Forty-four years ago, I read James Clavell’s 1000 page novel, Shogun, and then watched Richard Chamberlain in the 5-episode TV version of Shogun. Set in 1600, the story of a shipwrecked English “pilot” (aka, navigator) taken prisoner by the Japanese, is full of action and adventure. This new FX version of Shogun (10 episodes) paints a much more complete picture of Clavell’s epic novel with a much broader canvas.
The story starts with a Dutch trading ship Erasmus and its barely surviving crew blown ashore by a violent storm at Anjiro on the east coast of Japan. Pilot-Major John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the ship’s English navigator, is taken prisoner by samurai warriors. The Catholic foothold in Japan puts Blackthorne, a Protestant and therefore a heretic in this situation, at a political disadvantage that might cost him his life.
The influential Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), mistrusts this foreign religion now spreading throughout Japan. He is competing with other samurai warlords of similar high-born rank, among them Catholic converts, for the very powerful position of shōgun, the military governor of Japan. Toranaga, under political stress that might cost him his life, sees John Blackthorne as a wild card that might change the balance of power among the warlords–and maybe save his own life.
My favorite character is Lady Markiko Toda (Anna Sawai), a tormented aristocrat who balances her Catholic religion and her loyalty to Lord Toranaga, who becomes the interpreter and eventual lover of Blackthorne.
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks (co-writer of Top Gun: Maverick), show runners of Shogun, present a feudal and beautiful Japan full of treachery and political intrigue. The scope and power of Shogun with its bold drama and scale makes this series one of the year’s best! GRADE: INCOMPLETE but trending toward an A
No real interest in another SHOGUN, even though I know it got good reviews. I suppose we might watch it at some time after we get home. LOVED the book, one of my all-time favorites, and enjoyed the Chamberlain version.
Jeff, I’m with you on Clavell’s Shogun, a great book, and the Richard Chamberlain version. But this new version is in a class of its own!
Clavell (along with Michner) had pretty much cornered the dad market for books around this time. I remember stacks of this in hardcover at the front of the Walden’s and B. Daltons I was haunting at the time but I never picked up a copy. I also vaguely recall the miniseries and Chambelain being sort of the king of the format for awhile. The reviews for this new adaptation are ecstatic arcoss the board with many of those that I read hailing this as a return to the classic miniseries model with improvements. Alas I don’t have access to it but will keep my eyes open for it down the road. Happy to read you are enjoying it.
Byron, Jame Clavell is a great writer! I’m less enthusiastic with Michner, but both authors dominated the best seller market for decades. SHOGUN is on FX and HULU right now but I’m sure it will be more widely available later this year. I highly recommend it!
I agree. Great series so far. Better that the Richard Chambelain version which was pretty good for it’s time.
Steve, I enjoyed the first SHOGUN miniseries, but this new one is even better!