature, by means of the spectacular animation, and the complexities and interrelations of humans. Mizu is no savior, she is a being on the path of revenge, her only vow is to kill the men that cursed her (this self-deprecation, being Mizu’s and thus the plot’s driving force, once more goes against any idea of romanticisation). I will give you the benefit of the doubt, since I’ve only watched 12 minutes of your video, but if the claim you are making is that there truly is a deep connexion between a story celebrating centuries of ethnic genocide and national patriotism leading to brutal forms of violence against a people deemed alien, to a story of bitter revenge and self-alienation all while condemning social prejudices deeply ingrained inside an isolationist society governed by corrupt political personalities with, for the most part, selfish desires, then I can only hope you watch the show once more, not through the lens of "the depiction of an anti-imperialist empire", but of simply a story of identity and revenge.

Well, good points, food for thought, but Mizu was never out to save Japan from foreigners, that was just incidental (and she ended up burning down Tokyo in the process and didn't blink an eye). Nor was she ever a hero meant to inspire or be emulated.

lmao, the difference is that Confederacy is not being invaded by a foreign ethos. it's invaded by it's own. Imperialists invaded imperialists. Japan only turned imperialist when they copied the Imperialists after losing their isolation by force. False equivalence.

Your analysis of Blue Eyed Samurai and The Birth of a Nation is very interesting and on point. But these are both Western works divorced from actual Japanese history. Between 1639 and 1858 when Japan actually was in a state of nationalist isolation, Japan was peaceful both domestically and outwardly. Japan became an imperialistic invader only after it allowed foreign influences in after the arrival of Mathew Perry. In fact, Japan made foreign military excursions in only two periods in the past one thousand years, two brief excursions to Korea between 1592 and 1598 and the Imperial Japan period between 1868 and 1945, both of which were triggered by foreign influence. Otherwise, Japan was isolationist throughout. Your view about ethnic nationalism is valid, but it explains Western powers better than it explains Japan. In fact, I sense a tinge of anti-Japanese racism being justified by juxtaposing an American-made animated feature with an American-made racist film and shoe-horning it into an unnecessary commentary on present day Japanese politics which has nothing to do with either of these works.

I don’t think you fully understand what imperialism is. There’s a significant difference between a foreign western imperial power taking over a country, and a coup attempt being lead by a person born in the west. But yes, there are remarkable similarities between white supremacy and all other instances of a racial group attempting to maintain separation from other races. If you look at any group that’s defined by a shared ancestry, you’ll find the same kind of problematic ideologies. Generally a feeling of self superiority and a negative attitude towards mixing with other racial groups.

Fowler is way worse, he offered his terms to God, and it was takee it or leave it. Then done it anyway

Fowler is Irish not Scottish.

wow. So deep. I love the show and this analysis adds a very complex layer to it. Thanks.

What does the cool thing about 1632 to Ring of fire I like about the ring of fire if the characters of grantsville and the thing is these townspeople made nations what the people they found ourselves among demon allow them to be a part of I wonder if mussels actually met samurai Jack was a very interesting character in the sense to me he's also a samurai but he never unselfishly help other people even though he lost his Nation he lost his culture and he was dismissed at a time you know that would be quite interesting if she met people like when you think about

B.e:S is depicting Edo Japan with some accuracy, although is wans´t that extreme in the show. The dutch still could trade in the port of Nagasaki, so at least some Japansese had contact with white people and culture. Japan expiusion of most foreigners and its forced isolation was more because of the awarenes of the colonial activities of european powers in Asia, it was basibally a preemptive measure to keep those powers at at distance. Nationalism in todays sense did not exist, Japan was a united country by then, but the pwople still where more loyal to a certain ruler then to the abstract idea of shared nationhood

Bro said absolutely 0 correct things. Bro is just babbling.

The show was highly political, perceived as both hateful and foolish, and appeared to go against the nature of humanity, harming both men and women. I anticipate a future where these actions could backfire dramatically, especially on women, regressing their societal status by centuries.

