Previewing Samurai Girl

The most interesting part about the press release for Samurai Girl is not what it says but what it doesn’t say. For mini-series namesake Jamie Chung is touted as a guest star to such shows as Veronica Mars and Greek, yet I implore anyone to remember her appearances on those shows. Certainly when you saw her in the preview and though “I know her from somewhere” it is not from those show but instead the only thing people will recognize her as cast member of Real World: San Diego and the spin off Inferno II.

But anyways. Samurai Girl is a story you have heard before. But before her marriage, a Japanese princess and her marriage is attached, both her father and brothers are targeted. She escapes only to find out that not only is she a princess but a warrior princess. Or should I say a samurai girl. The story deviates from a modern day Japanese fairytale when Chung crashes a party in her bridal wear. Lucky for her it is a costume party so she fits right in.

That is until the party host finds Chung in her closet the next morning. This begins a relationship with housemates played by Saige Thompson (who also lists Veronica Mars on her resume but try remembering who she was) and Kyle Labine (no Veronica Mars appearances by Kyle), ambiguous roommates than aren’t live in partners but never explained how they came together but play like the Samurai Girl’s own Scoobie Gang.

Keeping with the Buffy theme, Brendan Fehr (Final Destination) would be the Giles figure guiding Chung through her training taking her raw talent into something to use in the field. The mini-series is at the very least watchable if you have nothing better to do this weekend as it premieres tonight at 8:00 with another two hours Saturday and closing on Sunday. But for anything with “Samurai” in its title, the fight scenes should be cooler than they are. Maybe as the girl grows and learns more on the craft it will get better, but I am not holding my breathe.

Also, the moderately attractive Stacy Keibler is supposable is in the cast as Chung’s rival, but sadly she won’t be showing up tonight. If you cannot wait to watch it tonight, you can download the first hour of Samurai Girl on iTunes for free.