Shogun Episode 10: The True Meaning of THAT Smile!

Do you know why Yabushige smiled at Toranaga as he was committing seppuku? And do you know why Toranaga smiled back? When I first watched the scene I thought the two were smiling because they both realized that their journeys, all the years they worked together, good and bad, were finally over, so it was like a smile as a final goodbye. But after thinking on it a little more and actually going back to the previous episodes, I realized there is a deeper meaning behind their smile, actually more than one meaning. Let’s talk about it!

#shogun #shogunfx

[Jack-uyie]

Yabushige in England would be the weirdest spinoff I need in my life.

[johnodwyer]

I think it's Yabu realising he was right Toranaga always wanted to be Shogun and the smile back acknowledges his right

[tuluvota]

yabu smiles “well played sir”

Toranaga smiles back “thank you for playing your part well”

[billycanfight]

Yabushige : Toranaga, you one tricky smart ass son of a B
Toranaga : Hell fkin yeah

[victorlin]

Lol Yabu got saved from killing himself when he fell down that ocean cliff, but in the end he still ended up at the bottom of an ocean cliff.

[Grimskarr]

I think your first take is the best one.
Yubashige smiles because he has finally been let in on Toranaga's intrigues and knows, yes, his lord will prevail. His betrayal was all part of Toranaga's calculus as Toranaga has always known Yabushige's inner heart. Ironically, he realizes he has rendered faithful service to his lord through his unfaithfulness, and his actions have made a decisive difference.
Toronaga's smile, in return, acknowledges all these thoughts and confirms to Yabushige that, yes, in his heart-of-hearts, he desires to be Shōgun, something he has not willingly revealed to any other companion. It's a brilliant moment of these two comrades' hearts communing, leaving nothing unsaid at their final goodbye.
Beautifully done! 👏👏👏

[denisrivarola]

Yabushigue was in the end like the best character.

[Kamala--President]

The smiles were traded when two Samurai showed their 3rd hearts to each other. Or more precise, Yabu smiled because he finally saw Toranaga's third heart and Toranaga smiled because Yabu only had seconds to carry that knowledge.

[MustardSkaven]

The smile on both sides is recognition that both sides were doing what they did for their own goals. For Yabushige it was survival and for Toranaga it was becoming shogun.
Yabushige and Toranaga recognised each other. Finally their end goals were exposed. Yabushige wanted to live and Toranaga wanted to be shogun.. Yabushige respected Toranaga's deception, since he was also someone that used deception to attain his goals. Yabushige was lying left and right to achieve his goal and so was Toranaga. So they laughed at doing the same thing, Toranaga just doing it on another level. Yabushige smiled cause he realised Toranaga was doing the same thing he did, just on a higher level.

[rockydopeydoge]

If you study Toranaga's smile you'd notice it was initially a smile of monetarily letting his guard down to give Yabushige confirmation that what he thought was right.

[Gallaheim]

Remember that part when Rodriguez was telling Blackthorne about how every man had 3 hearts? Now match that with Toranaga. One heart in his mouth for the world to know - his claims of not wanting to be Shogun, surrendering to the council, etc. Another heart in his chest for his friends - only his undercover samurai/fisherman and maybe even to an extent Hiromatsu really knew what his plans were. And now a third heart a man must keep secret if he wants to survive - His ambition of being the Shogun, and the sacrifices he knew would be needed to execute his plans.

[usmanmajid]

I also think the smile was Yabushige's appreciation of the genius of Toranaga. He realised that while he was just learning how to play checkers, Toranaga was a master at chess and used him as a pawn!

I also interpret Toranaga's smile back to Yabushige as a "I actually like you and admire your whits despite you being a bit of a snake, but you're no match for me and I'm glad you just realised. And had I not had to cut your head off out of principle and to maintain my game, we probably could have achieved some great things together. Goodbye old friend."

[marclement]

Yab before he got cut, smiled at Toranaga to seek confirmation that his plan of being Shogun was his plan all along, and Toranaga smiling back was an acknowledgement to him conveying that, yep Yab you're right.

[ilikereason]

When you rewatch the 1st episode again you will see who said the line, "why tell a dead man the future" for the very first time. I think this also confirms that Omi was Toranaga's second spy. This exact line said in the 1st episode was used as a call back in this final scene.

[JonLeejw]

I think Yabu was smiling because he saw Toranaga was giving him a "worthy" death as well. A headless body crashing down off a cliff, left for the fishes and animals... Sounds like something Yabushige would have appreciated.

[Basketcase]

The running joke in the episodes about his “will” was so hilarious!

[DadbrosGarage]

This is the 2nd time Toranaga beheaded Yabushige....1st time in 47 Ronin

[cleavernamehere]

Yabushige was always for himself to save himself. Toranaga used everyone around him as pawns in his plan. The sacrifice not for the greater good, but for a decisive winner. Yabushige smiles resigned to his fate knowing no matter how hard he tries, he is just a knight in Toranagas movements. Yabu reacted to the wind, Toranaga reads the wind and thus the pieces fall into play.
Fate vs. Destiny.

[jlau]

Regardless of why he smiled, the smile, which is a very simple nuance in the show sparked such conversation afterwards! That's what makes this show so amazing. There are so many moments like this throughout the season.

[genefernandofaelnar]

I think Yabu's smile was from figuring out what Toranaga was all about and that 6:17 he, was no better than him, Toranaga was like so what you are gonna die