It was fairly obvious. Wasn't really a twist, more of a confirmation.

Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Was anyone surprised by the first episode ending? I called that immediately.

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Called what?

the "reveal" that she was a girl.

Definitely Not A Cop said:

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the "reveal" that she was a girl.

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Was that supposed to be a secret? It's in the description of the show.

I didn't think so, but the noodle guy acted surprised by it as if it was being kept secret.

I think the show is really good, on Ep 6. Was just curious if anyone else agreed that it was pretty telegraphed.

In the show, it's supposed to be a secret, but it's fairly obvious to the watcher. I never read the synopsis before watching, so didn't know. The whole first episode I was confused for a bit, trying to make up my mind.

Madmarttigan said:

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NC2001 said:

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For those who haven't watched it yet, it's not an anime you can watch with kids. Just FYI.

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The hanging of cartoon dong caught me a little off guard.

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Careful grabbing for those wish sticks!

Finished this today, such an excellent show.

I read an article where the showrunners felt they had to ask all the animators if they would be comfortable with the content. I realize this was an adult show, but it is still animated. I can't imagine anyone turning down the opportunity to work on this show, but apparently a bunch did. Blows my mind.

Lol. I think it was the gore they were referencing, but I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear a showrunner ask an animator if they would be OK drawing dozens of dicks

Great series, great story telling.

The lead character developer, Brian Kesinger, is a must-follow on Instagram. He regularly posts his own artwork and discusses the show. I LOL'ed when the octopus appeared. (Octopi show up on his feed a lot, but not like that.)

Neat little Easter egg here from Brian: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz4FNaZJIEf/?igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==

So I'm curious how y'all interpret episode 5.

The part that's left to interpretation is when the soldiers show up to take Mizu. Her husband had left after calling her a monster when he saw how skilled she was at fighting. The soldiers/bounty hunters show up not long after, but then the husband comes out of the forest, then rides off. He comes back after she's killed all the soldiers. Mizu blames him for the soldiers, her husband blames her mother, who in turn blames her husband. The husband kills the mother, Mizu then kills her husband.

Do you think the husband or mother ratted her out? I assume it was the husband since the soldiers/bounty hunters show up so soon that it doesn't seem coincidental. He also rode up when he saw something was going on, but turned away. He blames the mother and her opium addiction as the reason to tell. Mizu kills her husband because she's bound by honor to avenge her mother and has no way to actually know the truth.

Started this last night and first episode lives up to the hype. Was not expecting such long episodes though...not used to that in anime format.

Fenrir said:

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Started this last night and first episode lives up to the hype. Was not expecting such long episodes though...not used to that in anime format.

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Curious you use the term "anime". Is this considered an anime? How does one define an anime? Is is simply any animated show?

I ask because I have historically not liked any anime I have ever tried to watch. I have found the dialogue and story telling so incredibly opposite to what I would consider nuanced, that I just have never been able to sit through any of it. Every anime I have seen also seems to want to take 20 minutes to tell a part of the story that should only take 5 minutes.

Perhaps my sampling has just been very poor, and there is great anime that isn't like this. What I saw in this show isn't anything like any anime I have ever seen.

I think the style of BES is very influenced by anime, but still deeply rooted in western storytelling. I read somewhere that most Japanese storytelling goes the route of introduction, development, twist, resolution as opposed to the western 3 part storytelling mode. I can see it called anime by westerners unfamiliar with the tradition just based on setting and style.

I'm no anime expert, my one and only one to watch is attack on titan, and I'm about halfway through the 4th season. I can see some similar style, but the storytelling is noticeably different. AoT is very much how you described, taking forever to get to the point, etc.

It all depends on the genre of anime. Shonen is different from seinen which is different from slice of life.

AOT is pretty different and distinct in terms of storytelling, both in quality and how it is executed.

BES is technically not an anime in the traditional Japanese centric sense but like Avatar TLA is obviously very much inspired by it to the point where IMO the distinction is more semantics than substance.

I see a higher ranking nerd has entered the chat :tips fedora:

Meh I just tend to like foreign stuff way more than domestic in general. There is greater storytelling variety and the tropes at least feel different to me.

I hate that the marvel way of storytelling has become the main way for American movies and shows.

I wouldn't say it's the story telling in anime I have an issue with. It is the lack of nuance in the dialogue and drawing things out that bothers me. Honestly, I wish it didn't because I've heard there are some great story arcs in various anime, and would love to enjoy that.

Kind of the same block i run into any time I try to play a JRPG.

Also, have you finished the show?

Questions like this should wait until you are caught up, unless you want spoilers.

It's a weird position to be in when the show has been out for a while, some people are using spoiler tags to discuss, but no one knows how far in those people are.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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Finish the show

I think Mizu didn't care who turned her in. She was betrayed by both. Her "mom" basically sold her off for drugs, and the man she came to love called her a monster because of her skills and ran off in her moment of need. I think in that moment she gave up on being loved and set out with the only purpose she had left: vengeance.

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Agree

The last episode helped flesh it out regarding her "mom" so it makes sense why her "mom" was acting the way she was. I thought her husband turned her in since he took her horse to give it to his master and then when he saw her against the ninjas he ran off but it very easily could have been her mom as well since she was an opium junkie.

I have one other thought regarding episode 5:

After Mizu was stabbed and ran into her "mom" I really thought she was hallucinating and it was a dream. It was just really odd how she just randomly happen to stumble upon her mom on a bridge.

Really really good show. Someone will make a video game in this style with an imitation story

BudFox7 said:

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Really really good show. Someone will make a video game in this style with an imitation story

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Episode 6 looked just like a video game

I had those same thoughts.

I assumed during the episode that her "mom" was acting like she was simply because she was a self-centered hoar and drug addict. Unfortunately, some moms are ****ty, and there are plenty in real life who'd give up their kids for money or drugs.

Any suggestions for animated stuff similar to this? I watched Arcane immediately after Blue Eye Samurai and I think I liked it even more. Considering Castlevania or The Legend of Vox Machina next.

Season 1 of vinland saga is amazing for its action. Season 2 is a lot slower but still really good if you can handle the change in pace and like character development.

Castlevania is good, but not as good as BES

boy09 said:

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Any suggestions for animated stuff similar to this? I watched Arcane immediately after Blue Eye Samurai and I think I liked it even more. Considering Castlevania or The Legend of Vox Machina next.

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Haven't seen Vox Machina but I loved Castlevania, highly recommend.