I thought about watching it, but looked it up and realised its an American production, and i never whatch American productions about another culture, not even if someone who is 2nd gen of that culture worked in that team, if i want to see a film that regards to a certain place or culture, i do only whatch it if its made by someone who spend moste of their life at the place the movie is about. 🤌🏼

Me when I completely ignore fundamental parts of the character and story to make really weird foils that ignore historical context

I just wanted to say that I'm proud to see, for once, a comment section where different opinions can be dicussed pacifically. Great video btw even if I don't agree with everything you said, you brought a very interesting subject and had good arguments, it made me think a lot.

I can’t tell how many people actually disagree with the criticism or are defending a show they like. I think this criticism has a solid foundation but is overlooking a few things. Mizu is on a quest for revenge because of the hatred she received as a child for being other. It is the xenophobia and racism Mizu endured that made her a “monster”. In Mizu the writers are condemning the isolationist view of Japan and how destructive the philosophy can be. To claim that Blue Eye Samurai accepts the racism and xenophobia of Japan, is to claim that the writers think that the treatment of Mizu was deserved. I don’t think it was handled nearly as well but Blue Eye Samurai is very similar to the novel "Things Fall Apart", both dissecting glaring problems in their societies, but rejecting imperialism as the solution to those problems. It’s clear that the hatred inflicted on Mizu due to xenophobia is wrong, just as it’s clear that Fowler’s planned imposition on Japan is the wrong solution to that problem.

So you used an American white nationalist propaganda film to compare to an artistic and poignant series about Edo Japan, its intricate politics, and the social hierarchies thereof that produced the person Mizu is portrayed to be as a direct victim of that nationalism?? congrats the point--------------------------> you

I think that you do not know very well how to read texts, how to interpret and criticize texts. If you want to improve, you need to learn how to interact with media in a more thoughtful way. You misunderstood several core components of this text and you seem not to grasp how narration in fiction works. You should research the term "narratology". You will see that there is a big difference between Author, Narrator, Text and Character. They are not all the same. Which makes the interpretation of fictional texts so interesting, if you know how to actually do it. You are reading too many things at face value. You repeatedly confuse Text and Message. Mizu is a character. She is neither the narrator nor is she the author. Also, she is not "the hero" of this story. The Author could give us hints about her being flawless and essentially "right" in her beliefs. The author could do this through the narration or by showing us other characters' reactions to Mizus actions. If the world and the characters in it mostly validated Mizus deeds, then this *could* mean that the author agrees with her. In that case, we would have to question why the creators of this text came up with a main character who is racist and xenophobe and also a shining example for others. It would be unsettling to most of humans(except for racist bigots of course). But the narration of BES is very neutral. And through the different viewpoints of different other characters, we as consumers of the medium are obviously encouraged to draw our own conclusions about Mizus worldview and the validity of her goals. She is not a hero but a protagonist, pushing the plot along. She is not ever validated in her worldview, more the contrary: Her goals and the things she does in order to achieve them are again and again questioned by characters that we, as an audience, can find very convincing. The whole of BES hints very strongly at the fact that Mizu may have good reasons for her fury, but that she may be deeply wrong about the destructive path she follows. Even Fowler speaks this out in the end. What you perceive as an ideology of the whole text is only the stance of a very flawed and damaged character. You are reading this text much too literally. For example, that Mizu has become a spirit of vengeance is not real, not even inside the narrative. It is merely a metaphor. As far as we know, supernatural elements like ghosts and demons do not exist in this world. And Mizu is still very much human, even though she prefers to see herself as vengeance embodied. Also, you describe her as a perfect example for the samurai warrior ethos. This is false. She is told, repeatedly, by her friends and foes alike, that she is no Samurai, and that her thirst for vengeance is a twisted, dark thing that scares them and besmirches the ideals of a true warrior. Concerning your thoughts about the Empress and her decision to shut off Japan completely: You , again, take this at face-value. You treat it as a decision that gets validated as 'correct' by the Author or the Text. This is false. She is making a wrong decision. Japans complete isolation will lead to brutal upheaval in the 1800s. In her attempt to not repeat the mistake of her husband, the Empress makes a different one that's just as bad. The authors can assume that we know that. You have to take things like that into account when you interpret a text. At the end of season 1, Mizu has grown. She has not yet given up on revenge (because this would defeat the premise of the show too quickly) but she has obviously learned hard lessons about friendship and letting others in. We can expect this development to lead her to new interesting places in Season 2. Obviously, she will experience things that will force her to question her ideals and beliefs even more and she will have to adjust her worldview. It is reasonable to expect that she will start to more and more see complexities that she did not perceive before. This will be good for her, it might lead to a process of healing. What is pretty clear so far, from all we have seen, is that this is not a show that will simply end with Mizu murdering a bunch of white dudes and then living happily ever after. She will ultimately not be validated in the beliefs she started with in Episode 1. Revenge is a destructive and toxic force, hate is not good, simplyfying the world leads to painful mistakes. People everywhere are labeled (and thus objectified) through their gender, social status, race and sexuality and they all suffer because of that, and this show knows it. BES has demonstrated to us again and again that it knows how bad this is. The story of "Blue Eye Samurai" shows us how nuanced the world really is: Characters that we first perceive as shallow have rich inner lives, japanese characters can easily be as greedy as the europeans, those seen as 'useless' can be very useful indeed and even a (metaphorical!) spirit of vengeance suffers from loneliness. The show demonstrates several times how hard and at the same time fulfilling it can be to stay in motion; to think, grow and learn, to escape social norms and forge an individual path. BES is a show about people and how flawed and complex and unique they are. You are missing those important points and your comparison with Birth of a Nation does not work at all.

