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Blue Eye Samurai is the reason you should give animated TV shows a chance.This series (watch trailer, runtime: 2:21) takes place in Edo-era Japan, and takes a Mulan-esque premise to new heights. Mizu is shunned by her community for being born to a Japanese mother and a white father, constantly being outed by her blue eyes.

Constantly tormented for being a child of the “white devil,” Mizu is only saved by a blind sword maker who mistakes her for a boy and takes her in as his apprentice. She becomes a skilled swordsman and powerful warrior on a personal mission, though she encounters trouble frequently on her quest.

What is she after? Well, there are only four white men in all of Japan — and she’s going to kill all of them. One of them is her possible biological father, and she won’t let a case of mistaken identity stop her from ending his life.

The show is rife with battles and blood. Limbs are chopped off, teeth pulled out, and Mizu slices through enemies like a knife through warm butter.

It’s a gory show, but it’s also incredibly gorgeous. There are snow-covered landscapes, beautifully painted forests, and roads dappled with pink lights. The world has a hint of Game of Thrones dramatic cinematography in it.

It is a masterpiece of storytelling, inspired by co-showrunner Amber Noizumi’s personal experience, who developed the show alongside her husband Michael Green. Green has ample experience writing story-led media, working on Logan and Blade Runner 2049, both praised for their ornate and introspective narratives.

You can find Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix.

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