Shōgun: A Spectacular & High-Stake Show Set In The World of Japan!

Growing up, I have partaken in learning about Japanese culture, which I find to be intriguing. So when I saw the first trailer for Shōgun, I had to check it out. Shōgun, which is set in 1600’s Japan is based off its eponymous novel created by James Clavell. Watching the entire ten-episode mini-series, I only have good things to say about it. The show, which premiered on Tuesdays on FX and Hulu had me anticipating. The plot of the show, which resolves around three characters, John Blackthorne, Lord Toranaga, and Lady Mariko, was full of conflict, violence, romance, etc. FX truly highlighted the plot of the book in this show, engaging my attention.

There are many reasons why this show captured my attention. First of all, when watching the show, the visuals and scenery caught my eye. For example, the nature presented in the show such as the forests were stunning, creating a beautiful depiction of Japan. Also, in one part of the show, (spoiler alert), a massive earthquake hit, which I thought was depicted very well. The production team behind the show did a great job of depicting what Japan looked like in the 1600’s.

The second thing that I liked about the show was the casting and performances. When I first saw the trailer for the show, I noticed that Hiroyuki Sanada was in it. If you haven’t followed his work, he is a fantastic Japanese actor that has starred in The Last Samurai, The Wolverine, 47 Ronin, etc. Being a talented actor, Sanada played his part as Lord Toranaga. For example, I thought Sanada played the part well because I was shocked by Lord Toranaga’s true intentions, which were revealed in the finale. I like that there was discreetness because it kept you guessing what he was going to do. Also, I thought Sanada played the part well because he was smart, firm, diplomatic, etc., which a lord is supposed to be.

Another actor that I thought played their part well was Anna Sawai, who played Toda Mariko. If you haven’t followed her works, she has starred in F9 and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Watching the show, Mariko actually became one of my favorites and I was sad to see what happened to her. The things that I loved about Mariko was that she was intelligent, firm to her belief, and was loyal to Lord Toranaga and Blackthorne. For example, Mariko was a devout Catholic who stayed true to her faith amidst criticism over Catholicism in Japan. I like that Mariko stayed true to herself and didn’t change for anyone. Mariko was a likeable character and Sawai played the part very well.

One other thing that I like Shōgun so much for is the action scenes. Watching the show, I was amazed by some of the fighting scenes that took place throughout the series. For example, in episode two of the series, a fight scene occurs at the end, involving a female assassin, which Lord Toranaga, with the help of Blackthorne, take down. Watching the scene, I was enthralled, especially because the assassin was a woman, which is amazing to me. Also, another action scene that caught my eye was at the end of episode four, where one of Lord Toranaga’s son takes matter into his own hands. I’m not going to explain what led up to the events, but I consider the scene to be brutal and graphic due to the involvement of cannons. If you’re reading this, you probably can imagine what the scene looked like.

            Overall, Shōgun has become of one my favorite shows for these various reasons and more. Now, I heard some fans are upset that the show may do a season two now (The show was originally going to be a onetime thing), but I will be happy to see another season. When the showrunners first revealed that they didn’t plan to continue the show, I was disappointed. I feel that how the show ended, there are potential storylines to be developed. For example, like I mentioned earlier, Lord Toranaga’s true intentions could be explored. Also, it would be nice to see if Blackthorne ever learns the secret that Lord Toranaga is keeping for him. Whatever happens though, Shōgun is a fantastic show and I hope it gets award recognition. If you haven’t watched it yet, go ahead and check it out.

All episodes of Shōgun are available on Hulu.

If you made it to the bottom, thanks for reading! Hope you subscribe and check out my other reviews- Brianna