As embarrassing deaths go, it does not get a lot worse than slipping and fatally cracking your head on a rock whereas trying to homicide your uncle exterior of a brothel.
So on the opening of Shogun Season 1 Episode 8, it does not come as a lot of a shock once we see Nagakado getting roasted by the members of his personal funeral procession. (Pyre pun not meant!)
However the excellent news is, the bumbling son lastly helps his father’s trigger by making certain a 49-day interval of mourning earlier than Toranaga’s demise march to Osaka.
Additionally managing a sophisticated mixed-bag scenario is Toranaga’s former right-hand man, Blackthorne:
Evidently for the reason that Anjin has turned his again on his ex-benefactor, he’ll not be compelled to undergo the Council of Regents, and his service to Toranaga has formally come to an finish.
It is what he is been campaigning for since his ship first ran aground. Hell, he even has his treasured rutters again!
However it’s a bittersweet second for quite a few causes, not the least of which is that there isn’t any telling what is going to turn into of Blackthorne now that he not enjoys the assist of Toranaga.
Oh, and he is abandoning Mariko and the opposite allies to whom he owes his life as they march to their sure demise in Osaka.
On the upside, Blackthorne will lastly be reunited together with his crew!
Though that information most likely has him feeling just a little bit like somebody who went on a protracted trip and hoped that their goldfish would have the ability to survive on ideas and prayers.
In Osaka, Ishido is desperately simping for Ochiba, who has emerged as the actual energy behind the Council.
He proposes marriage, however the Inheritor’s mom appears lower than enthused by the thought.
In the meantime, following extra ruthless jabs from Yabushige, Nagakado’s funereal festivities take a troubling flip as Omi begins responsible Toranaga for his buddy’s passing.
Sure, issues are occurring very rapidly right here in Shogun’s antipenultimate episode (which means third from final! We seemed it up!)
Toranaga is bedridden with sickness (or pretending to be); his males are sporting armor in protest of his give up; Yabushige desires to experience on Osaka with a full cannon regiment, however is deflated by the information that Ishido anticipated such a transfer.
Briefly, these are bleak instances for Staff Toranaga.
There’s not lots to smile at on this episode, however Blackthorne’s mastery of the language, and his use of his new fluency to dunk on that smug Costanza-hairlined jerk Alvito present some much-needed comedian aid.
Sure, the Portuguese/Spanish menace — to say nothing of the destiny of the British/Dutch pit crew — has been back-burnered amid the regency wrestle, however all that drama comes again to the forefront with Blackthorne’s menace towards the Black Ship.
Alvito proceeds to share some previous information with Toranaga, who seems to be legitimately in poor health.
But when this present has taught us something, it is that the Lord of the Kwanto just about all the time has one thing up his sleeve, and that is virtually actually the case now that his again is in opposition to the wall like by no means earlier than.
Alvito means that Toranaga type an alliance with Ochiba, and although the enmity between the 2 is public data, everybody in Toranaga’s interior circle appears to favor the thought.
Toranaga is a little more pessimistic — or just real looking — and he shrugs off the recommendation and calls for that his vassals march with him in his give up.
At this level, it looks like Toranaga has a plan, he is enjoying it very near the chest. Is he merely placing on a present in order that Alvito will inform Osaka of his sickness and his defeatist perspective? In that case, he is taking no possibilities and preserving his interior circle fully at nighttime.
Hiromatsu appears satisfied that Toranaga intends to battle — or is he giving Yabushige trigger for optimism so as to sustain morale?
Regardless of the case, whereas some restricted collection start to expire of steam across the time of episode eight, Shogun clearly has steam to spare and plenty of layers but to disclose.
Significantly much less complicated is the connection between Mariko and Buntaro.
Like many abusive jerks, he is satisfied that he can regain his spouse’s affections with the occasional considerate gesture, on this case, an elaborate tea ceremony.
He thinks she’s hung up on Blackthorne, and whereas which may be partially true, it appears the one factor she’s actually in love with is the concept that she would possibly in the future be free from her terrible marriage.
What you denied me wasn’t demise. It was a life past your attain. And I might sooner stay a thousand years than die with you want this.
Mariko
Buntaro makes an attempt to make issues proper by granting Mariko permission to take her personal life — what a man! — however she units him straight in what is perhaps the present’s most quietly badass trade but.
After which, it is the second we have all been ready for:
After a really lengthy interval of separation, Blackthorne is lastly reunited with the crew of the Erasmus.
