Shogun (1980) | Samurai Miniseries Review

In this review we examine "Shogun", a miniseries from 1980 based off of James Clavell's popular novel of the same name. It tells a historical fiction account of the arrival of John Blackthorne, an English trader who arrives in Japan at the height of the Sengoku Jidai.

"Shogun" was Produced by Paramount Television and originally aired on NBC. It is currently under the copyright of CBS.

Intro:

Music: Namaste by Audionautix

Social Media:

#Samurai #Miniseries #Review

[jaojmnhzhzm]

This show was my "gateway drug" to all things samurai and medieval Japanese history. It's quite dated now but I will always remember it fondly.

[OgamiItto]

My opinion is that a major factor in the success of the miniseries _Shogun_ is Richard Chamberlain's participation. He was extremely proficient at calibrating his performances to whatever size screen and whatever scope of shot in which he appeared. He, in great degree, manages to elevate what was basically a 1970's American TV-style show into something classic. He was also a strong enough performer to be able to share the screen with the great Toshiro Mifune without being outshone or upstaged.

[MD-cnnt]

This was a TV miniseries, not a historical docudrama or Kurosawa film (or any film, for that matter). It was a sexy star in a made-for-TV event, like Roots or Rich Man, Poor Man (or, a few years later, The Thornbirds, also starring Chamberlain). That's the context against which you judge a series like this - as entertainment for the masses sitting at home in 1980, when most households had only had color TVs for less than a decade. The series opened a window to a world most people were completely unfamiliar with, and here we are 44 years later still talking about it. That's a monumental accomplishment. While it's true that the series strayed from history and leaned heavily into romantic subplots, what do you really expect from a series competing with Dallas and the Love Boat? It's too easy to judge art in an evolving medium based on current sensibilities....just enjoy it.

[klackon]

I read the book in just over two days in 1975 - I could hardly put it down. I was well into Samurai history back then, ending up with all of Stephen Turnbull's books. I avidly watched every episode of Shogun when it was first released and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[pullt]

Something to keep in mind when considering media retroactively is just how HUGE a big mini-series would be in those days. Basically, for the vast majority of viewers, this would be the only exposure to this period of history they would have

[KrawmKruach]

I was 8 when this series was released, a few years later i read the novel and fell in love with the book as well, and let me tell you my 8 year old mind was filled with wonder and awe at the presentation of feudal japan. My love of japan, its people, history, and culture all stem from this series and later the novel.

I cant wait to see the FX series and i hope and pray that it is more like the books than the original series.

[shawngillogly]

The miniseries plays up the romance, because made for TV at the time needed romance to sell commercials. And the miniseries was the staple of the old time Network sweeps season.

Not to say the romance isn't important to the book. But it serves the theme of duty vs love. And also serves to illustrate the meeting of two worlds, despite fundamental differences. Also, the Anniversary Edition is simply beautiful. And belongs on the shelf of any lover of historical fiction. Aside from the fact I think that, along with Winds of War, it's a masterpiece of modern historical fiction.

Also, I would submit Clavell had the right of it when choosing to change names for this series, and thus allowing himself to conflate events. I am reminded of an essay G.G. Kay wrote, discussing this issue (as most of his writing is Historical Fiction with a thin gloss of fantasy on top). When you use actual historical figures, you are beholden to represent their personalities and motivations as they are known. Failing to do so is borderline defamation. And certainly misrepresenting history. But using the veil of fictionalization allows for a level of conjecture and interpretation that would otherwise be disrespectful. And it allows for conflating minor characters into one more important one. It allows the essence of the story to be conveyed, without the danger of flattening historical characters.

[jimross]

I'll admit to being a fan of the novel and the mini series. I read the novel when it first came out and as direct result, I read every one of James Clavell's novels. I have only one quibble with your review. You looked at the mini series through the eyes of someone who knows much more of actual historical events which this story fictionalized. I think that this story should be viewed through the eyes of an audience who knows little or nothing of the lives of their nonfictional counter parts. That's the audience whom the book and mini series were aimed at. That being said, I agreed with most of your review.
I knew very little of the feudal history of Japan when I first watched this miniseries, but this was when I started to learn about the history of Japan and realized that many of fictional characters were based on real individuals and many of the events were similarly loosely based on actual historical events.
When first broadcast I arranged my work schedule so that I could see this mini series. I was telling everyone I knew about how great the novel had been. A group of coworkers watched the mini series with me. My primary remembrance was that the mini series should have been longer, as the story in the mini series had a number of jumps in the story. I had to explain to the people viewing, events that were fleshed out in the novel, and were either not explained or were referred to but not shown in the mini series. The people who watched this series got lost on what was going on, or the reason's that motivated a characters actions or reaction. I suspect that much more was filmed and ended on cutting room floor. Your complaint that the story didn't have enough of the real events taking place in Japan, is similar to complaining that Gone With The Wind didn't fully show all that was occurring in the Civil war at the time the events that were depicted as occurring in that novel and film.
The two hour movie that was made out out of mini series is an unwatchable mess. If you want to watch this, see the full ten hour mini series. If you're really interested read the book, before you watch the mini series, because it will give context to parts of the story that didn't make it in the mini series.
This book and mini series inspired my interest in feudal Japan. Clavell's Asian series inspired me to search out the real world places mentioned in his books when I visited Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. For years the only Japanese I knew was that from this book and mini series. I have learned everything I could about Williams Adams (Miura Anjin) or John Blackthorne as his fictional counter part is called. It led to me visit Japan twice and there is still more see. I am also learning Japanese, so I can better understand what I'm seeing, and can interact better with unilingual Japanese. In fact without the existence of the novel, Shogun and the mini series of the same name, I probably would not be a subscriber to this channel. I plan to travel to Japan and spend three or four months learning Japanese, when they will let me in, and visiting historical sites I have yet to see. So this book and mini series have had a profound effective on me.

