The FX limited series "Shogun" is being hailed by some as the next epic fantasy series to look out for, with some even comparing it to "Game of Thrones." "Shogun," based on the James Clavell bestselling novel of the same name, was previously adapted in 1980 by NBC.
Set in 17th-century Japan, the story opens with the country on the verge of civil war. Taiko, the supreme leader of unified Japan, has been dead for a year. His heir being too young to lay claim to the throne brings a five-person called the Council of Regents into play.
Each member of the council is ultimately self-serving with agendas all their own. Two of the men converted to Catholicism after the establishment of trade with the Portuguese began to flourish. Lord Yoshi Toranaga is the most group.
This true warrior from a dynastic family is indeed interesting, but the other members of the Council have united against him fearing his popularity and the possibility that he could anoint himself Shogun and establish a military dictatorship.
The Rest Of The Crew
The opposing members of the Council are led by Lord Ishido Kazunari. Following his lead, the Council prepares to impeach Toranga and execute him as well. But things take a turn when a weather-beaten Dutch ship washes up on the shores of Japan, delivering a possible savior in John Blackthorne.
Blackthorne, a protestant and Dutch, is the sworn enemy of the Catholic Portuguese. But what really tickles Toranaga's fancy is Blackthorne's knowledge of Western warfare tactics, as well as his ship being loaded with cannons and muskets.
The setup is thicker than Canadian molasses in January, but the shifting allegiances, major political players, and inter-cultural edicts and rituals substantially further the plot.
Blackthorne represents the eyes and sensibilities of the Western world within this narrative. This comes into play when he witnesses Toranaga order a samurai loyal to him to end his bloodline for speaking out of turn to a rival. Again, when Blackthorne is taken aback when he learns the Japanese take more than one bath a week.
Toranaga enlists a noblewoman from a disgraced family to serve as the translator for Blackthorne. Here's how it was described by the Ringer.
What separates Shogun from other historical epics, though, is how effectively the series exercises restraint. Make no mistake, there are scenes of shocking violence where characters are swiftly decapitated, disemboweled, or blown into gory chunks of flesh by cannon fire. But for the most part, Shogun focuses on the careful steps characters take to avoid walking the path of destruction, none more so than Toranaga. In his heyday as a warrior, Toranaga's greatest asset was letting his opponent strike first: Fighting was always a final recourse rather than something to embrace. It's a mindset Toranaga carries into the political arena, patiently waiting for his rivals to make a play before revealing his hand.
This sounds like something people will definitely be tuning in to check out. "Shogun" premieres on Hulu on Tuesday, February 27th.
