Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Shōgun Episode 5. The Big Picture The dinner scene between Blackthorne, Mariko, and Buntaro is a highlight of this week’s Shōgun episode. Anna Sawai delivers another powerful performance as Mariko reveals her family’s tragic history. Language and translation are wielded in creative ways, adding depth to the … Read more
Inspired by James Clavell’s iconic 1975 novel, Shōgun is FX’s new limited series that explores the beauty, violence and political backstabbing of feudal Japan. Much like the book, the series takes inspiration from history and explores the unlikely relationship that grows between a British navigator and one of Japan’s five warlords as the country heads … Read more
“In Japan, you must be good!” These words, spoken by a cowering villager, mark Englishman John Blackthorne’s introduction to Japanese life. This is the opening of Disney+’s Shōgun, and much of the drama turns on the question of “good” means when these two very different cultures meet. The year is 1600, and Blackthorne is the … Read more
The Big Picture Shōgun is a historical drama based on James Clavell’s novel, focusing on sailor John Blackthorne’s experiences in Japan and the power struggle among various leaders. The novel is inspired by the real-life story of William Adams, a sailor who traveled to Japan in the 1600s and played a crucial role in Japan’s … Read more