My friends and I joke that Taigen must’ve snuck aboard the ship, traveling half way across the world in a barrel, and bursts out, yelling at Mizu, “You thought you could get out of our duel?!” 🤣
Am I the only one who thinks Mizu’s father is Japanese and her mother is/was a white woman? Possibly brought in to Japan by one of the four white men. The show constantly shows how women are invisible/bought and sold in society so she would not know how many white women were in Japan at the time of her birth who could of easily been impregnated. Could this woman be a daughter or companion of one of the four men? It would explain why Fowler is extra “amused” by her and says she “doesn’t know anything.” In the flash back when Mizu was a baby, a man, presumably Japanese, saves her from being murdered in her crib. I don't buy this was a choice he made based on his moral compass alone. I'm honestly getting Lyanna Stark- Rhaegar Targaryen vibes from the whole situation. I think it would be an interesting turn for Mizu down the road to discover the father she always viewed as “a white devil” to be something else entirely.
I've seen that theory go around quite a bit, and I hope it's true, it would be the kind of twist to knock Mizu's worldview of herself from "I am the product of a gross violation" to "I am the product of a forbidden union." Her entire life has been dedicated on the premise that she is an abomination birthed from cruelty, so what would it mean for her to be the result of genuine love instead?
Akemi saying "I want to be great" in front of the burning ruins of the shogun's palace is just *chef's kiss* cinema. And Fowler's final line to Mizu is one of the greatest jaw-dropping moments I've ever seen in a show. Really sets the stage for what's to come in the next 2-3 seasons, especially if A CERTAIN OTHER BIG HISTORICAL FIRE becomes a relevant plot point.
Yayyyy congrats on finishing this wonderful show! Season 2 is expected to come around 2026 as the showrunners said it will take 24 months of production. Unfortunately it was also recently revealed season 2 will only have 6 episodes instead of 8 and 4/6 episodes have been written thus far. We’ve got a long wait but I’m hoping for the same magic when it does drop!
At this point in time England is currently under the rule of Oliver Cromwell the first lord protector after defeating King Charles the 1st during the English Civil War .
Chris: The trip from London to South Africa and back used to take about 8 months. It’s gonna be a little longer than a few weeks from Japan to London. At least 5 months one way.
I think they had the intention of completing this story in one season if they needed to but Netflix saw how good it was and was already in the process of green-lighting a second season by the time this aired and properly blew up. Hence why there were some things that felt on track to be 100% resolved, but seem to have been purposely extended for second season. At least that was my feeling watching it. Great show and I am so down to see fish out of water Mizu in London. This is the era of King James I, not the time of parliamentarian modern England that we know of now which began in the 19th century, as Suraj was saying. England still has so many colonies and such that it is actively controlling. America hasn't even had it's revolutionary war yet, they are still a subject to the crown.
The creators have actually said that they pitched a longer series with multiple seasons but were hoping to get renewed after the first one if they got enough viewership. Thankfully a second season is being worked on right now. Hopefully they can tell their whole story, since a lot of great animated series get cancelled prematurely these days, especially on Netflix.
The only thing I really wish happened differently would be that a service besides Netflix owned the rights to this show. I fear they're not going to let this show cook the way it deserves.
Season Two being based in the UK in that late 1650s should be interesting, as that was during Britain's brief period of republicanism under Oliver Cromwell (his dying in 1658 after beheading the king, killing most of the population of Ireland, banning Christmas etc.), as well as being when Britain began to open up to the wider world with stuff like tea first being reintroduced and such. If the show gets a third season, as I think that the creators indicated they wanted to do, I can easily see it taking place in like colonial America, but that won't be until like 2028 or something daft.
poor Suraj, I understand your pain, but man, after that scene at the castle where they pick her up and trow her against the wall instead of in the pit, I stoped asking questions and treat like itsa magic and fairy tale fantasy world
Yeah, this episode doesn't make a lot of sense logistically. From no one noticing the army, to Akemi closing the gate that then magically ends up open when Taigen finds her.
They are meant to be. She loves him too. I am a sucker for that kind of dynamic. Her husband failed her when it counted most. I hope Taigen passes that test.
@jaimebergner I mean he already knows that she's very skilled. It's just a matter of finding out she's been a girl the whole time. I'm trying to imagine how that whole scenario is gonna go down 😆👀
I know that this is an alternate history, but...where are the Japanese guns? They were mentioned at least twice on the show, but were pretty much nowhere to be seen. Sure, guns were probably less prominent all over Japan than in previous decades, but certainly troops close to the Shogun would still have access to guns, even with Western stuff being banned. Inferior guns, maybe, but guns nonetheless. In this alternate history where a major turning point hinged on one side having guns, it would have been nice to spoonfeed the audience as to why the other side absolutely did not have guns. The show didn't even handwave it.
