Shōgun – already the highlight of the year after just two episodes

One thing in advance: there are no spoilers in this review. I won’t be mentioning anything that hasn’t already been revealed in the trailers.

This isn’t the first adaptation of James Clavell’s historical novel of the same name. But it might be the best. At least that’s what both critics and viewers say. With fabulous cinematography, a multilayered ensemble and an exciting story that cleverly combines history with fiction, Shōgun has the potential to delight fans of Game of Thrones and The Last Samurai in equal measure.

Despite being only two episodes in, Shōgun is already one of my favourite shows of the year.

The plot in Shōgun

It’s the year 1600. After the death of Taiko, Japan’s powerful leader, chaos erupts in the country. Although the late ruler has left behind a seven-year-old son and heir, the latter is still unable to rule due to his age. Precisely because of this, Taiko decreed that his council of five regents, each representing one of the five major regions of Japan, should govern the country until his son came of age. But as soon as Taiko dies, the intrigue begins.

Four of the five regents, convinced of the strength of their own samurai armies, strive for more than merely governing Japan. They’re well aware that open conflict would not produce a sole victor, so they initially resort to more subtle methods of eliminating their rival regent, Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) from Kanto. Step one is to remove him from office and declare him fair game. But Toranaga has an ace up his sleeve: stranded English navigator John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis).

Devout Protestant Blackthorne isn’t the only European in Japan. Him and Toranaga share common enemies in the country: the Portuguese Catholics, who’ve already established a strong presence up to the highest political levels. Toranaga recognises an opportunity in this. By skilfully deploying Blackthorne, he can sow discord between the partially Catholic regents and thus gain time. Time needed to strive for the highest title in the land, granting ordinary Japanese mortals ultimate power – Shōgun.

Game of Titles, not Thrones

Shōgun. Roughly translates to barbarian general. In feudal Japan, this title belonged to the most powerful military commander. At the same time, he pretty much ruled the country too. During the Shōgunate period, Japan was ruled by a military regime. During this time that’s also known as the Edo period, the Shōgun was the actual ruler, while the Emperor had more of a ceremonial role. The Shōgunate finally ended with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when the once honourable samurai were stripped of their privileged status, political power returned to Emperor Meiji and Japan began to modernise and open up to the West.

If this sounds familiar: yes, The Last Samurai also takes place during this exact same period. Also in that film was Hiroyuki Sanada as the relentless samurai sword master Ujio. Today, 21 years later, he’s taken on the role of Lord Regent Yoshii Toranaga in Shōgun. He’s quieter now, more dignified. Sly, but no less dangerous.

But where The Last Samurai tells its story from the perspective of a stranger in a strange land, namely that of Tom Cruise’s American ex-general, Shōgun is a classic ensemble piece and very reminiscent of early Game of Thrones seasons in terms of pacing, vibes and suspense. Just without fantasy, but with samurai.

So there’s no individual main character, but several. Some of them more important than others. One after the other, they show us their scenes, reveal their plans, their interests. And how skilfully they’re pulling the strings to gain the upper hand in the delicate game for the title of Shōgun. Pure excitement, at least for friends of cultivated storytelling. While the big battle scenes hinted at in the trailers are still to come, the series starts slowly and deliberately for the time being – even if rolling heads or people being boiled alive never disguise the relentless nature of a people who can wear and shed custom and tradition like a mask.

An authenticity rarely seen in Hollywood

At the same time, Shōgun looks simply breathtaking. From the cinematography, costumes and armour to the make-up and backdrops. Not to mention the special effects. Take the scene where stranded Englishman Blackthorne, expecting to fall into the hands of savages and barbarians, is led to feudal Osaka for the first time. Both our jaws drop at such a majestic display of civilisation.

This impressive authenticity is helped by the fact that the series gives Japanese characters a much larger role than the original. Shōgun, the book, is told primarily from the perspective of John Blackthorne. However, the series conceived as an ensemble piece is not. In fact, most of the time only Japanese is spoken – and there’s no Hollywood-style dubbing, aka. Japanese characters speaking English with an accent. This hugely contributes to immersion.

Unless Portuguese is involved, then English is spoken after all. There’s a reason for this. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to find a safe route to Japan and establish trade relations, spread Catholicism and establish the Portuguese language. For a long time, it was even assumed in Japan that the whole of Europe consisted only of Portugal. This idea only changed with the arrival of English navigator William Adams at the beginning of the 17th century, on whom the character of John Blackthorne is loosely based.

In the Shōgun universe, Blackthorne and the few bilingual Japanese therefore also speak Portuguese, even if we the viewers hear English. If the team behind the adaptation had actually opted for a one hundred per cent authentic realisation in terms of languages, they might’ve just subtitled the entire show. But as an American-Japanese production, they didn’t want to go that far after all.

Verdict: I want more political intrigue and samurai battles – now!

Only two episodes have been officially released so far. But these alone immersed me deeply in a feudal Japan on the brink of a century-long civil war. I have nothing to complain about, and much more to praise. Above all, the exciting story, which, despite the (still) leisurely pace, will not bore you.

The story and cinematography are topped off by an incredibly talented cast, led by the sensational Hiroyuki Sanada as Regent Yoshii Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis as the particularly potty-mouthed John Blackthorne. The political intrigue has begun, the epic battles are yet to come. And the next episode? I can hardly wait for it. Until then, I’ll treat myself to some background material.

Shōgun started on 27 February with a double episode on Disney+ (Star). The series consists of ten episodes around 60 minutes each, with new episodes published every Tuesday. Age rating: 12.