Appreciate the energy you have devoted to this but fundamentally I have to contend the comparison is for me pretty ill-concieved. I would agree If the show ever elevated the notion of "Japaneseness" to a level of intrinsic goodness or as a fundamentally aspiratonal concept. In the show japanese society or people are never depicted in a way that idealises them. On the contrary im suprised how you came away form the show feeling that the "japanesness" on display was ever framed as an instrinic good. The society on display is both brutal and unfair. The japanese nobility we come in contact with are brazingly self serving or inept. Mizus own selfhatred is a product of the japanese society around her, sure she directs that hatred against "outsiders" however herself and her broken identity is formed in childhood among her japanese peers. In some moments of my viewing I rather got the fleeting impession of "ow man this shit is bleak as fuck, maybe the writers/directors overdid it with how horrible this society is" which would run completely counter to any intention of the show to argue for a superior Japanese pereniallism of any kind. While I dont know for sure I feel pretty confident that the same alarm/disgust I momentarily felt infront of the show is easier to feel rather than the opposite. Which kinda defeats the point of the comparison if the watcher is actively hoffified by the culture and society on display. One part of the video I liked is when you mentioned how we invent a past to herald our contemporary culture. While this certainely applies to BES, it also applies to almost all popular media dramatising history. Viking Scandinavia, The Romans, Ancient and classical China. All media dealing with ancient/old society and culture are notorious for inventing, essensialisng, exporting backwards and continously perpetuate myths of all kinds. BES is probably (I am not knowledgable on either japanese cultural history or modern japense mythologising) good example of it when it comes to Japan. However the problem is a universal one in media creation and consumption. More people should be aware just how much we dont know and project backwards on people very dissimal to us just because they happened to occupy the same geographical location 500/1000 years ago.

point taken, but ingroup vs the outsiders is deeply embedded in the nature of stories: Black Panther, Avatar(both), etc etc

Isn't Fawler northern irish, not scottish?

Well not even 2 minutes in he calls Fowler a Scottish trader when he's clearly Irish. I wouldn't imagine to many Scott's starving in Ireland during Tyrones rebellion. Not a good start to a video

The comparison here is pretty hilarious. While pretty far-fetched I don't think your reading is wrong either. I do think this kinds of story needs both a lot more nuance and clarity in its themes to avoid these potential imperialist messages. Many people, myself included, would say it that it obviously does not have the intention to the show also doesn't really have anything to counter your arguments. I was often thinking during the show that it was pretty crazy you could replace white people with actual demons and the story would still generally work.