I know ya'll didn't care for the ending because it did subvert expectations. We're just so accustomed to the hero story where they have to make this bond with whatever it is they need to make in order to accomplish their task. But they aren't telling that story. I feel like this London arc of the story might be the most interesting. I do imagine it's going to offer the most temptation for our hero to fall from their path. And it'll also offer the most in terms of social commentary. Especially for those the show was trying to represent...those without a culture that accepts them. Too "ethnic" to be fully accepted here but too "American" to be accepted by your own people. And then add in the "white-passing" aspect that this show may be getting into...and how certain recent events may have a bit of that happening. Latinos for Trump. I have some very bad news for them. MAGA will never accept them no matter how much they try to assimilate. So while they may have acted like they welcomed you, Stephen Miller is tweeting how they're getting ready to denaturalize & deport.
If I'm honest, I was a bit disappointed in the finale. Not the animation or action at all but the plot direction just kinda felt off. Mizu just decides to leave Ringo again after the whole castle climb had her admit to herself that she needs him, plus she's kinda being stupid in taking Fowler to London, where his friends and their connections are a lot more open, she's trading finding a needle in a haystack to finding a specific needle in a needlestack. Akemi's decision to go back also felt a bit forced, since she never demonstrated a desire for power or the Shogunate, I know Seki said he would've liked to see her rule but that's what he wants, she literally switched from 'I wanna live away from politics in a farm' to 'I want to be great' in less than an hour.
I could be the only one but that scene between Taigen and Mizu 21:18 ....ugh 😩 makes me want the enemies to lovers thing to happen even more!!! 😅😏 Im so curious to see when hes gonna find out she's a girl👀
Yep, this episode is my one gripe with the show, it felt very "hand of the writer". I can't get myself to see any way Mizu, as they have built her, lets Fowler live. She's too driven, and he's too dangerous.
what a weird take, daenerys purposefully did it, and went around starting MANY fires in MANY different spots with the sole intention of burning the city to the ground Mizu was in a fight for her life and threw one single candle during that fight, with 0 intentions of burning anyone or anything aside from that one doorway to prevent him from running tbh though, if the entire town is that easy to burn to the ground that ONE candle in that room is enough to do it, then it was gonna happen eventually anyways when someone accidently knocked that shit over
how are they comparable? lol Mizu did smt without thinking too much about the consequences and was focusing on stopping Fowler, something that would help all of Japan (the same thing that Akemi did by closing the gates). Daenerys did smt _knowing full well what the consequences were_ and did it anyways looking at the ppl she burned from above, not even risking her own life like Mizu (or Akemi and Seki) did. they're definitely not the same. Daenerys is more similar to the shōgun's wife, who commanded his son to close the gates (couldn't even do it herself...) and who was motivated only by greed for power and the pettiest reasons (they didn't defend the shōgun? so what? like Mizu said: Itoh deserved whatever came). and yeah, Mizu is not a hero, she doesn't pretend to be one (like, that has been her whole arc this season: being a true samurai), but she's definitely not a bad person. besides, she not noticing what she did until Fowler said it is intentional, like that's supposed to show how vengeance can blind a person even when that person doesn't even want to burn a city to the ground. you trippin
No not really - she starts the episode by judging Shogun Ito for letting white corruption fatten his wealth, so she offers no interest or wrath for the people living in the capitol Danaerys was posed as a revolutionary - Mizu was always posed as a renegade, whose revenge fouls 😉 a white conquerer’s scheme
@@qwertyrobot1 In fairness it really isn't that crazy for a giant fire to start from one tiny thing. Tons of giant fires in history, like The Great Fire Of London, started from one spot catching fire.
We made it to the season finale!!!! What did you think of the ending? Anything you wish happened differently?
I do have a small request for when yall react to season 2. Can we get the whole Normies crew for the season 2 reaction?
Good reaction, another interesting anime movie is "Summer Ghost"
In the 17. Century it took between 6-9 Months to travel from London to Japan by boat. ^^
So what you're saying is...Blue Eye Samurai is gonna have a boat arc?
i always love the reaction ppl have to Mizu's onryō mode. is such a perfect shot.
