Honored samurai, ruthless ronin, wayward vagabonds, shadowy ninja and helpless villagers... welcome.
Opening Volley
Without a doubt, Shogun will go down as one of the most spellbinding and influential shows of 2024 and beyond. The level of storytelling does not waver one iota from the opening episodes.
Main Event
Stretching to the midpoint of this 10-hour saga, the fourth episode, “The Eightfold Fence,” steers both Blackthorne and viewers toward a deeper understanding of Japanese culture (albeit of 200 years ago, but some things don’t change all that much), as well as an tightening of the bowstrings of war.
Blackthorne calls “BS!” on some of the cultural aspects he’s introduced to, and without sounding like a complete asshole, even after 25 years here, to some point, I have to agree, because, frighteningly enough, this kind of thinking is still “taught” (Tatemae and Honne). While the Japanese no longer call it The Eightfold Fence (at least to my, granted, limited, third-person knowledge of growing up Japanese), there is still a very inexplicable way children are “taught” (through simply being a part of the culture) to hide their feelings and thoughts. Which, as a father of three wonderful Japanese/American children, I find frustrating. I would like my children to be able to speak their feelings and often encourage them to do so, but I cannot and do not wish to push them.
With apologies, I digress.
Despite Blackthorne’s frustration with his situation, he begins to exhibit signs of comprehension and acceptance when those who are assigned to him as house staff and consort show their loyalties in unexpected and very powerful ways. We see him grow a little. And we see the blossoming of “tragedy” (beautifully foreshadowed the dialogue between himself and Lady Mariko) between broken spirits hiding behind the aforementioned “fences.”
The second half of the story involves Toranaga’s son, Nagakado Yoshii, and the conniving Kashiki clan, which is clearly playing both sides of this clash between the Regents. Just when the viewers are starting to feel hopeful that Toranaga and allies are safe, we are reminded that:
We never meet without parting
Next issue... BIOHEIST.
Ready your team; it’s going to be a HELL of a run!
Your mission briefing will appear here: https://risingphoenixgames.com/bioheist/
Until then!
Made in DNA
Need to start watching this! I'm interested in how you're presenting Blackthorne as both reacting to and accepting of what's around him.
I guess I should get round to resubscribing to Disney+...
Never watched the earlier series, but I read the book back when I was at uni. Do have a soft spot for Clavell's novels, in spite/because of the rampant Orientalism. (I also remember reading Eric Van Lustbader's Ninja novels, which I suspect would not hold up well today.)