Image credit, Forex networks
- author, Alex Taylor
- Role, BBC News cultural correspondent
Shogun — the critically acclaimed, searing samurai saga that has transported viewers to war-torn feudal Japan since February — ended Tuesday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the hit series streaming on Disney+ (in the UK), including what the future holds now that the final episode has aired.
What is the Shogun talking about?
Set in the midst of civil war in early 17th-century Japan, the series is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, and also reimagines the popular 1980 television series, starring Richard Chamberlain.
Condensing more than 1,000 pages into 10 episodes, creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks faithfully recreate life under a feudal system — a world ruled by lords, known as… daimyō, and their loyal samurai – adding much-needed cultural authenticity to the original book and TV series.
We follow John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a shipwrecked English mariner, who is drawn into the political power plays of Lord Yoshi Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a reclusive but legendary samurai fighting to assert his permanent dominance as shogun – the Japanese term for military dictator.
His increasingly complex power plays have led to him being compared to… game of thrones And for Successionwithout the dragons and office squabbles.
What if history isn’t my favorite thing?
It’s not serious. Diving into Japanese history can understandably seem a bit daunting (and confusing!). We are here to help you!
Here’s the gist of what you need to get:
The series begins with the death of Japan’s former ruler, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, setting the stage for the Shogun’s struggle for power.
Meanwhile, the impact of tensions is being felt in Europe, which explains the presence of priests and missionaries throughout the series.
England broke away from the Catholic Church to become Protestant, starting a war with Catholic Spain.
Their king, Philip II, who still wanted to colonize Japan, allied himself with Portugal to further his projects (he became their king).
“They were trying to convert people [au christianisme] “A big part of their strategy was to [cibler] Mighty lords.”
Image credit, Foreign exchange networks
What do the critics say?
The series has received near universal acclaim for its ambition, high production standards, and authentic depiction of Japanese history and culture.
Alison Herman of Variety called the series “a thrilling television event.” Other critics agreed, with the series holding a 99% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian called it “a dazzling, enchanting television event” in her four-star review, but warned that it is “a demanding drama that must be handled with care and focus.”
“It’s largely in Japanese, partly in English, and sometimes interchanged with Portuguese — and it’s not as hard to follow as you might think — but it’s not the kind of series you can watch in the background by swiping on a second screen,” she added. .
Political intrigue is clearly at the heart of the series, but critics have praised its mix of gore, deception and romance – without spoilers.
The Telegraph’s Anita Singh wrote that Shogun’s power “lies in the way it immerses us in a world that, with its rituals and violence, seems as foreign to us as it does to Blackthorn.”
“This is not a series for the faint of heart, and it’s all the better for it,” she concluded, also awarding four stars.
Camilla Long, writing for The Times, was also impressed, particularly by Jarvis’s role as Blackthorne.
“I wasn’t going to criticize it: it’s too far-fetched, too specific for boys,” she said. “But Cosmo Jarvis…is so crazy in this role that I keep watching him. He looks like five Richard Burtons.”
Aside from Jarvis, the cast is mostly Japanese. Daniel Chen, writing for The Ringer, said that the three-pronged structure of the new series, in which Toranaga and Mariko play a role similar to Blackthorne’s, while speaking their native language, allows for an escapist sequence. “The story of the white savior.” From the source material – a trope very present on screen in The Last Samurai (2003), for example.
“By exploring their distinct roles in the central conflict, the Shogun is able to effectively explore themes such as honor, duty, loyalty, and social class through different perspectives and experiences,” Chen added.
“A lot of our characters don’t have movement in the classical sense, so how do we use constraints? How do we use constraints? How do you use these things so that they become your strength, and allow you to make a statement about what you believe in and what your life is about?
Nick Hilton of The Independent gave the film five stars, praising its authenticity: “It’s a brave telling of a complex story, drawn from a combination of Japanese history and Clavell’s encyclopedic interest in the country.
Image credit, Foreign exchange networks
Robert Lloyd, TV critic for the Los Angeles Times, said this allows the series to escape the shadow of Game of Thrones.
“Every review you read about this show compares it to Game of Thrones… In fact, I imagine that was a vital part of the show that sold the show,” he said.
But he concludes that “…accuracy and intelligence can also be great.”
Is the final episode better than Game of Thrones?
However, it appears to be more popular than the much-criticized ending of the hit HBO series.
The Telegraph’s Ed Power gave it four stars: “…there are lessons for other TV directors.” For example, Game of Thrones beefed up the series in its final episodes, and the results, while visually impressive, were emotionally hollow. The Shogun followed a completely different path.
However, not everyone was impressed, including Forbes’ Eric Kane.
“I admit that for perhaps the first time in a Shogun limited series, I came away with mixed feelings,” he wrote, lamenting the lack of spectacular battle sequences.
Will there be another series?
If it exists, it is not taken from the original.
This doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Especially since its premiere attracted nine million viewers worldwide on Hulu, Disney+ and Star+, putting it ahead of The Kardashians and the second season of The Bear on the Disney platform.
In the age of streaming wars, where multiverses reign supreme in the struggle for eyeballs, the temptation to do a white lotus can be too strong. But making such lavish TV isn’t cheap (budgets haven’t been revealed) and Disney is going through a difficult and destabilizing period. The swords are ready.
Shogun is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and on Hulu/FX in the US.
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