My friends and I joke that Taigen must’ve snuck aboard the ship, traveling half way across the world in a barrel, and bursts out, yelling at Mizu, “You thought you could get out of our duel?!” 🤣
Am I the only one who thinks Mizu’s father is Japanese and her mother is/was a white woman? Possibly brought in to Japan by one of the four white men. The show constantly shows how women are invisible/bought and sold in society so she would not know how many white women were in Japan at the time of her birth who could of easily been impregnated. Could this woman be a daughter or companion of one of the four men? It would explain why Fowler is extra “amused” by her and says she “doesn’t know anything.” In the flash back when Mizu was a baby, a man, presumably Japanese, saves her from being murdered in her crib. I don't buy this was a choice he made based on his moral compass alone. I'm honestly getting Lyanna Stark- Rhaegar Targaryen vibes from the whole situation. I think it would be an interesting turn for Mizu down the road to discover the father she always viewed as “a white devil” to be something else entirely.
wait u could be onto something 😭
No, it’s an interesting theory. That would be a crazy twist if it were to happen.
I've seen that theory go around quite a bit, and I hope it's true, it would be the kind of twist to knock Mizu's worldview of herself from "I am the product of a gross violation" to "I am the product of a forbidden union." Her entire life has been dedicated on the premise that she is an abomination birthed from cruelty, so what would it mean for her to be the result of genuine love instead?
This is the first time I’ve heard this theory, and I absolutely love it, holy shit!
Akemi saying "I want to be great" in front of the burning ruins of the shogun's palace is just *chef's kiss* cinema. And Fowler's final line to Mizu is one of the greatest jaw-dropping moments I've ever seen in a show. Really sets the stage for what's to come in the next 2-3 seasons, especially if A CERTAIN OTHER BIG HISTORICAL FIRE becomes a relevant plot point.
Yayyyy congrats on finishing this wonderful show! Season 2 is expected to come around 2026 as the showrunners said it will take 24 months of production. Unfortunately it was also recently revealed season 2 will only have 6 episodes instead of 8 and 4/6 episodes have been written thus far. We’ve got a long wait but I’m hoping for the same magic when it does drop!
At this point in time England is currently under the rule of Oliver Cromwell the first lord protector after defeating King Charles the 1st during the English Civil War .
And if Irish Fowler is from a Catholic background, then he might be in trouble.
Chris: The trip from London to South Africa and back used to take about 8 months. It’s gonna be a little longer than a few weeks from Japan to London. At least 5 months one way.
"I ain't got time to bleed."
"Uh... okay."
I think they had the intention of completing this story in one season if they needed to but Netflix saw how good it was and was already in the process of green-lighting a second season by the time this aired and properly blew up. Hence why there were some things that felt on track to be 100% resolved, but seem to have been purposely extended for second season. At least that was my feeling watching it.
Great show and I am so down to see fish out of water Mizu in London. This is the era of King James I, not the time of parliamentarian modern England that we know of now which began in the 19th century, as Suraj was saying. England still has so many colonies and such that it is actively controlling. America hasn't even had it's revolutionary war yet, they are still a subject to the crown.
The creators have actually said that they pitched a longer series with multiple seasons but were hoping to get renewed after the first one if they got enough viewership. Thankfully a second season is being worked on right now. Hopefully they can tell their whole story, since a lot of great animated series get cancelled prematurely these days, especially on Netflix.
Can't wait for Mizu to get to London and experience a whole other flavor of racism
Travel time between Japan and England by ship in the 1600's would be between 6-7 months depending on weather, ship type and route.
41:00 my prediction is that akemi will get rid of the rest of the shoguns family and take full control. That would be a awesome story
The only thing I really wish happened differently would be that a service besides Netflix owned the rights to this show. I fear they're not going to let this show cook the way it deserves.
Season Two being based in the UK in that late 1650s should be interesting, as that was during Britain's brief period of republicanism under Oliver Cromwell (his dying in 1658 after beheading the king, killing most of the population of Ireland, banning Christmas etc.), as well as being when Britain began to open up to the wider world with stuff like tea first being reintroduced and such.
If the show gets a third season, as I think that the creators indicated they wanted to do, I can easily see it taking place in like colonial America, but that won't be until like 2028 or something daft.
poor Suraj, I understand your pain, but man, after that scene at the castle where they pick her up and trow her against the wall instead of in the pit, I stoped asking questions and treat like itsa magic and fairy tale fantasy world
Yeah, this episode doesn't make a lot of sense logistically. From no one noticing the army, to Akemi closing the gate that then magically ends up open when Taigen finds her.
I could be the only one but that scene between Taigen and Mizu ....ugh 😩 makes me want the enemies to lovers thing to happen even more!!! 😅😏
They are meant to be. She loves him too. I am a sucker for that kind of dynamic. Her husband failed her when it counted most. I hope Taigen passes that test.
