Netflix’s Shōgun Replacement Is So Good, It’s Officially Returning For Season 2

Netflix has its own version of FX's Shōgun, and it's such a good show that it's returning for its second season soon. Shōgun is widely considered one of the best shows on Hulu, and for good reason. It won 18 Emmy Awards, the most of any single season of television, and it received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Everything about the show, from Shōgun's cast to its intricate plot filled with twists and political intrigue, made it a smash-hit.

With a show as acclaimed and successful as Shōgun, it should be a no-brainer to imitate. Still, Shōgun is so unique that it's hard for other streaming services to replicate. That's mostly due to its status as historical fiction during the Edo period of Japan's history and the immense accuracy and attention to detail the show has in recreating the past. That setting, combined with the expert execution of the story's many complicated characters all vying for power, makes Shōgun almost irreplaceable.

Netflix, however, has another show that scratches almost the exact same itch that Shōgun does, and it actually predates FX's breakout hit. The animated series Blue Eye Samurai may look very different, but below the surface, it's very reminiscent of Shōgun. Blue Eye Samurai follows Mizu, a young, biracial samurai living in the Edo period, as they seek revenge against their unknown white father, and that setting is just the start of the show's similarities to Shōgun.

Blue Eye Samurai’s Premise Is Exactly Like Shōgun

Blue Eye Samurai and Shōgun are very different on the surface, but they have almost the exact same premise. Both shows take place at the start of the Edo period in the early 17th century in Japan. Both primarily focus on the arrival of a white foreigner who eventually helps a political upstart seize power. Both feature underhanded political plots and high-stakes political power-playing, and both have those political landscapes upended by the introduction of firearms.

Blue Eye Samurai and Shōgun end up in very different places — the former is primarily a revenge actioner as Mizu cuts through hoards of enemies to kill Abijah Fowler — but they start in almost the exact same way. Shōgun definitely highlights its political intrigue more, while Blue Eye Samurai is much more of a character study, but the latter still has enough politicking and subterfuge to go around.

Even with the differences in genre and medium, Blue Eye Samurai is perfect for fans of Shōgun. The animated series offers the same historical fiction and political intrigue as FX's show does, but it takes it in a new direction. Blue Eye Samurai is essentially just a different, more personal and character-focused way to explore the very complex political dynamics of the Edo period, making it a perfect companion show to Shōgun.

Blue Eye Samurai’s Long-Awaited Second Season Is Nearly Here

Comparing Blue Eye Samurai to Shōgun does highlight a lot of its great merits, but Netflix's show also stands out on its own. It has a gorgeous animation style, some truly mesmerizing samurai action scenes that couldn't be accomplished in live-action, and one of the most engaging stories Netflix has ever produced. Mizu's tale of revenge starts out as a classic, but it has so many twists and engaging characters throughout that by the end of the first season, Blue Eye Samurai is anything but predictable.

In fact, the series is so good that Blue Eye Samurai season 2 has already been confirmed for years. Season 1 premiered in November 2023, and fans have been waiting nearly three full years for the new season. Luckily, season 2 is very nearly here. Netflix shared footage of the new season at 2026 Annecy Festival (via Polygon), and while there isn't an official release date yet, it seems likely that Blue Eye Samurai season 2 could debut on the streamer in late 2026 or early 2027.

With Shōgun season 2 still in production and not likely to premiere until the middle of 2027, there's never been a better time for fans of the FX show to start Blue Eye Samurai. The animated show can scratch the itch Shōgun fans have for a gritty, historically accurate show about Edo period Japan while waiting for the live-action series to return. On top of that, Blue Eye Samurai can give viewers an entirely different way to engage with the same things that make Shōgun so great.