Shogunremains one of the most compelling dramas on TV today. It has the production quality of a blockbuster film with the pacing of a miniseries. One of the most impressive aspects of the series is its consistency. This episode includes a massive natural disaster, several tense military exchanges, some espionage skullduggery, and the most awkward dinner of all time, and it all stays engaging.
“Broken to the Fist” is another excellent episode directed by Frederick E. O. Toye. Matt Lambert provided the script for part five of this miniseries. He’s best known for his work as a producer, but he’s penned several TV projects. He wrote nine episodes of AMC’sInto the Badlandsand the seventh entry of Netflix’sWednesday. Most recently, Lambert scripted the spectacularly namedInvincibleinstallment “In About Six Hours I Lose My Virginity to a Fish.”
What is Lord Toranaga’s Plan?
“Broken to the Fist” picks up moments afterNagakado killed Jozen last week. Lord Toranaga arrives, his massive army in tow, as Yabushige’s men clean up the bodies. His accompaniment includes Toda “Buntaro” Hirokatsu, Mariko’s presumed dead husband. Toranaga chews out his son for his reckless actions, immediately ferreting out the deception behind them. He compares his boy to a falcon, wielded as a weapon by a skilled manipulator. He removes Nagakado from his position. Toranaga grabs Yabushige, next up for a dressing down, and accuses him of tricking Nagakado. Caught red-handed, Yabushige throws his nephew, Omi, under the bus. Toranaga shocks him by applauding Omi and giving him Nagakado’s command. The promotion creates unrest in Yabushige’s household. Yabushige devotes himself to finding Toranaga’s spy in his community,prompting a secretive meeting.
Lord Toranaga chats with Akinao, his samurai spy disguised as a gardener. While working with carrier pigeons, Akinao requests the right to turn himself in, sparing anyone else further suspicion. Instead,Toranaga orders him to findanother spy to take the blame. Toranaga’s scheme to trap the other daimyo in indecision kept him from excommunication last week. This week, the other warlords met to interview contestants for the fifth position. Filling Toranaga’s seat proves more challenging than expected. They meet an elderly Lord suffering from syphilis and reject him outright. Toranaga welcomes the upcoming challenge from Ishido. Omi’s ostensible betrayal suggests the potential of a confrontation, which Toranaga seems confident about. Someone sends Ishido Jozen’s head,further guaranteeing the upcoming war.
What is Mariko’s secret?
Buntaro’s return isn’t particularly unexpected, but it does throw several wrenches into things. Toranaga insists Mariko stay in Blackthorne’s house as his interpreter, adding that Buntaro will now move in with them. This sitcom-esque arrangement breaks down almost immediately. Blackthorne kills a pheasant and hangs it outside his home to let it dry, creating an awful smell and attracting flies. In broken Japanese, he insists no one touches it under penalty of death. That night, Blackthorne, Buntaro, Mariko, and Fuji sit down for a nightmarish meal. Blackthorne serves rabbit stew, but his guests despise it. He and Buntaro clash over their traditions, succumbing to a drinking contest. After several bowls of sake, the men refuse to exchange war stories. Offended, Buntaro demonstrates his skill with a bow by shooting two arrows inches away from Mariko’s face. Blackthorne loses his cool, prompting Buntaro to demand Mariko share her family secret. Her father was Lord Akechi Jinsai,the assassin who killedthe Shogun beforeTaikō. Authorities forced Jinsai to kill his family and himself, leaving only Mariko. She lives because her husband orders her to.
Buntaro assaults Mariko after dinner, prompting Blackthorne to confront him outside. Buntaro apologizes, blaming his drunkenness. The following morning, Blackthorne learns that Uejiro, his kindly old gardener, buried the pheasant to deal with the smell. The local village headman killed him for his disobedience, a price Uejiro knowingly paid. Blackthorne tries to mend fences with Mariko, but she insists they’ll no longer speak outside her role as his interpreter. Fed up,Blackthorne confronts Toranagaand insists he be allowed to leave. Their conversation ends abruptly when an earthquake causes a mudslide. Blackthorne saves Toranaga’s life and gifts him the swords Fuji gave him; blades that Mariko explained were purchased instead of earned. Blackthorne discovers Fuji injured by the natural disaster, but seemingly still alive. Yabushige and Omi find Toranaga’s secret hideout, but Akinao proclaims Uejiro the spy, using a dead man as cover. Finally, Ochiba no Kata,Taikō’s only consort, reconnects with her son, Yaechiyo, and claims control of the daimyo.
“Broken to the Fist” is a stellar episode of TV. Every new reveal strengthens the narrative web. It’s endlessly engaging. The dinner scene will stand as one of thebest TV scenes of this year, demonstrating the power of carefully constructed dialogue and immaculate set dressing. AsShogunenters its latter half, the show maintains its impossibly high standard of quality.