Less than 2 minutes in, and I can see why the channel's name fits so well. Some characters are racist, other characters speak out against the racism, and somehow that's seen as an endorsement of racism. Maybe watch the show first instead of simply getting the usual litany of reactionary nonsense from people that feel the need to be offended by every piece of media, even if they have to invent narratives in the media that don't even exist. Helpful hint: The 2 writers for the show are a couple, are husband and wife. One is white, yes, but the other is Japanese. Their kid is mixed race. The likelihood that the writers wrote this story in order to uphold racism, condemn mixed race couples, and to claim children with 'mixed blood' are inherently evil is pretty damn low, just in terms of the sheer amount of self-loathing that would entail. And to think this essay already got so much wrong *in less than 2 minutes*. I'm sure Asians everywhere are ever so appreciative of you talking over them so you can whitewash the Japanese writer to score internet points for being such an anti-racist ally to Asians. In case the heavy irony escapes you, I'll spell it out in plain terms. The endorsement of whitewashing and racism is not in the show, but rather it is in the essay.

Genuinely asking if this is a parody take because I don't know how someone can think of this series for long enough to make a video on it without recognizing that this show actually criticizes ethno natuonalism. It centres two main characters who, by virtue of their birth, are othered by the rest of society and explores the pain of wanting to belong in a world that does not accept them. I'm sorry, but in no world is Fowler the victim of this story. So I ask again, is this a parody??

10:35 Did you really compare the freed black slaves who weren't even there by their choice, to the British, historically the biggest colonizer that has even been? Bruh.

I think i can see your point, but the effect on the audience and theme of the show argues against that. Many people have pointed out the purity vs. impurity thing, but most sympathize with Mizu being made a monster by the fact that the Edo Era and its racial hatred caused the evil of the Onryo. Taigen even has a whole character arc about it. On the foreign threat. The shogun shows no respect to Fowler even as he gets weapons from them. Its the spite that fuels Abjah, if being only accepted for his usefulness. He is a fascinating character as he was victimized by imperialism ( his backstory during the Nine Year's War) and seeks control by colonizing another, thus becomes kinda the embodiment of what the thesis of the video is. I think there is good foundations here, on victimization to imperialism especially. I do think the show gets a mixed message but strives to show how unfair and harmful a closed "racially pure" society is. I look forward to your next video.

Your exploration of nationalism is interesting, but I do not think it applies to this series. In my reading of it, it is the criticism of the things you say it promotes. At no point did I feel like it was trying to say these nationalist values, racism and separation are good. In fact, everyone was portrayed as wrong. Mizu is not the embodyment of japanese culture, nor portrayed as a hero. The entire story questions her motives and shows the destruction she sows for personal vengeance. Her hatred and rage is mostly misplace. It is a critique of the strong racism, because she is so indocrtinated she is lashing out at the "men who made her this way" instead of realizing the whole society is wrong for treating her this way in the first place. The Swordmaker is trying to make her understand the need for balance and self acceptance. She is on her way to London exactly to confront that part of herself, so she is forced to see the basic european people, as people, not monsters. It also criticizes the Shogun for hypocrisy. On one side isolationist, on the other breaks the rule to his own gain. The decision his wife and son make at the end is more lashing out and digging in, and not portrayed as the good or correct thing to do in the slightest. And while Fowler does represent european colonialism quite clearly, and there is no debating that he is evil, his corrupted views are contrasted with the already corrupted society. Neither is portrayed as good. Do we really need someone scream "hey this is wrong!" for us as the audience to understand that it is wrong? We should be able to use our critical thinking and not take things at face value and try to see what a show is trying to say. To portray the values of a specific historical era is not the same as supporting or promoting them. As for the comparison with Biirth of a Nation, i have nothing to say, I do not know much about old american films, or american history in general, and it would feel odd to comment on it

I love how everyones against this but LOOK at his username💀🙏

I appreciate the tone of this discussion. I loved this series for the artistic flair. The images, music, story and characters where immensely satisfying. Perhaps some of the action was over the top but then again its not a documentary. I didn't read deeply into political ideals while watching this or after. I think some of Japans historical context and views with outsiders fits with the story. I think the bi-racial nature of the main character in the context of Japanese culture is more central to the main point of the series. Being bi-racial myself, it is the main thing that stuck out for me and perhaps why I appreciated it even more.

Soooo... you just decided to label former slaves hunted and captured in their homeland and dragged with the ships to the foreign land in chains - as a foreign imperial power? Wow.

if i was a prof for a debate class then this is the video i would use for students to pick out mistakes with

I don't see the comparison between Mizu and Birth Nation guy. It seems like the rest of ur vid hinges on the viewer buying that comparison soo..mout.

