Shogun (2024)
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Shogun Review
Shogun is a historical drama television series that premiered on FX in 2024. It consists of 10 hour-long episodes. It’s a phenomenal series.
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“Crimson fucking horseshit“
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The show is based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell and it was previously adapted for the small screen in 1980. But this is a more historically accurate and modern remake that undoubtedly will make even those who aren’t fans of the genre satisfied. It’s that good.
Set in 17th century Japan, it follows the lives of an Englishman stranded there, the political intrigue brewing in the country and an important woman’s role in all of this drama. First off, the series was filmed for quite a long time and it shows – the end result is one of the most impressive looking shows out there.
The effects are terrific, the score is phenomenal and the sound is fantastic. The cinematography captured the action on screen so well, though the battles were by far the weakest part of the show as they weren’t all that memorable in how they were executed, plus the violence was overwhelming for me and at times genuinely disgusting.
What was particularly worthy of praise was the show’s attention to detail. Shogun has absolutely incredible costumes that are faithful to the era depicted here. The same goes for the overall setting that was beautifully brought to life – the architecture is superb, the weaponry realistic and the production design fabulous. The highlight is how the creators tackled the culture of the country by delving deeper into their traditions and portraying them with utmost care and attention to detail – the tea ceremonies and the brothels being the highlights.
It is difficult to care for the Japanese at times due to their horrendous laws, in particular their obsession with death, punishment and suicide. Some of these scenes were too brutal to bear and needlessly graphic in execution. But they were still grounded in reality and watching the show you feel as if you are effectively being transported to Feudal Japan. It explores so well the themes of cultural shock and differences, the role of women in this society, and how crucial power dynamics were in this period. All of these themes are admittedly very modern, but this contemporary perspective added to this story made it feel fresh and exciting for today’s audiences.
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The fascinating geopolitics of the era was the most interesting element for me personally as we see characters from Japan, England, Spain and Portugal and all of them are well developed, making for complex interpersonal relationships. This comes with a caveat and that is the first half of the show being overly focused on the Englishman as the protagonist. Some of his speeches were downright nationalistic and it reeked of British colonialism in the worst way possible. This is why the second half was so much better as this is where a bigger focus on Japan itself came to be and the relationships between these different nations became more believable.
Shogun’s biggest strength lies in its characterization and dialogue. They adapted these characters so well and made them feel so real that you’d undeniably come to care for most of them. The acting performances are especially praise-worthy as this cast was so well cast and they all delivered splendid work. Hiroyuki Sanada was fittingly very regal and composed in the role of Lord Toranaga. Some of his choices were frustrating and questionable, but still so human. The political intrigue behind his rule can become quite juicy and thrilling here.
Anna Sawai delivered by far the best and most powerful performance in the role of Mariko. This woman got such a fantastic arc and the actress imbued it with so much emotional intensity as well as subtlety. The series cleverly, but truthfully explores how difficult life for women was back in this era and the character striving to get at least some agency was quite heartbreaking at times.
As for Cosmo Jarvis, he was another standout and he should be getting more roles in the future off of this very charismatic, charming performance. His character is not at all likable, but he made him sympathetic, which is a testament to how endearing and memorable he is in the role. The humor on this show is sporadic, but actually surprisingly strong when utilized. And the romance between Mariko and Blackthorne was immensely moving and satisfying.
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The standout in the supporting cast is definitely the lovely Tadanobu Asano as Yabushige. His scheming and goofing around never ceased to amuse me. Father Martin was well realized too as were the intriguing Ochiba, the menacing Ishido and the hilarious and charismatic Vasco. He was wonderfully played by Nestor Carbonell and I loved his interactions with Jarvis, but ultimately he was shortchanged in screen time.
Overall, Shogun is a phenomenal series that deserves all the praise that it got. Yes, the first episode took some time getting used to due to a weaker start and the finale was a bit too dark for my taste. The violence is also overwhelming. But the show is so well written, so superbly performed by its talented cast and so emotionally rewarding that it was a thrilling watch all-around. The highlights are its impressive technical aspects, fantastic characterization, evident thematic richness and stellar dialogue.
Worst Episodes: Anjin and A Dream of a Dream.
Best Episodes: Broken to the Fist and Crimson Sky.
