Allow me to start with a personal note. I consider the late James Clavell one of the best authors of all time, with his Asian Saga novels in particular being a series of truly masterful works. His combination of historical events (if somewhat altered) with the presentation of the social, cultural, political and financial context of the areas the books take place in is truly astonishing to read. Even more so, his writing is completely clean-cut without the usual, unnecessarily long descriptions and utterly useless scenes of dreams etc, with every word counting throughout his work. It is also a true pleasure to say that the creators of the new “Shogun” have managed to capture all these traits in a truly impressive production.
It is also worth stating that John Blackthorne, the protagonist here is loosely based on the on the historical English navigator William Adams, who came to Japan and rose to become a samurai under Ieyasu Tokugawa, a powerful daimyo who later became the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. Ieyasu is the basis for the character of Yoshii Toranaga, with the same actually applying to the rest of the characters.
The series starts with the Erasmus, the ship Blackthorne is pilot, the only one of the many that started from England in order to establish trade with Japan and break the Portuguese catholic’s monopoly, finally reaching Japan, with both him and the rest of the crew, however, being in tatters. The first interaction with the Japanese does not go well, and the men barely get away with their lives, with Blackthorne eventually getting presented to the fief’s ruler, Kashigi Yabushige. The local Jesuit priest, who functions as translator, immediately attempts to have Blackthorne executed, claiming him to be a pirate, but Blackthorne’s attacking demeanor towards him and the fact that Yabushige wants to use the Erasmus and its weapons to his benefit, save the Englishman.
In the Palace at the time (1600) the Taiko has recently died, leaving the rule split among five equal regents, who protect the Taiko’s child heir at Osaka Castle, and his mother, Ochiba no Kata, the only consort of the late Taiko who bore an heir, her son Yaechiyo. The four regents, led by Lord Kazunari Ishido, initiate the process to impeach and thereby condemn to death the fifth regent, Yoshii Toranaga. Following a spy’s report, Toranaga’s general, Toda Hiromatsu, confiscates the Erasmus and its cargo before bringing Blackthorne to Osaka. On the way, Blackthorne takes command of the ship during a storm when the Spanish navigator Rodrigues is washed overboard, and is eventually saved by Blackthorne and Yabushige. Blackthorne is then taken to Osaka Castle, where he meets Toranaga and Lady Mariko Toda.
The first thing I would like to note about the series is the casting and acting, which is of the highest caliber. Of course, the name of Hiroyuki Sanada as Toranaga dominates, with him presenting all the nuances of his characters in a way that, once more, proves how great an actor he is. Particularly the moments where he falters are a treat to watch, as much as the ones he is enjoying the company of Anjin, which is how the Japanese call Blackthorne, in a word that means pilot. Cosmo Jarvis does his best with the role, which demands of him to look as an uncivilized barbarian, over his depth, but also a man with principles and an iron will. However, on occasion he does appear as a bit more of a buffoon then he should be, at least according to the book.
The true star of the series is definitely Anna Sawai as Mariko Toda, a woman from a disgraced lineage who became a Catholic convert and now serves as a translator between Toranaga and Blackthorne. The two of them gradually and eventually come closer together, and it is in the ways her ice breaks that her acting finds its apogee, in a performance that seems to have no flaws. The way she is mishandled by her husband, who cannot contain his jealousy for what he sees happening in front of his eyes, and most of all, the scenes close to the end where she goes against all odds, are a true wonder to watch. Furthermore, the way she moves, talks, and in general acts as a woman of her time are all on-point. By the end of the series, she has become the true protagonist, in a choice I feel she forced with her acting.
The second rather memorable performance comes from Tadanobu Asano as Yabushige, a poor devil of sorts who finds himself between two men much more powerful than him, Toranaga and Ishido, and tries to use his cunningness in order to survive. He is also the main source of comedy here, along with the also excellent Néstor Carbonell as Vasco Rodrigues, and in general, and as usual, a rather pleasant presence throughout the series. Takehiro Hira as Ishido plays the noble villain with gusto, in a somewhat similar way to how Sanada plays his role. Lastly, the final show-stealing performance comes from Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata, the Christian-hating mother of the future Taiko, who presents her character with a very fitting theatricality and over-the-top style, essentially providing a “counter” to Mariko. The first scene we meet her and her words to the Catholic priest, are bound to stay in the mind of any viewer.
Regarding the context, just like the book, its richness is quite evident. The political ‘games’ that are being played between the two factions are on the center, but Kondo and Marks also highlight the Japanese way of living in all its glory, essentially showcasing bushido as a truly cruel way of living where every individual is always on the brink of death for the smallest mistake. The cryptic talking and what is going underneath what we are watching also becomes evident after a fashion, in a society that was never actually open. The way Blackthorne tries to understand this aspect in particular is another of the great traits of the narrative, as he gradually starts to realize how higher-leveled the Japanese are, in terms of culture, education, and in general, civilization. The fight between the Catholics and the Protestants is also central here, along with the way they are both trying to hide that they are in Japan, essentially to take advantage of the locals. The creators of the series, however, do not take sides, showing that there were good and bad people on both “factions”
The romance between Anjin and Mariko is also rather appealing in the way it unfolds, with her realizing their situation and how dangerous it is, and even trying to make him understand, and him continuously failing to do so, in an attitude, though, that is what draws her to him. The impact one has to the other and the way the change through it is also quite intriguing to watch.
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If one were to find a fault in the series, it is that, close to the end, when Toranaga finds himself in an impossible situation, the quality of the narrative deteriorates somewhat, perhaps in an effort to come up with more episodes. Furthermore, the ending of some key characters could have been handled a bit better. These, however, are just minor faults, and in no way do they disrupt the continuous quality of the series.
In terms of production values, it becomes evident that the producers realized that a series like this needed a big budget, and spared nothing in their effort to accurately present both the era and its people. The whole thing was shot in Vancouver, in a setting that was turned to look rather Japanese, with the cinematographers capturing all the different locations in the most impressive fashion. There are no large scale battles here, for the most part, but the intricacy of the scenes in the various interiors, including the coloring, the lighting, the sound, the costumes, hair and makeup are of the highest caliber, resulting in a true audiovisual extravaganza.
Nothing more to say, “Shogun” is a masterful series, which has managed to stay true to a masterful novel, and a must watch for any viewer. Hopefully, after its success, the rest of the books in the series may also be considered for adaptations.