I think I had enough, you are putting together concepts an example that are against by nature, your comparatives are completely wrong how can you compare a real threat like imperialistic west powers with a the wet dream of a black American imperialistic power? You should apologise to the viewers for such burd manipulation.

I disagree completely. I feel the blue eye samurai very clearly portrayed Mizu as faulty in her values. Not only was she not doing that to "protect japan from outside influence", she was doing this purely for revenge, but she was also shown to have failed in growing as a person at the end of the series by pursuing the other white men rather than abandoning her need for revenge to pursue happiness with the bonds she had created along the way.

Blue eyed samurai is a feminist racist fever dream, kudos for bringing this to light and the parallels with the kkk, ur a legend, also, for those who wanted to see something good, watch samurai champloo

me when i lie

I don't think we can judge this show for its first season as this story is to be continued with Mizu going to the west. The ethnic nationalism is something that is the core of her belief fueled by self hatered due to her white heretige. But there is this not very subtle analogy with the swords and combaining metals toghether wich makes them stronger. Maybe it also refers to nations working toghether? It's possible there will be change of heart in Mizu's character which will make her view west not only as imperialistic monsters, and it will shift the entire story in more nuanced, subtile direction. We will see.

Even though I think this may be a really good analysis, I feel you missed a few important points: Mizu really does not embody the traditional japanese values, as she does not care in the slightest about the shogunate, disrespects constantly other warriors and important people and sometimes lies to get what she wants. Furthermore, she is a really flawed protagonist, having killed her mother and husband out of momentary rage and pain even though she really did love them, and constantly proves her low opinion on herself based on her mixed blood and male presentation. Even with this, there still are the nationalistic tones, which make me feel the idea of the show is really contradictory. Maybe I didn't get the message.

28:50 Ok, so the glaring problem with this whole thing, is that one film depicts fictional situation, while the other exist in a historically accurate context which cannot be changed at will because, well, it's _history._ And also that depiction does not equals endorsement. You know of a way to make the ideas you speak of here not see as a foreign (pun) element in the world, hamfisted in to be preachy? To depict traditionally xenophobic Japanese of Edo period as suddenly accepting everybody and not minding their presence? The only way I would think of how that would not seen dissonant is to distort and misrepresent Japanese history to just erase the "xenophobic" part of the portrayal. IDK, some people think that twisting the history of another country, to "sanitize" it, is kinda bad.

4 minutes in and you’re literally comparing Blue Eye Samurai to the pro-confederate propaganda film Birth of a Nation? You’re kidding, right? Do you even understand what racism is, or understand history?

If you can't even get Fowler's nationality correct, I'm really not going to trust your analysis of more subtle stuff LOL

I think you bring up a good point, and the showrunners have a chance to stray from that narrative on the next season [SPOILER ALERT] with Mizu on her way to London

Perhaps a better film for comparison would be 'Oppenheimer,' which suggests that the American nation allowed the thirst for power to blind itself to the deaths of tens of thousands of human beings.

Bizzare take.

It seems to me that BES portrays the idea very articulately that a developed and culturally disparate population will dilute and tarnish a culture rather than assimilating to it. It’s a logical conclusion that we only call bad when a western nation wants to retain its sovereignty. Might be worth considering why we would hold different people groups to different standards of behavior.

I think you have severely misconstrued the message of blue eye samurai. The show makes it a point at multiple parts to show that mizu is NOT an honorable samurai, she is morally grey at best and an onryo at worst. Also, nowhere does the show support the ethno-state of edo-era japan, as the main characters of the show are meant to be victims or outcasts of this society. please take a media literacy class

Why so many haters? their talking about the background information not the characters. Hate can be in all colors, it's the creed people are born into, and later on choose, that counts.

Fowler was super OP

Your apparent presumption that none of your viewers, American or otherwise, could possibly be BLACK folks (I use the term deliberately) is both unfortunate and ironic, as part of this thought-provoking attempt to contextualize Blue Eye Samurai via an odd determination to flatten The Birth of a Nation into a fun-house mirror.