[LittlePixieBot]

I can understand how you feel about the romance. However, you should read the book. It fleshes out Mariko's character much better. She is so much more than Blackthorne's love interest and delves so much more in her relationship and duties to her church and to Lord Toranaga. She might be the most important character in the novel.

[TheCousinEddie]

I've read Shogun: A Novel of Japan, several times and had no idea it was loosely based on a real person. The book is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. The Seppuku scene was intense and very well written - much better than the mini series. The ending was setup perfectly for a sequel and I've always wondered why Clavell never wrote one (Noble House doesn't count).

[Salmon_Rush_Die]

It was an important film for that time in America. There was in the late '70's into the '80's a real anxiousness about Japan's growing economic influence which triggered cultural xenophobia. (Toyota, Honda, Datsun, etc. were killing the American auto industry; Japanese entities were buying up huge portions of markets; Fuji was killing Kodak & etc.). At that time, everyone's granddad was still alive who had viciously fought the Japanese in the war. There were still many who had no understanding or interest in Japan or Japanese culture. Shogun did a really good job of being a sort of cultural bridge. Everyone nowadays loves & admires Japan (except maybe Koreans or Chinese). I think it's probable that Shogun had a little something to do with it.

[mungohalf-brain]

Read the book! It's great. Also as I think has been said before the book is an exploration of big themes like Duty, Death, Love, Revenge and Honour and the differences in European and Japanese attitudes to these themes. The Mariko Blackthorn relationship is a major vehicle for exploring this in the book and I think this gets somewhat lost in the TV series.

[eduardoquirino]

When it was shown on TV in the 80's, I was about 30 years old. It was a hit TV series starring Richard Chamberlain and the world got a glimpse of Japan's strange mixture of fragile beauty and perfect order as against the severe brutality and punishment for disobeying strict protocol. I actually watched the series again a month ago, and enjoyed it.

[maskedmildew]

As someone who watched shogun and read the book NOT when it first came out, IE: with less nostalgia, I still found it a very fun story and was captivated the whole way through.

The miniseries is extremely close to the source material and the actors did an amazing job at playing their roles. Nothing but good things to say honestly...

[matistysk]

I saw this series in the 80's as a small boy in East Germany and it was so exciting and interesting to see another culture far away. Great review of the series. Thanx

[HeshanWijegunaratne]

One of the best miniseries of all-time! A remake of the series is set to be broadcast by FX starting in February 2024 :) Can't wait!!!

[tesilab]

As I recall, the great thing about the book was how layered it was in revelations. But somehow, each time a new layer was revealed, you would be tricked anew into thinking "NOW I know what's really going on" until the next revelation, and you would be convinced "This time for sure, I know what's going on".

[danielsullivan]

I read Shogun and watched this film so many times. I love this film. I do not know where I saw it or where I found out but I heard the Japanese worked on this film very hard and did all the sets and were so proud to do this series for Western Audience. I do think this film showed how brutal the samurai like many warrior cultures but this series showed so much respect of them and their culture. Love Story was well done and so nice and you can see the cultural differences. Yes. I know some Japanese personally that really liked this film adding there are films in Japan like this. One saying to me that he remembered when it came out in Japan and it was shown once but when miniseries come out, they do not show over and over again because companies own the rights to them. Not like today like cable networks showing series over and over again for 2 years. I learned so much history of the West and of Japan with this series or inspired me to research more about the time. This is one of my favorite films or series of all time. I own this as well. I think it was well done and the acting was so good. I wish more films were like this today. I am sure you would not agree. Coming series FX I am nervous because I feel the remakes are not usually better and updated versions many times are not so good. Story can be changed and much more.

[brianpeck]

Refusing to be smuggled out of Japan is no proof that Adams wanted to stay. He had ties including a second family there. The love story was another gateway of transformation. This story is not about the battles of samurai but about the battles of one man and the world he found himself in. A battle of transformation and changing allegiance...to his country to his crew to those who had been his captors to his lover and ultimate gateway and through to himself while staying true to other things.

[sosumi_rogue]

I remember watching this as a kid when it first aired. I asked my mom what they were saying when they were speaking Japanese. She told me back then they were speaking an older form of Japanese, so it was a little difficult for her to understand/translate. I didn't know Toshiro Mifune was responsible for the dialogue, that is so cool!