The power of Mariko, Ochiba, and the women of Shogun shouldn’t be underestimated. The women of FX and Hulu’s Shōgun may be limited in the roles made available to them by the patriarchal structure of the show’s setting in feudal Japan, but that doesn’t mean they are totally powerless in the growing conflict. If anything, the women … Read more
Some familiar assassins pop up at the end of Shogun episode 9. But what exactly is a shinobi? ‘ In Shōgun episode 2, wayward Englishman John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) receives one of many incoming lessons in just how hardcore his new Japanese home is. An assassin breaks into Blackthorne’s quarters at night and instead finds the mighty … Read more
Paramount and NBC’s epic production launched the miniseries as we know it, but there are key differences between it and FX’s series. FX’s Shōgun has taken the world by storm, and rightfully so. Although the series isn’t a remake, 2024 isn’t the first time the story induced cultural fervor. Rewind the clock 44 years, and the original adaptation … Read more
The series did not sacrifice authenticity and stayed true to its characters. The adaptation of James Clavell’s historical book, Shōgun, has made a name for itself as a work of strict authenticity. Only in one scene did the series on Hulu divert from the source material, according to TV Guide. Episode 9 of the historical saga grapples with the harrowing concept … Read more
Toranaga enacts the next stage of his plan with Mariko as the centerpiece, but is Osaka safe territory for anyone these days? With the final episode of Shōgun on the horizon, perhaps it should come as no real surprise that the story still isn’t done doling out those heartbreaking narrative blows. After the loss of Toranaga’s (Hiroyuki … Read more
While FX’s Shogun positions its shadiest character as its own version of a Game of Thrones villain, the Japanese warrior has more endearing traits. Throughout FX’s Shogun, fans have been privy to a vast array of intriguing characters. At the core of the story is honor, which is why viewers would take to John Blackthorne and Toda … Read more
Happy “Shōgun” Tuesday to all who celebrate. Every week, viewers of FX’s staggering historical epic flock to the internet to post their thoughts about the show’s latest episode, whether it be shocked reactions to Toranaga’s (Hiroyuki Sanada) latest political plays, satisfaction at Mariko’s (Anna Sawai) poised verbal takedowns of her husband Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe), or enjoyment of … Read more
Shogun Episode 8 has the shady Yabushige being given an impossible task as he tries to figure out which side to pick in Japan’s civil war. Trust is a hard thing to come by in FX’s Shogun. Hiroyuki Sanada’s Lord Toranaga is fully aware of this, hence why he keeps his inner-circle small. He knows the vindictive Lord … Read more
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Shōgun Season 1 Episode 9, “Crimson Sky.”] Romance was never top of mind for Anna Sawai‘s Lady Mariko in Shōgun, but there came a moment in the FX limited series where she could no longer leave the simmering feelings between her and Cosmo Jarvis‘ John Blackthorne on the back burner. Mariko and Blackthorne slept together … Read more
“Shōgun” co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks break down Mariko’s attempted escape from Osaka. Shōgun is a series full of wily political operators, unpredictable fight scenes, and the occasional devastating earthquake. Yet the biggest obstacle our characters have had to face is none other than a single gate leading out of Osaka Castle — a gate … Read more