Can anyone explain better the birth of a nation comparison because I don't think he did a very good job at explaining the plot of that movie

Somebody finally talked about The ideology of this show ive Notice how its handling of Topics regarding its "politics" which is so ass backwards & is Just predictable, many things With this show shows its not Realistic at all & is very modernized in western politics, i knew this show Was going to suck from the very Beginning & guess what i was right.

I think the people are more aware about the situation did you give them credit for and there's part of the using the lens of the show the situation to show to criticize you say I do agree with but I think you missed the whole point of the picture it's the criticize f system I think yes but I think her actual revenge part of the thing I think actually time she do question herself

You’ve missed one fundamental thing about Blue Eye Samurai: it does not support ethnic nationalism, or nationalism of any kind really, it does not place Japan and it’s people on some form of pedestal as The Birth of a Nation did for the Aryans, *it condemns their behavior.* The main character is quite literally a prime target for their nationally homogenous and xenophobic attitude, and we are made to sympathise with all those who suffer from this exclusionary tradition: the main character, Akemi, Ringo, the prostitutes, Kinuyo, etc. Why did you think we were meant to sympathise with the Japanese people? Is it because Fowler is the main antagonist, and you therefore assumed the Japanese must be the heroes of the story?

Sorry man, but you're forgetting the actual history of the country. Japan did have a period of isolationism, where no foreigner was allowed to enter, and no Japanese were allowed to leave. This was due in part because of Christian missionaries causing people to change to that religion, leading to actual uprisings against the government (that failed and were put down). There were mixed race children born during this period, and they were treated like trash and monsters. The show being historically authentic does not mean it supports these ideals. Women were also treated as property with very few options in life, yet in this show we have multiple strong women who rebel against the system they're born into and are presented as right for doing so. I have to ask, what would you rather have? A show where other cultures are welcomed into the country happily during this time period? I mean, fine if that's what you WANT - but these things really did happen (not the actual plot obviously, but the historical authenticity). Why is it a problem to display the country authenticly during this time period? It would be like saying Django Unchained supports slavery because it shows Americans who support the slave trade in the movie. This is an awful analysis bud :).

This feels as a review that lacks nuance. Japanese ideologies of ethnic purity can be bad at the same time as European imperialism is bad. I didn’t see them portray the japanese ideologies as pure and good. They show a lot of bad, with the good, there is going to be more seasons to explore intricacies more closely.

Interesting. Btb you're reasoning is wrong at that point when you claim that territorial and ethnic nation is different. Technically they are different, in reality its like two side of a coin. They are the fundament of each other and they cannot exist withouth the other. May the only diferent nacionalism is the cultural/adaptive.

remolten and reforged as seen in GoT 😆

Birth of a Nation and Blue Eye Samurai are both Jewish creations.

💯

A very interesting perspective. While you can gloss over Mizu's motivations as simply "revenge", if you take the time to ponder it you can clearly see the racism. But let's be honest, in Hollywood today any story pitch that includes denigrating Western culture and/or "the patriarchy" will almost certainly be green lit.

I think this is AI generated content. Down vote...

Do you think the guy who wrote Conan the Barbarian was pushing a barbarian ideology? The thing about stories and fiction is you can have a pov / protagonist with a weird background. It adds texture to the story. I don't even care if I'm off base in this case, I'm seriously concerned that people don't understand how stories work any more.

HOW DO YOU HAVE ONLY 168 SUBSCRIBERS?!?!?! I'll be your 169th!

This show is bad please stop defending it 😂

I only started watching the show, but I'll save this for later.

I think you're ignoring the fact Mizu isn't fond of her own homeland that much. Most of the people have been nothing but cold to her, and her worst betrayls are by the Japanese. Then let's not forget how badly women are treated in Japan... Japan isn't framed as great, and Mizu hates herself for just existing. And civic nationalism isn't great on it's own because a big problem today is most people feel like they don't belong anywhere. While the old ways weren't perfect, the one thing they had was unification. And i think most people know the closing of the borders is a VERY bad thing at the end. But BOTH sides are xenophobic. And the fire that ACTUALLY hurt most people was the cause of Mizu's revenge, not the Fawler's siege.

Honestly I love this analysis of blue Eyed samurai. Much as I love that show, I love your deconstruction of that show

Is this an AI voice?

Yup Fowler's speech is what made me turn it off and I don't think I'm going to pick it up again. And Mizu is a total Mary Sue, throwing grown men one handed and what not.