@jaimebergner I mean he already knows that she's very skilled. It's just a matter of finding out she's been a girl the whole time. I'm trying to imagine how that whole scenario is gonna go down 😆👀
Even though the finale is a smidge less satisfying than I'd like, this season was INCREDIBLE. Took us all by surprise! Can't wait for the next one!
I know that this is an alternate history, but...where are the Japanese guns? They were mentioned at least twice on the show, but were pretty much nowhere to be seen. Sure, guns were probably less prominent all over Japan than in previous decades, but certainly troops close to the Shogun would still have access to guns, even with Western stuff being banned. Inferior guns, maybe, but guns nonetheless. In this alternate history where a major turning point hinged on one side having guns, it would have been nice to spoonfeed the audience as to why the other side absolutely did not have guns. The show didn't even handwave it.
I know ya'll didn't care for the ending because it did subvert expectations. We're just so accustomed to the hero story where they have to make this bond with whatever it is they need to make in order to accomplish their task. But they aren't telling that story.
I feel like this London arc of the story might be the most interesting. I do imagine it's going to offer the most temptation for our hero to fall from their path. And it'll also offer the most in terms of social commentary. Especially for those the show was trying to represent...those without a culture that accepts them. Too "ethnic" to be fully accepted here but too "American" to be accepted by your own people.
And then add in the "white-passing" aspect that this show may be getting into...and how certain recent events may have a bit of that happening. Latinos for Trump. I have some very bad news for them. MAGA will never accept them no matter how much they try to assimilate. So while they may have acted like they welcomed you, Stephen Miller is tweeting how they're getting ready to denaturalize & deport.
If I'm honest, I was a bit disappointed in the finale. Not the animation or action at all but the plot direction just kinda felt off. Mizu just decides to leave Ringo again after the whole castle climb had her admit to herself that she needs him, plus she's kinda being stupid in taking Fowler to London, where his friends and their connections are a lot more open, she's trading finding a needle in a haystack to finding a specific needle in a needlestack.
Akemi's decision to go back also felt a bit forced, since she never demonstrated a desire for power or the Shogunate, I know Seki said he would've liked to see her rule but that's what he wants, she literally switched from 'I wanna live away from politics in a farm' to 'I want to be great' in less than an hour.
I could be the only one but that scene between Taigen and Mizu 21:18 ....ugh 😩 makes me want the enemies to lovers thing to happen even more!!! 😅😏 Im so curious to see when hes gonna find out she's a girl👀
Yep, this episode is my one gripe with the show, it felt very "hand of the writer".
I can't get myself to see any way Mizu, as they have built her, lets Fowler live. She's too driven, and he's too dangerous.
👉👉👉👉👇🦶🦶👀
Please react to solo leveling
She's not a hero she did burn a city to the ground. How is she different from daenerys she didn't even notice until he told her
what a weird take, daenerys purposefully did it, and went around starting MANY fires in MANY different spots with the sole intention of burning the city to the ground
Mizu was in a fight for her life and threw one single candle during that fight, with 0 intentions of burning anyone or anything aside from that one doorway to prevent him from running
tbh though, if the entire town is that easy to burn to the ground that ONE candle in that room is enough to do it, then it was gonna happen eventually anyways when someone accidently knocked that shit over
how are they comparable? lol
Mizu did smt without thinking too much about the consequences and was focusing on stopping Fowler, something that would help all of Japan (the same thing that Akemi did by closing the gates).
Daenerys did smt _knowing full well what the consequences were_ and did it anyways looking at the ppl she burned from above, not even risking her own life like Mizu (or Akemi and Seki) did. they're definitely not the same.
Daenerys is more similar to the shōgun's wife, who commanded his son to close the gates (couldn't even do it herself...) and who was motivated only by greed for power and the pettiest reasons (they didn't defend the shōgun? so what? like Mizu said: Itoh deserved whatever came).
and yeah, Mizu is not a hero, she doesn't pretend to be one (like, that has been her whole arc this season: being a true samurai), but she's definitely not a bad person. besides, she not noticing what she did until Fowler said it is intentional, like that's supposed to show how vengeance can blind a person even when that person doesn't even want to burn a city to the ground.
you trippin
No not really - she starts the episode by judging Shogun Ito for letting white corruption fatten his wealth, so she offers no interest or wrath for the people living in the capitol
Danaerys was posed as a revolutionary - Mizu was always posed as a renegade, whose revenge fouls 😉 a white conquerer’s scheme
@@qwertyrobot1 In fairness it really isn't that crazy for a giant fire to start from one tiny thing. Tons of giant fires in history, like The Great Fire Of London, started from one spot catching fire.
Dragon Lady was going to enslave the world as her goal.