It is perhaps one of many few faults within the present’s pacing that this specific plot thread was put aside and scarcely talked about for therefore many weeks.
However on the identical time, the reunion would not have felt so tensely awkward; we would not have felt the fullness of Blackthorne’s evolution — and his crew’s dissolution — if it had occurred sooner.
The boys who have been as soon as his solely allies in that a part of the world have now turned in opposition to him, and because the pilot pummels his belligerent shipmate into the bottom, we’re conscious that the surprising battle has strengthened a few of Shogun’s central themes:
We’re reminded as soon as once more that amongst males who lack character, loyalties usually shift, and even in 1600, bonds shaped alongside racial strains are solely pores and skin deep.
The English pilot who was as soon as averse to bathing and disgusted by his overseas hosts now defends his conventional Japanese garb and reviles his “filthy” former pals.
The scenario forces Blackthorne to attempt to forge an alliance with Yabushige, however he is rebuffed and taught one more lesson in regards to the significance of loyalty.
As soon as loyalty begins, it doesn’t have an finish. In any other case, it might not be loyalty.
Mariko
The negotiations result in an trade about loyalty and seppuku that incorporates all the heart-rending poignancy that the dialog between Buntaro and Mariko lacked.
However the future is not so bleak for everybody.
Gin and Kiku, for instance, are on the verge of seeing their desires come true.
The latter’s devotion to her mistress prompts Omi to revisit the episode’s primary theme and surprise aloud if there’s such a factor as an excessive amount of loyalty.
Kiku chides him for his lack of imaginative and prescient, and we’re then handled to one of many nice comedic moments of the collection as Alvito realizes that his fancy new church can be proper subsequent door to a brothel.
Should you look and see nothing, you need to merely look more durable.
Kiku
Additional proof that Toranaga is all the time enjoying 3D chess.
One in all Shogun’s primary strengths is the depth and richness of its characters. Usually, collection which are this plot-oriented skimp on humanity, however that is not the case right here.
It is an achievement that heightens the drama, each by main us to care about these characters and by making them frustratingly unpredictable within the method of these pesky real-life people with whom we’re compelled to share a planet.
For instance, as a result of Ochiba isn’t any mere one-note villain, and the scene during which a dying Woman Daiyoin begs her to ditch Ishido is each transferring on an emotional stage and intriguing by way of plot mechanics.
Toranaga’s males refuse to consider that he is giving in, however he is a “nation earlier than celebration” politician, and he feels that his continued resistance could be unhealthy for Japan. Or so he says.
As soon as once more the political turns very private as Hiromatsu commits seppuku in protest of his buddy’s refusal to battle again in opposition to Ishido.
Curiously, he denies Buntaro the correct to do the identical, partially attributable to his mistreatment of Mariko.
Sure, we have reached such a darkish place on this story that denial of the liberty to commit suicide is the final word punishment.
However as soon as once more, Mariko’s poetic observations in regards to the altering seasons evoke a way of optimism.
And certain sufficient, it is after one such hopeful poem that we study Toranaga has been orchestrating a intelligent — albeit pricey — ruse this entire time.
After a breakneck begin, Shogun slowed the tempo for the previous couple of episodes, however with Hiromatsu useless, Toranaga and Mariko secretly in cahoots, and Blackthorne again aboard the Erasmus, issues are as soon as once more rushing up as we enter the ultimate stretch,
As Toranaga predicted, Yabushige and Blackthorne type an alliance within the aftermath of Hiromatsu’s demise,
Mariko joins the journey to give up the cannon regiment in Osaka, the place she’ll presumably work to make sure a extra favorable end result for Toranaga.
Since he is at the moment going through sure demise, the bar is fairly low.
In a closing scene that is each transferring on a private stage and riveting at a political one (one other one!), Toranaga presents phrases of gratitude to Nagakado and Hiromatsu, each of whom might have saved his life by sacrificing their very own.
To this point, Shogun has been so flawlessly executed, so brilliantly realized that we’re getting nervous about its capacity to stay the touchdown.
Episodes like The Abyss of Time encourage confidence, but it surely’s exhausting to not really feel just a little apprehensive whenever you’re conscious that you just’re watching a brand new traditional unfold.
What did you suppose, TV fanatics? Is it simply us, or does Shogun maintain outdoing itself? Hit the feedback part under to share your ideas.
Tyler Johnson is an Affiliate Editor for TV Fanatic and the opposite Mediavine O&O websites. In his spare time, he enjoys studying, cooking, and, in fact, watching TV. You may Follow him on X and e-mail him right here at TV Fanatic.
