Based on the 1975 novel of the same name, a fictionalized version of the life of William Adams, a sailor, and the first Englishman to reach Japan. The novel was wildly successful and widely celebrated. As much as I hate the fact that white people are still centered in this story, it does look pretty great based on the trailer.
About the novel from wiki:
The editor of Learning from Shōgun: Japanese History and Western Fantasy (1980) estimated that 20 to 50% of all students in American college-level courses about Japan had read the novel. He described the book as "a virtual encyclopedia of Japanese history and culture; somewhere among those half-million words, one can find a brief description of virtually everything one wanted to know about Japan", and stated that "In sheer quantity, Shōgun has probably conveyed more information about Japan to more people than all the combined writings of scholars, journalists, and novelists since the Pacific War". The author of James Clavell: A Critical Companion calls the novel "one of the most effective depictions of cross-cultural encounters ever written", and "Clavell's finest effort".
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"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
never read the original novel or know that much about the history, but it fills the void in the "ruling class power struggle" genre until House of Dragons returns
8. "I was not expecting it to end like it did" In response to Reply # 7
shit ended on some "Oops!" Torunaga's brother is an asshole for sure. Not sure what Blackthorne is going to do but he's ain't trying to go out like them.
Big ups to the madam, she was letting Torunaga know she can see through the bullshit.
sometimes u gotta leave ur inner nigger in the bank vault. - desus
9. "about to watch ep8 but kind of wondering it it's the opposite " In response to Reply # 8 Tue Apr-09-24 03:47 PM by Mynoriti
Like people assume he has a plan but the flashback then finding out the true version of the story, showing he may not be quite as legendary as his legend. But I'm hoping she's right and I'm wrong
>Big ups to the madam, she was letting Torunaga know she can >see through the bullshit.
16. "I'm don't find any of the characters to be the least bit engaging" In response to Reply # 13
>and I believe it's because the romantic tension between >Blackthorne and Mariko is not very believable or engaging
nor do they noticeably differentiate themselves from one another and as a result i feel no sense of investment in their outcomes.
I just started ep. 9 so I'm withholding judgment in case I get a really nice payoff at the end but for me it's been severely disappointing relative to all the fanfare.
and ya, the blackthorne/mariko relationship is goofy IMO
17. "Episode 10 wraps it up nicely." In response to Reply # 0
It's kinda wild that they actually weren't even building to the battle and treated it as a footnote.
I am a bit confused as to what's happening with Blackthorn because the old man, deathbed John is holding on to Mariko's cross that he dropped in the Ocean... and additionally, he seems to be back in England while the real Blackthorn lived out the rest of his life in Japan. I know it's not an entirely accurate telling of the history, but those to things in conjunction make me wonder if it's a dream sequence or what exactly is going on there.
I think this is up there with Watchmen as the greatest miniseries of the modern era. And I would have loved to have multiple seasons.
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"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
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