TV mini-series Review — Shōgun (2024)

This TV mini-series is based on James Clavell’s novel of the same name which spawned a successful and highly rated TV show in the 1980s.

Series is based on Feudal Japan around 1600s where hereditary nobility takes preference over anything.

The Grand Chancellor of the Emperor (Taikō) who kept peace from infighting feudal lords in Japan, dies leaving behind a regent council to oversee matters related to Japan as his 7 year-old heir is not yet of age to rule. Council of Regents is formed containing 5 leaders (1 Busho of each region) from 5 strategically important locations in Japan. Their headquarter is an impenetrable fortress city — Ōsaka which is also a sea-port to the outside world for trade. This link provides an excellent backstory for this series.

Till now only the Portugal have arrived in Japan and have exclusive business rights in Japan. Their missionaries are also spreading Christianity by converting local Japanese to Catholicism. However more than religion, it showcases that profits are everything for the Portuguese empire, also local Japanese know that Europe only consists of single largest nation of Portuguese empire only.

Show starts with English ship pilot “John Blackthorne” whose vessel is shipwrecked near the Japanese coast. John’s character in the novel was loosely based on the life of the 17th-century English navigator William Adams, who was the first Englishman to visit Japan. John is referred as Anjin (literally means Pilot in Japanese) here onwards. We learn that Anjin is on another war path i.e. war against Catholic kingdoms of Spain & Portugal and he’s backed by Protestant kingdoms such as Dutch & English.

Anjin notes that his arrival comes at a critical juncture of impending civil war in Japan due to impeachment process done on one of the Busho — Lord Toranaga. He is also culture shocked by local customs such as no regard for human life such as verbal insults to their leader or even speaking out of turn leads to Seppuku and also terminating ones blood-line even if they have a child. He also notices that women have to follow strict protocols such as walking in small steps while being slightly bent down — shuffle type walk; always wearing a kimono. He sees that Japanese culture in general has too many etiquettes & too many rules to follow — even when talking to your superiors and also how to eat. He falls for Lady Maria (Mariko) who is a translator for him assigned by Lord Toranaga. Mariko learned this language while interacting with Portuguese priest.

Like many shows based on monarchies & royalty (such as Game of Thrones), this also showcases politics, treachery & in-fighting among leaders but with a Japanese viewpoint where vow to your leader means everything and people become their leader’s vassal i.e. dedicating their entire life to them and bounded by code of conduct & sworn duty. Here bloodlines are given special importance and future generations also follow the same path as their fathers did before them. This gives rise to “clan” philosophy where the task you’ll fulfill in your life is assigned by birth.

Anjin notes that Lord Toranaga is quite cunning and knows that he would be used as a pawn in the grand scheme of things which might shape the future of Japan for coming years while also avoiding or leading to a future civil war. This series shows that all characters have death looming around the corner where an infamous line is spoken by Mariko — Life and Death are the same.

Whether a new Shōgun (Supreme military commander & ruler of feudal Japan) emerges which will lead to peace or a civil war begins, it’s for all of us to see in this mini-series. In case last episode is unclear, here is the explanation (Spoilers).

Verdict is 9/10 and a “MUST WATCH” recommendation as it keeps you waiting as to how Lord Toranaga will outmaneuver his way out and what’ll happen to Anjin.

Watch it online here →

Paid Subscriptions →

https://www.hotstar.com/in/shows/shgun/1260164623

https://www.hulu.com/series/shogun-5422a5f9-e4f1-475e-9217-65e8249388d0

Or by any other means by which you can get your hands on it.