Blue Eye Samurai Season 1 – TV Series

Episodes 01

“Hammerscale”

Mizu seeks to avenge herself on four European men defying the sakoku, one of whom may have been her father; having already killed one of them, she travels disguised as a man. She encounters a “flesh-trader” (a buyer for the brothel trade) with a Western pistol, who she coerces into giving her the name of weapons dealer Heiji Shindo. Ringo implores Mizu to allow him to become her apprentice. Meanwhie, Princess Akemi desires to marry Taigen, a talented samurai of humble origins. The latter knew Mizu during their childhoods and crosses paths with her in the present. We also learn of other aspects of Mizu’s early life.

Episodes 02

“An Unexpected Element”

Reluctantly allowing Ringo to join her, Mizu arrives at a coastal town, seeking to hire a boat to reach Fowler’s island-fortress. Heiji and Fowler plot a ‘surprise’ for the Shogun in Edo. Taigen, having lost to Mizu, decides to pursue her in order to regain his honor. As a result of Taigen’s defeat, Akemi’s father, Lord Tokunobu Daiichi, schemes to marry her off to the Shogun’s second son, over her objections. She secretly tries to run away in search of Taigen, but her childhood tutor Seki insists on joining her.

While Ringo participates in the town festivities, Mizu trains on the cliffs above. She remembers an assassin named Chiaki, who tricked her and Eiji into forging him a sword, which ultimately broke during the forging process, due to Mizu’s turbulent mindset at the time. The Four Fangs soon catch up with her, with their leader revealed as Chiaki, still using the broken blade. Mizu manages to kill all four fangs. Taigen reveals himself and challenges Mizu, who complies, but is unable to finish the duel due to blood loss. Taigen decides against killing an unconscious Mizu.

Episodes 03

“A Fixed Number of Paths”

While Mizu is recovering in a shrine with help from Ringo, they are approached by a large man with a club. He gives them an invitation to a ‘tea ceremony’ from Heiji. Taigen and Mizu meet Heiji in a secluded area where Heiji offers to smuggle them into Fowlers castle in sake barrels. Mizu refuses the offer, cuts off Heiji’s arm and they escape the area while being pelted with arrows. Later, Mizu knocks Taigen unconscious after he starts talking about their duel again. When he wakes up he finds Mizu left him the broken blade with a note promising to finish their duel. Taigen then gets kidnapped and taken to Fowlers castle.

Seki and Akemis search for Taigen but are interrupted by a gang of robbers, after losing all their money and transport they hire a cart using the last of Akemis jewelry. Once they arrive, Akemi discovers that they were going the wrong direction. Seki reveals he has enough money to hire a carriage back to their home, implores Akemi to give up the search for Taigen and to accept a high-born marriage instead. Akemi rejects the offer and tricks a flesh trader into transporting her instead.

Episodes 04

“Peculiarities”

Mizu seeks out Madame Kaji’s brothel to learn how the prostitutes get in to Fowler’s castle. At the brothel, Kaji promises to tell her how to get in, if she agrees to assassinate a deaf girl that was taken and (presumably) tormented by the local mob boss. Mizu Carries out the assassination ostensibly without being seen, however, a tiny boy catches sight of her outside their headquarters, and informs boss Hamata. The episode ends with the brothel under threat from Hamata’s men.

Akemi’s search for Taigen eventually takes her to the same brothel Mizu is staying. She accepts a position there, and manages to avoid intercourse with a nobleman by making him finish himself.

Episodes 05

“The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride”

Faced with the threat of Hamata’s men, Mizu gathers the women of the brothel in the basement and sets Ringo to guard them. One of the claw men manage to wound Mizu, resulting in her losing consciousness.

In a flashback, Mizu is seen receiving a similar wound from some gangsters, and is later saved by her presumed dead mother, who goes on to arrange a marriage between Mizu and a demoted horse breeder, Mikio. Mizu gradually learns to open up to her new husband, but the relationship sours once Mikio loses a sparring match with Mizu, and is shocked by Mizu’s competency for violence. A group of shogunate men show up at their doorstep and Mizu kills them. Mikio and Mizu’s mother start fighting over who let the authorities know of Mizu’s existence, leading to Mizu’s mother dying. Mizu kills Mikio when he tries to plead for his life. Back in the present, Mizu wakes up and kills Hamata’s men. A group of military men sent by Akemi’s father takes her, she pleads with Mizu to help her but is refused. Ringo, shocked over his master’s calloused decision, ends his apprenticeship to Mizu.

Panning out from the frame narrative, princess Akemi is married off to the shogun’s son as a result of her capture and returns home.

Episodes 06

“All Evil Dreams and Angry Words”

Mizu ascends Fowlers castle, ecountering various hazzards, and finding Taigen in a cell on the 7th level. Reaching the top with Taigen on her back, Fowler breaks Mizu’s sword with a bullet. Realizing the battle is lost once Fowler starts beating Taigen, Mizu jumps out the window with Taigen and they are saved from drowning by Ringo

Episodes 07

“Nothing Broken”

Episodes 08

“The Great Fire of 1657”