Tag Archives: shogun

Shogun S1 E10

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“A Dream of a Dream”

That last moment of the penultimate ninth episode was the most shocking, unexpected scene I have seen on a TV show in a long time. The death of Lady Mariko shook the series dramatically, and the repercussions were felt of that death throughout a beautiful finale of Shogun.

In fact, the death of Mariko was the point of Crimson Sky, the main concept behind the plan of Toranaga in his attempt to regain power and bring a lasting peace to Japan.

We see John Blackthorne in a distant future, old and most likely on his deathbed, showing that he would survive the situation in Japan.

I thought the death of Mariko would trigger some serious violence and I was wrong. Her death actually triggered the change of alliances in the potential war. She negotiated for the life of John. Mariko’s ghost was all over this episode.

Her death also brought the guilt out of Yabushige and led to his committing seppuku with Toranaga acting as his second. The scene between these two on a cliff overlooking the sea was strong as Toranaga confessed his entire plan to Yabushige before his death.

There was a beautiful scene with Blackthorne and Fuji scattering her husband and baby’s ashes in the water before she would depart to become a nun.

Of course, the scene where Blackthorne threatened to kill himself was undercut by the fact that we saw old man Blackthorne at the beginning of the episode, but the acting was so good in this scene that you could excuse the structure.

I expect that this is the end of Shogun. It was ten fantastic episodes. If they decided to extend this to a second season, I would watch, but without Mariko, I am not sure it would have the same power. The acting was tremendous and the shocks were plentiful.

Shogun S1 E9

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“Crimson Sky”

Holy crap.

I can’t believe what I just saw.

This is absolutely mind-blowing and I have a pit in my stomach. I thought Mariko was gone twice during the episode, and, when I felt as if she was safe, she was not.

The fight she had at the front gate was unbelievable and I was worried that Mariko was going to die at this point. She did not. Then, the whole seppuku scene with her, I was sure that she was a goner (especially after the death from episode eight) and when Ishido came and prevented it, I was relieved. I was sure she was safe.

Then the relationship between John and Mariko was made clearer. I have never felt like Mariko had the feelings toward John, but this was obvious with the actions and the slight looks.

All leading to the dramatic ending, starting off with a betrayal from Yabushige. I was confused at first what was happening, because I wondered if this were men from Toranaga that Yabushige let into the castle. However, when they started going after John and Mariko, I did not understand. And Yabushige was there with them at the end.

If I was correct, I think I was able to determine the shinobi were sent by Lord Ishido because he did not want these women to be able to leave and this would safe face for him.

This was a heavy Mariko episode, with Yoko Shimada, and it reminded me of a LOST episode when a major character would die. It always seemed like it was an episode that was centric to that character. This was very much that way. We even saw a flashback to when she was pregnant, which I did not know she had given birth. Her son comes to see her and does not treat her well.

I have not have had a reaction to a scene like the ending in a long time. I was totally shocked at the explosive death and it hit hard.

The finale is next week. What a powerful penultimate episode this was.

Shogun S1 E8

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“The Abyss of Life”

Whoa.

The scene near the end of this episode was unbelievably powerful and tense. The confrontation between Toranaga and Hiromatsu, which led to Hiromatsu committing seppuku. Man, what a moment among a pretty solid episode filled with moments.

It seemed as if Toranaga has more planned than what it appeared. He claimed that Osaka must believe he has given everything up. The loss of his son last episode and Hiromatsu’s death in this one has given Toranaga, who appeared very sick and frail from the trip, time.

John faced a member of his crew finally after months and it did not go well either. John had attempted to sway Yabushige to forming an alliance. Yabushige rejects the offer in name of loyalty to Toranaga. However, the death of Hiromatsu changed his opinion, saying that he did not want to die for the crazy old man.

There was a powerful scene over some tea between Mariko and her husband Buntaro. Buntaro wished to have them both commit suicide as a protest to Toranaga’s decision, but Mariko came out and specifically said that she did not want to follow him into death and that she would rather live a thousand years because of the way he had treated her.

Two more episodes remaining in this series and who knows where it is heading. This one left that knot in my stomach as I watched the pain involved in the machinations of Taranaga.

Shogun S1 E6

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“Ladies of the Willow World”

In episode six of Shogun, some big things happened.

We see some of Mariko’s back story, and see how tragic it actually was.

We go inside the best brothel and engage between John and Kuki, the top courtesan of the house. He was given this as a gift from Toranaga, a thank you for saving his life during the earthquake last episode. Of course, this was not what John had wanted, as he had asked once again for the return of his men and his ship. John wants to leave Japan, but Toranaga continues to keep him. He even promoted him to the head of his canon brigade.

An attempt to vote against Toranaga by the council failed, leading to the death of the regent who voted against the plan.

We continue to see the machinations of Ochiba no Kata, who has her own plans brewing clearly.

