I have seen the original Shogun series starring Richard Chamberlin, and found it rather captivating. I found the scene where Blackthorne makes Christian (Catholic) Samurai step on a crucifix and renounce Christ both jarring, dark, antichrist, and not edifying for a Christian to watch. There is a similar scene in the first episode of this Shogun (2024), where John Blackthorne throws down a crucifix and steps on it in rain to make a point he is not with the Jesuits, but when asked later by Lord Yoshii Tonaga, he agrees that as a Protestant Christian he believes in the same Lord Jesus as the Catholics. That is one of most stark differences between this 2024 adaptation of Shogun and the Chamberlin Classic, this version highlights with nuance, accuracy, and detail the religious wars between Protestants and Catholics, and rather than in Chamberlin’s version that depicts Catholicism and very little Protestantism, and gives a negative outlook of Christianity thanks to 1980’s sensibilities, this series so far is actually rather pro-Protestant, highlighting how the Catholics are using their Society (Soldiers really) of Jesus, The Jesuits, to indoctrinate and make bases for the Portuguese with Ronin (masterless mercenary samurai) to take over Japan. I was struck by the faith in this series, we see one Japanese Villager pulling out a cross necklace to pray when Blackthorne’s ghastly ship appears, two of five Regent Rulers of Japan are Catholics, one a leper and its shown their devotion to Jesus is divided by greed and lust for power, while a priest in the prison cares for those about to be executed and gives Blackthorne the information that will change Japan and the path of many. The scene when Blackthorne reveals to Lord Taranaga the world Japan is in is divided between Spanish and Portuguese is a scene that really struck me, that you can be so isolated on an island and not know world powers are laying claim to your lands as theirs like chess pieces on a board and seeing Lord Yoshii Toranaga react to this revelation shows Sanada’s great acting skill.
The plot is that at this time in Feudal Japan there is an uneasy peace, the last Great Lord of Japan split power between five regents until his son comes of the age of sixteen. One of these regents if Yoshii Tonaga who is being called to take power as Shogun, think Cesar of Rome. At this time the Portuguese are getting a foothold in Japan via missionary Catholic Jesuits, so while the peace of Regents is about to collapse due to Lord Toranaga about to be impeached, John Blackthorne, a English Pilot on the Dutch Ship Erasmus crash lands on Japan, and becomes Lord Toranaga’s wild card to pause his doom and carve out his place as the Shogun to come. Basically there is two layers, the Infighting of the Regents vying for power, and the battle of European powers to have control of trade with Japan and eventually subjugate it to Portuguese or Spanish control, with Blackthorne offering an alternative an ally in England.
The Cinematography, costumery, attention to period details like how to sit, bow, and the landscapes and locations are breathtaking, they are at the caliber of The Last Samurai but with realism added that feels more like Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. The acting is superb, I love Hiroyuki Sanda as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who is was in The Last Samurai, and played Scorpion in Mortal Kombat (2021), he radiates such depth of emotion and thought with every breath, look, and slight movement of his lips. I prefer this John Blackthorne played by Cosmo Javis, his gritty voice and zeal feels more realistic to his station than Chamberlin’s more regal bearing. Tana Mariko played by Anna Sawal is stunning and she already is a favorite, her duo nature of being loyal to Christ & the Catholic priests and loyal to her Lord Toranaga is moving; you realize in life we truly are forced at times to serve our temporal prince and our Heavenly Prince of Peace. In one scene where Mariko helps a woman cope with having to put her child to death and her husband commit Seppeku (Harry Kerry, ritual suicide by cutting open yourself with Tondo [short knife] and a second cuts your head off with Daito/ Katana Sword) we see Mariko asked God for forgiveness, and she lets herself privately reveal that this infantcide is sin, and it torments her soul to coach her friend to go through with it in obedience to the Regents.
I do want to warn there is a scene in episode one where Kiku de-robes and has sex to please a Samurai Lord named Yabu. You will know it is about to happen when the Kiku in her Kimono enters a candle lite room and says “and my duty to please.” She then begins the pornographic exhibition which does not last long, but you see nipples, breasts, and kissing, and then a close up of the woman’s face orgasming as she looks at the war lord and you understand she it having intercourse. I suggest you fast forward since it adds nothing to the plot.
The sets are breathtaking, the palaces, rivers, sea faring voyages, and the lush landscapes. The Spaniard Rodriguez rightfully says “go above deck and look.. and tell me if we [Europeans] truly have the pinnacle of civilization.” (Paraphrase)
The memorable lines about three hearts which is in the trailer: one heart in your for the world to know, one heart in your chest for your friends, and a third hidden heart that you must keep hidden is very true. There are sides of ourselves we hide from all even our loved ones, our friends know a part of our heart that the world does not.
So far I am enchanted by this series. The Christian politics being at the forefront is exhilarating! And the culture of Feudal Japan is intoxicating as you see European sensibilities clash with Bushido and Korean Death Cult Culture (Seppeku / Harry Kerry, this death cult came from Korea but got banned quickly in Korea due loss of able bodied warriors, in contrast it took deep root in Japan and to this day exists, there are woods in Japan today were Japanese people commit Seppeku/suicide, there is a great movie about it and why its folly called The Sea of Trees 2015 starring Matthew McConaughey and Ken Wantabe). For myself being a Protestant I relate to John Blackthorne wanting to reveal the truth to Lord Tonaga and fight to live and make his mark in a land that worships death; he is a foil to the world he is dropped into, and my favorite character is a tie between Blackthorne, Lord Yoshii Tonaga who masterfully portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada who is a virtuous man who doesn’t want to rule as Shogun but is being forced to it by events, and Lady Mariko who tries to find the hard balance of “render into Shogun what belongs to Shogun, and to God what belongs to God.”. I love the Japanese culture at the same time, the merge of Christianity/Catholicism and Feudal Samurai Culture is such a beautiful blend that causes tension and a unique history of the Church not often highlighted, save in The Shimbara Rebellion in books.
So far this series has a perfect blend of cross, calligraphy, and cuts; Christian religion, Japanese culture, and the sword as well as political intrigues. “Death hangs around everywhere,” indeed, and while I know how this story is going to go both historically, it is based on true events, John Blackthorne is based on a real Pilot who crash landed on Japan named William Adams (1564-1620), and because I’ve seen the Chamberlin Shogun Series, I am still riveted, feeling full invested because of the superb acting, magnificent scenery and costumery, period accuracy, and the right blend of church and state politics. I felt each second of the first two chapters (episodes) was sublime, and captivated me, holding my interest as well as moving me, and what is great is there is a cast of characters who are not wooden or stoic, but who convey a complexity of emotion and many who have a tenderness and goodness in their demeanor that finally showcases Japanese people of that time period are not stereotypical stoic Spocks, but that they have “a deep reservoir of feeling” (Nathan Algren, The Last Samurai) that rushes to the surface. Amen.
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