Shogunhas found a comparison point across critical opinions. Most see it as a new contender to HBO’sGame of Thrones. While it feels comfortable alongside the rush of shows likeVikingsandBlack Sailsinspired by Westeros,Shogunis considerably sharper than those offerings. It trades fantasy elements for historical realism. It’s a complex, sweeping epic that keeps its focus tightly wrapped around the compelling psychological push-pull of its two leads.
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks helmed this adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel. Kondo is an award-winning short story author, while her husband, Marks, is best known as one of the writersonTop Gun: Maverick. They also wrote the first two episodes. English director Jonathan van Tulleken, ofTop BoyandMisfitsfame, directed the premiere. The miniseries has talent like Charlotte Brändström and Frederick E. O. Toye tapped for future episodes.
Shogunreworks Clavell’s novel of the same name into a more compelling story. The original work is awash in white savior tropes common to the era, as was the landmark 1980 miniseries. Kondo and Marks find the more substantial forces more engaging than the outsider. The novel depicts the feudal Japanese government through the eyes of English sailor John Blackthorne. Blackthorne, looselybased on William Adams, arrives in Japan to disrupt Portuguese Catholic bonds with the nation and establish new political connections. His quest hits several snags as the local leaders see him as a savage. His view of the Japanese flawlessly mirrors their view of him, and both cultures get plenty of chances to shine and disappoint. The language barrier keeps John inches from execution at all times. He’s in a horrific scenario, but as he proves his worth as a sailor, he stumbles into a more engaging quandary.
Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, the book and series’iteration of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Sanada produced the project and led the marketing efforts. Sanada is perfect in the role, delivering a masterful performance in wildly varying tones. Sanada is Hollywood’s favorite samurai. His American breakthrough came in 2003’sThe Last Samurai, one of the most hotly debated recent white savior narratives. Sanada has since portrayed similar roles in more than a dozen features. He plays a yakuza boss inAvengers: Endgameso that Jeremy Renner’s character can outclass him with a katana. He’s a modern samuraiinJohn Wick: Chapter 4andBullet Train. Rarely is his character more complex than the platonic Hollywood ideal of a noble Japanese swordsman.Shogunis a passion project in his long career, and it’s one of the best showcases he’s ever received.
Shogunopens as five daimyo wage a political war for control of Japan. Toranaga becomes a target of the other four warlords, forcing him to use all his cunning to survive. Blackthorne washes up not as a savior but as a convenient tool armed with essential information. Toranaga saves him through clever tricks and underhanded tactics. His brilliance surprises his enemies and allies. The first episode depicts Blackthorne as he’s passed from one executioner to the next. The second sees Toranaga gain control. As war brews on the horizon, Blackthorne drops a bombshell that could unsettle the nation’s political strategy. The series premiere stacks powder kegs, threatening to explode into an astonishing battlefield epic. As it heightens,Shogundemonstrates its commitment toa character-focused narrative. It’s a flawless understanding of what makes a story like this great.
Shogunis a miniseries. It will run for ten episodes over the next eight weeks. Critics are showering the series with the praise that it deserves. This miniseries model has been tainted over the past severalyears by Disney+ outingsthat feel like needlessly long movies or half-baked ideas.Shogunseems to be employing the format perfectly. Some will likely wait until late April when the series is available to binge, but its weekly release schedule remains compelling. Though the show has little else to dowithGame of Thrones, it is the first time in a long time that fans could enjoy spending a week on the edge of their seats.
Shoguntriumphs in every effort. Its set design is mindblowing, the sweeping scale exceeds most nine-figure cinematic budgets, and every performance is intensely compelling. Hiroyuki Sanada finds the role he was born to play in Toranaga, putting his considerable talents to incredible use. While this story has a troubled past, Kondo and Marks found theperfect way to modernizeand escalateShogunfor the modern audience. This is an epic that deserves attention, and its strong marketing campaign could make it one of the most talked-about TV events of the season.Shogunis an instant classic in an underserved genre. It’s appointment viewing for almost every audience.
Shogun (2024)
English sailor John Blackthorne washes up in Japan, where the ambitious Lord Yoshii Toranaga struggles to maintain power. As they discover their shared enemies, their combined efforts could win the war to come.
