Shōgun (2024) 将軍
Directed by Jonathan van Tulleken, Charlotte Brändström, Fred Toye, Hiromi Kamata, Takeshi Fukunaga and Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., and starring Sanada Hiroyuki as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne/Anjin and Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko.
Watched 17 - 24 February 2025 — 10 episodes (DISNEY+)
AN EPIC SAGA OF WAR, PASSION, AND POWER SET IN FEUDAL JAPAN.
In Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war, Lord Yoshii Toranaga 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. (Synopsis: Letterboxd)
*My elder sister came up with the idea to watch this Japanese drama (which is actually an American production) — based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell — on their huge 77-inch screen, but she bailed out herself soon enough. So I watched the first 8 episodes with my brother-in-law. It's not a series I would normally seek out, but I stayed because of the gorgeous cinematography and high production values. The plot with the political intrigue went a little over my head occasionally. The last 2 episodes I finished during a plane ride and the viewing experience on my phone was of course less impressive than on a 77-inch screen, but the series' conclusion became quite compelling and I'm glad I decided to finish it by myself.
*I don't like Cosmo Jarvis (seen him before in Jane Austen's Persuasion) and his John Blackthorne/Anjin is not an appealing character, even annoying at times. I do like Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko but her chemistry with Cosmo Jarvis is pretty non-existent. It isn't the sweeping love story as I'd somehow expected (I'm not familiar with the source material nor with the adaptation starring Richard Chamberlain).
*Probably my fave character is Hoshi Moeka as Usami Fuji, Hiromatsu's granddaughter, who later becomes Blackthorne's consort. I really like her. She also has better chemistry with Cosmo Jarvis and a romance between them would have been nicer.
*Some gruesome bloody scenes. I averted my eyes more than once during the harakiri/seppuku moments.
*I have actually not a lot to say about this production. It's a decent and enjoyable watch, with amazing visuals, but the characters are not very engaging and there's not really one person to root for.
*Immensely popular and praised, it comes as no surprise that two additional seasons (2 & 3) are in the works. Not sure if I'm inclined to watch those.
