Curious to know if Shogun is worth a weekend binge? We break down some things you need to know about the acclaimed show.
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If you search “Best shows of 2024”, chances are you’ll find Shogun included in many lists, often near or at the top. Ever since the show premiered on Disney+ in February 2024, Shogun has been receiving acclaim left and right for, among other things, its stunning production, costume design, and stellar cast. It culminated in the show recently winning 18 Emmys at the 2024 Emmy Awards, making history as the most number of Emmys won for a series during a single Emmys.
Shogun, a historical drama based on James Clavell’s best-selling novel about greed, loyalty, treachery, power, and passion, cleaned up in both the technical and major categories, including Best Drama Series. So, with the show breaking records and confirmed two more seasons in the pipeline, is Shogun worth the hype? Before you check out the series on Disney+ (where it’s available to stream), we break down some of the key facts you should know about the show.
THE STORY
Shogun is set in Japan in 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Hiroyuki Sanada, who also serves as a producer, stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants.
Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her, and her duty to her late father.
It’s a classic story about the fight for power and control but what the show does is depict Japanese culture in a way that’s never seen before on a show of this scale. Shogun explores the political, cultural, and religious state of feudal Japan as it collides and falls into chaos. It’s equal parts history lesson and engaging drama.
THE SETTING
While it is rooted in the real history of feudal Japan, Shogun follows fictional feudal lords as they each work to acquire more power and control. It’s a historical drama that doesn’t forget the drama part, so expect intrigue and deception to play a big role in the story. Cunning characters, their shady background, and twisted views will keep you on your toes as you immerse yourself into the worlds of a great Japanese military ruler, a Japanese noblewoman, and a Dutch pilot, all with their personal agendas.
ADAPTATION AND REMAKE
Shogun is based on James Clavell’s renowned book that’s set in 1600 Japan at the dawn of a Japanese civil war. And fun fact, this isn’t the first time the book was adapted into a series. Shogun is also a remake of a miniseries of the same name from 1980, which was considered a hit at the time.
However, this modern adaption honors the book’s fans and the author’s dedication to accurate details, tells the story from a more Japanese-centered lens, and reflects the political climate of the time to relate it to today’s landscape. Even the author’s daughter, Michaela Clavell, who has been managing James Clavell’s publishing rights since 1981 and is an executive producer of the show, is a fan of the modern remake.
THE CAST
Hiroyuki Sanada is a legend you’ve seen in many blockbusters such as John Wick: Chapter 4, Mortal Kombat, and Bullet Train. But before all that, did you know that he was also in Sigaw Ng Puso, a 1995 Filipino film with Lorna Tolentino and Sharmaine Arnaiz? His decades-long career and expertise in the world of the samurai (he’s a martial artist, too), made him a perfect fit as both the lead star and the show’s producer.
Anna Sawai, who plays Lady Toda Mariko, meanwhile, is a rising star in her own right and lowkey steals the show here. It’s no wonder the two took home the Emmy for Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series respectively, with the latter making history as the first Asian woman to win in the category.
THE COSTUMES, SETS, AND PROPS
No Japanese historical drama is complete without the samurai armor, kimono, and katana. The hit show exerted clear-cut direction to bring every aspect of the setting to life, including gestures and etiquette per societal class, to accurately portray 1600 Japan. Shogun employed several Japanese experts to serve as consultants for the show. Centuries-old castles, fishing villages, traditional home interiors, and the 1600 Japanese landscape, including vegetation, come alive with the show’s dedication to accuracy and detail.
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