We learn of the plan called Crimson Sky, which is Toranaga’s forces launching an all out assault on Osaka, killing the regents and setting up a new form of government with Toranaga at the head. A Shogun. Toranaga rejected the plan at first, however, the death of regent Sugiyama changes his mind and we end the episode with Toranaga’s forces honoring their leader, preparing for their attack.

A fascinating episode as we dive into another aspect of the Japanese culture with the brothels. The manner in which sex is used is not what I am used to seeing. This show continues to be really great.

Shogun S1 E5

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“Broken to the Fist”

What a show this is.

An absolute banger of an episode after the huge and brutal episode last week, “Broken to the Fist” was truly a beautiful combination of conflicting cultures.

A few episodes ago, I wrote that Mariko’s husband, Buntaro, had been killed, but we did not see a death on screen so he may return someday. Someday was this episode as he arrived at the very beginning, immediately reclaiming the role of asshole that he seemed to have shook free of with this apparent sacrifice. The scene with Buntaro, Mariko and Blackthorne and the drunken bow and arrow display was about as tense of a scene as you are going to find.

This show is doing a marvelous job of portraying many truths of the Japanese culture of the time that I was unaware of and how it conflicts with the ideas of Blackthorne. I am never sure what the Japanese people in this show might consider shameful or what they may do in response. It is fascinating to watch them attempt to co-exist.

Especially with the secretive night that Blackthorne spent with the “cortisone” last episode. Mariko’s returning husband certainly places them both in jeopardy.

The earthquake at the end was devastating, showing the power of nature over everyone, including the most powerful of them all, Toranaga. Blackthorne’s immediate rush to save Toranaga was very heroic, but I did wonder how the Japanese would react this this? Did it insult honor to have this man save Toranaga? Did it show weakness of Toranaga? Just my own uncertainty of the culture makes this show unpredictable for me.

The whole scene when Blackthorne learned of the fate of his gardener and how it was indirectly his own fault was powerful. I knew that when John had stated if someone touched the peasant it would be death was an error, and it certainly came back to pay off at the end.

The army on its way sure picked a fine time to arrive.

This is very exciting and is one of the best TV shows going right now.

Shogun S1 E4

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“The Eightfold Fence”

I really enjoyed this week’s episode of Shogun.

The fish-out-of-water feel of Blackthorne continues to be very interesting as he is trying to comprehend aspects of the Japanese culture that he just cannot grasp. The way they both dealt with the differences and the unintended slights was fascinating, and it was clearly leading to a connection between the characters.

Blackthorne has realized that everything he believed about his deal with Toranaga may not have been what he expected. Still, his instruction on the use of his ship’s cannons impressed the Japanese.

 Lord Ishido sent his warrior, Jozen, to check in on Toranaga, to see if he were preparing for war. Jozen’s presence has been a challenge for the people in place, but Nagakado, Toranaga’s son, wound up attacking him with the cannon.

The brutal imagery of the victims of the cannon attack was amazing. The horror was impressive for a TV show.

There were also some tense stand offs between Blackthorne and Omi, whose initial confrontation at the beginning of the series still plays into this feud.

It is going to lead to a terrible situation, a declaration of war. What will happen next? What will Toranaga think when he discovers what his son has done? All pretty great questions and I am looking forward to finding out what is next.

Shogun S1 E2

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“Servants of Two Masters”

I got the chance today to watch the second episode of Shogun on Hulu. Both this episode and episode 1 dropped at the same time last week, but it did not fit into my schedule to see them both. I planned on getting to Shogun episode two before the weekend finished, and I was able to get it done. I think I enjoyed this episode more than I liked episode one, and I liked episode one a lot.

John was bounced around to different areas, from the palace to a prison then back to the palace as the people involved tried to determine how they were going to best use this ‘barbarian.’

Interestingly, we get the first interactions between John and Mariko, which I believe will become something much more than expected.

But John… when they offer you a bath… take it. Twice a week is okay.

Lord Toranaga clearly is looking as a mastermind with his machinations.

Next episode of Shogun drops late night Monday on Hulu.

Shōgun S1 E1

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“Anjin”

Shōgun has dropped on FX and I was able to watch the first episode on Hulu. I have not had the chance to watch episode two, which also dropped. I do thin that this is something that I will continue to watch.

Easily my favorite part of the episode was the arrival of Vasco Rodrigues, played by Néstor Carbonell, Richard himself from LOST. I loved him on LOST and Bates Motel, so it was great to see him once again.

This is a new take on the novel of 1975 and the mini series from the 1980s.

According to Wikipedia, “Shōgun follows “the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai; John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance“

John Blackthorne is played by Cosmo Jarvis, and he does a good job filling the role made famous by Richard Chamberlain. Lord Toranago is played by another LOST alum, Hiroyuki Sanada. Lady Mariko is played by Anna Sawai.

I did not watch the mini series back in the 1980s, but I was aware of it. I was only around 11 years old and not interested in feudal Japan. Many decades later, I am more intrigued by the story.

This is beautifully shot and looked great. I am excited to keep watching the series. I should get to see episode two later this week and then I will be following along on Hulu as it releases weekly.