Alright i started writing a pretty long comment about why this is in my opinion a bad critic and some historical stuff to prove it, but then I checked your channel name again and gotta say, well played, well played... #realbadlypresented

Dude, no!

I think this was a very interesting reading of Blue Eyed Samurai, I don't think much people have really talked about these themes that are present in the show. I do, however, disagree with a lot of what you took away from the show. I think it's important to added that the show isn't really painting Japan in a "good guy" light. I think it has it's criticisms of Japanese culture, both socially and historically. Japan, to this day, is xenophobic, as many people that have tried immigrating there have said that it's incredibly difficult on so many different levels. Also, I feel that the 300 years of civil wars that happened in Japan that were solved by guns is relevant to this shows themes and narrative. It changed Japan forever, and was part of the reason they became what we know a Japan today. I do see, though, that when you talk about this aspect in your video, it's more so from the representation that Mizu gets. This is another aspect that I was hoping you would do more research on or mention more thoughtfully; Mizu's mixed race background. She is rejected by both white people and Japanese people. She really isn't living as either which lends to her Ronin lifestyle. Either group only recognizes her when she has something to offer them. I love this discussion, but I can't state enough that while there is a xenophobic theme present, Mizu's very existence naturally challenges the characters and world around her, along side her gender. She goes against everything Saki tried to teach Akemi, and I think those contradictions are not a mistake. Rather it's intentional and, I believe, was meant to be a head nod to the audience.

bro your channel is a giant diamond in the rough and it blows my mind why you don’t have more subscribers

Ngl, I disliked how the non-Japanese were portrayed in the Blue Samurai. It's a story of Japanese racial and cultural supremacy, although it is subtle about its message.

That was a brilliant analysis and presentation. I enjoyed BEJ immensely, but when watching I couldn't shake a nagging feeling about the way to story is presented. You voiced and expanded on what was bothering me so well with this video. There's certainly more to be dissected here, but you have added a lot to the discussion.

While I quite enjoyed the show for the animation style, action and so on, I don't want to see ANY people or nation villified this unapologetically & almost gleefully.

People here trying to defend a show they like, but while the video might not yet everything right there is one thing we've got to acknowledge: race is a huge theme in BES, and BES interacts with that theme in a very weird way. Honestly i think that may be because BES was trying to reflect on race and ethnicity in a nuanced way, but failed in that. It ended up making a muddled point

Well, I guess this video fits the name of your channel.

I really appreciate your analysis and I think this is a very valid observation.

I knew this was made by westerners because of the cringe wokery and complete lack of subtlety. The problem isn't the subject or plot but the way in which it is presented.

just beggining the video and it plain simply ignores or misconstructs key parts of the story, character arc and framing, jesus christ

Just finished watching the whole video. I can't help but think/feel that there's a certain logical fallacy in your argument. Like a flawed comparison or false equivalency of sort.

I think you're overlooking A LOT of things here. You're acting as if the shogunate are the heroes of the story, which they're clearly not. They're shown as stubborn people with a stupidly intense focus on tradition. Fowler is the other extreme. Characters like Akemi and Taigen are the real heroes. The see beyond that and want to be free and helpful. The line were the shogun's widow says there won't be any wester influence is an extreme reaction to extreme circumstances, and is clearly stupid! The show gets across that if the Japanese hadn't been racist and over-traditional in the first place, all the destruction wouldn't have happened, yet they're still choosing to do that. The true heroes of the show are in the gray, in the balanced viewpoints, not any of the two extremes. You're a having a waaaay too superficial vision here...

21:30 i was just waiting for it. disgusting!

There is not the faintest hint of thought or action from Mizu suggesting any other reason than sheer vengeance; also, she is somehow half-foreign herself and definitely not following much of the local culture of tradition, that she seems to find suffocating at times. I would suspect the author was educated in some institution of the Western anglosphere, but not everything has to be seen to the lenses of some racial grievance.

So, the take away is: birth of a nation is a masterpiece

What the hell is white imperialism? Japan bough guns and tech from west, hello

Blue-eyed Samurai was also made by racists. Their racism is anti-white racism, founded on modern, cultural Marxist beliefs. It isn't "racialist". It is racist.