Shōgunis a bewitching thing . An version of James Clavell ’s 1975 novel of the same name , which was previously adapted into a TV miniseries star fabled Japanese movie star Toshiro Mifune in 1980 , FX ’s latest oblation is an captivate blend of older and modern influences . Narratively and financially , the series is built with the same sturdiness and wholesale ambit as the kind of grand cinematic epic that Hollywood was once known for . At the same time , Shōgunis expensive , violent , and occasionally titillating in manner that have only become truly potential on television in our current , post - Game of Thronesworld .
In less careful hands , Shōguncould have been a mess — an off - putting and confusing combination of conflicting tones and originative impulses . Its many moments of nudeness and brutality , when combined with its clearly high-priced budget and the white - savior factor of its news report , could have easily madeShōguna tedious , indulgent , and culturally insensitive disaster . Instead , what has arrived on our television screens just two calendar month into the year is a frequently astonishing historical drama . Like all great epics , it beautifully ride the line between prestige sedateness and engaging watchability , emerging as a 10 - episode political thriller that is equal parts compelling and entertaining .
Based loosely on the dangerous undertaking of real - life navigator William Adams , who became the first Englishman to reach Japan in the 1600s , Shōgunfollows John Blackthorne ( Cosmo Jarvis ) , a British protestant purpose on decreasing the influence of Lusitanian Catholics throughout the world . When he successfully navigate himself and the few survive crewmembers of his British sailing vessel to the shores of Japan , he quickly becomes a captive of the country ’s aboriginal warrior . Before long , he is presented to Yoshii Toranaga ( Hiroyuki Sanada ) , a formidable feudal lord whose life and location have late come under attack from his fellow scheming Japanese trustee , who are go by the triumphal Ishido Kazunari ( Takehiro Hira ) .
Rather than executing Blackthorne , Toranaga recruits him to his cause — offering him comfortable accommodations in exchange for his selective information and aid . He partners Blackthorne up with a transcriber in the form of Toda Mariko ( Anna Sawai ) , a Japanese Catholic who is desperate to demonstrate her dedication to Toranaga , revenge her former father , and also relieve herself of the essence because of the shame tie to her family name . The more time they spend together , the more romantically draw Mariko and Blackthorne become to each other . However , the cultural differences that live between them — namely , Blackthorne ’s foiling over Mariko ’s complete disinterest in his Western - establish idea regarding her personal freedom — emerge as frequent stumbling blocks for both .
On paper , Shōgun‘s plot of ground make it seem like yet another accounting entry into the canyon of white savior stories set in Asian countries . By begin with Jarvis ’ Blackthorne , it looks , at first , like the serial may even make the fault of run down that unfortunate road . It does n’t take long forShōgunto show that it ’s smarter than that , though . The miniseries avoids becoming its worst potential self by not only repeatedly play up the ugliness of Blackthorne and his colonialist belief but also by going out of its style to reward the representation and intelligence activity of its Asian part . At no point inShōgundoes it seem like Toranaga or Mariko are simply tools in Blackthorne ’s report . The polar seems true more often than not , and that allowsShōgunto strip Blackthorne ’s inevitable journeying of cultural assimilation of whatever unnerving romanticism it might have otherwise had .
The series , which come up from Godhead Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks , embraces the morally equivocal nature of its floor even more amply than many of its high - profile Prestige TV generation , including HBO’sThronesand its2022 spin - off , House of the Dragon . The drama never shy off from its fictitious character ’ here and now of selfishness or ungoverned ambition , and yet it refuses to ever cast any straightforward judgments on them . Even Sanada ’s Toranaga , who is gear up up and paint to be a legendary figure in the eye of his followers , is show to be too crafty , great power - hungry , and stubborn to pass as a traditionally heroic pencil lead . Shōgunswims in the murky moral waters that it can . In doing so , it can dexterously ruminate on how seemingly stabile whimsy of honor and strong point can dislodge and develop depending on one ’s polish .
The show ’s exploration of such matters works as well as it does partly due to how well - researched it is and how well it balances the perspective of its Nipponese and white characters . It ’s also thanks , in no small part , to the performances given by its casting . Anna Sawai brings both a quiet gracility and a always simmering gumption of determination to her turn as Mariko , who reveal herself to be a sinewy counter to Cosmo Jarvis ’ Blackthorne , whose gravelly voice and sick - mannered behavior make him stand out all the more inShōgun‘s version of pre - Edo period Japan . Opposite them , Tadanobu Asano and Néstor Carbonell respectively beam as Kashigi Yabushige and Vasco Rodrigues as well , a twain of likewise charismatic figures who are less governed by their socially accepted regulation of purity and more by their selection instincts .
in the end , Shōgunis anchored by Hiroyuki Sanada , the esteemed Japanese histrion who has grown increasingly recognizable to stateside viewers since he gave his international breakout performance in 2003’sThe Last Samurai . Here , he gets arguably his cracking Hollywood role to date in Yoshii Toranaga , a character whose superbia is equalize by his wit and whose will show to be truly unbending . Sanada has always been uniquely indue at portraying respectable figures , butShōgungives him the luck to tally new level to the kind of archetypal characters he ’s often ask to flirt . His Toranaga may be just as dominating and capable as anyone intimate with the actor ’s work will expect , but he ’s also step by step reveal to be more playful and freelance than he let on , and Sanada balances all of his part ’s many sides with astounding easiness .
The splendor ofShōgun‘s sets and locations touch the strength of its performance and hand , as do its geological period - accurate costume and sets . The serial publication undoubtedly cost quite a lot to make , but unlike so many of the megahit TV shows produce nowadays , one gets the signified thatShōgunwas actually made by a creative squad that get it on how to habituate its budget effectively . The rank scale of its storytelling is enough to make up for the exceedingly , sometimes bewilderingly , intricate nature of its game . Shōgunis , by no mean , an easy series to keep up with . Its dramatis personae of characters is large , and the political machinations at piece of work in each of its episode force one to pay cheeseparing attention at all times . If you do n’t , you may very well detect yourself confused about who is an ally to whom and what sure fictional character ’ goal are at different time .
That fact , along with its final episodes ’ lower number of set pieces , may makeShōguntoo densely plotted of an experience for some . Those who are uncoerced to put as much intoShōgunas the show demands will , however , find themselves reward with a series that neither takes their time for granted nor underestimates their intelligence . It follow a patient , detail - orient approach to its plot — proving to be the rarefied , ultra - sized television drama that knows when to have got and when to assault . It ’s a samurai epic poem that cut late .
The first two installment ofShōgunpremiere Tuesday , February 27 , on FX and Hulu . unexampled episodes release weekly . Digital Trends was given other entree to all 10 of the serial publication ’ episode .
