Shōgun Review

Shōgun reviewed by Samatha Nelson on FX/Hulu.

Shōgun is television at its best, using its budget to create a gorgeous, immersive world but never letting spectacle detract from its emphasis on complex character arcs. The performances are compelling, aided by writing that flows from crude humor to poetic drama in a way that brings depth to protagonists and even minor characters. The series seamlessly blends intrigue, humor, romance and action in a beautifully executed limited series that keeps delivering surprises until its perfect ending.

#IGN

[smitj]

Honestly this was the quickest 2 hours to pass by today. A fantastic show.

[musty__]

Absolute banger of a show. The ending of episode 2 locked me in.

[spawnnpwn]

The scene where John draws the map and all is revealed, Ooff.. Very well directed.

[willyjohnson]

Don’t expect an action packed samurai battling opening to the show. It doesn’t need that anyway, the scenery, acting, script, and the intense feel of how everything slowly unravels makes this an epic watch

[archangel]

Preliminary knowledge to make you enjoy this drama a little more ↓.

This drama depicts the aftermath of the most powerful samurai in Japanese history, the demon king Oda Nobunaga, who was betrayed and killed by his subordinates, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Taikoo), Nobunaga's most loyal retainer, who ruled Japan for a short period after Nobunaga's death.

Most of the samurai of this period were retainers of Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, former comrades fighting each other to become shogun, a position that neither Nobunaga nor Hideyoshi was able to achieve.

Whoever won this battle became the Shogun who brought about the 250 years of peace that caused Japan to flourish as we know it today.

[VisualNomad_exe]

just the look of it, its a movie quality turned into a series.

[gonaye]

Tuesday is officially the most important night of the week now.

[Marvelousgamer]

Shōgun is phenomenal! We're only TWO episodes in, and I'm certain this show will be in the conversation for the best show of 2024!

[DanLuxe]

What a week.
Shōgun
Dune 2
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

[Nhexturtle]

Enjoyed the first episode.
However Portuguese speakers be warned, when they start speaking "portuguese" the immersion will go out the window.

[darkmattergamesofficial]

First two episodes went by in what felt like 30 minutes. Utterly locked in 🔥🔥

[凡人-ds]

アメリカの皆様、ありがとうございます
こんな日本の重厚な時代劇を創ってくれて
現在の日本の現状では、これだけ重厚な時代劇を創れる
映画会社、監督、脚本家、演出家が居ないんです
日本の観客も重厚な映画が好きな人も多くは居ません

アメリカの皆様に感謝します

[TheRealPotoroo]

Blackthorn is not a pirate (2:30). He is a privateer. Very different. He has a Letter of Marque from Queen Elizabeth authorising him to attack ships belonging to England's enemies (at this time principally Spain). He's a type of naval mercenary, employed at a time when England was struggling and the Royal Navy was weak, but not a pirate.

[echos]

Well worth the watch. Always loved this era

[trumpwonandyouknowit]

"'The Sword is the Soul of the Samurai.'" 💯%✔✅

[TheCulturalBomb]

Absolutely amazing opening 2 episodes. Cant wait for the rest
Feel like this is really being slept on by people, cant see much buzz online at all. Hopefully word of mouth gives it what it deserves.

[thespaniard]

Fun fact: During this period Portugal and Spain existed as one country (1580-1640) and the Portuguese were the first europeans to arrive in Japan, in 1543

[exercisethemind]

If you want to see what happens next after the "Shōgun" finale, watch Martin Scorsese's film, "Silence".

[jwiggins]

Imagine if the Ghost of Tsushima Movie is of this quality!!!!

[briengakaplan-b]

This show lives up to the hype. An instant classic - and we’re just two episodes in.