Shōgun is some of the best TV I’ve ever watched.
The characters, the drama, the little quiet moments that change destiny. Shōgun weaves all of these into a very thrilling tapestry of a show. The show is 10 episodes long, each episode an hour long. Not a single moment is wasted, perfect pacing and balance of quiet and action.
The show completely avoids the trap of a white saviour narrative and instead makes Anjin just another character in the events unfolding happening around and to him. He is no more important than any other main character in this show. I am glad that Shōgun does not fall into that narrative trap.
I have seen comparisons of this show to Game of Thrones. While I see the thematic and narrative similarities between the two; I think that this show is much much better than anything Game of Thrones managed to achieve in its multi-season narrative arcs. This show is quietly violent conversations over tea compared to GoT’s physically violent red weddings. I prefer the former.
I like all of the main characters in this show but Mariko is my most favourite. She is a character who weaves herself through the narrative like a needle in the hands of the wily Toranaga. Unlike a needle however, she is a fully fledged out character of her own. The scene with her husband Buntaro over tea is some of the best character interaction I have seen in a TV show in a while.
I have not seen a TV show this good since I watched the first season of Andor. I strongly recommend this show to everyone. Well worth your time.