Do you think Shogun has the perfect ending? I know there were hopes for a battle but I feel the decision to not include it allowed the core of the show to shine. Let me know your thoughts below!

I’m so glad they blew their budget on costumes and getting everything looking perfect instead of a CGI battle with no emotional payoff.

Everyone was looking forward to Crimson sky when Crimson sky is just Mariko all along..its brilliant

"You should be the last one to hold her." Ugh this damn series 😭😭😭

"Flowers are only flowers because they fall"

I just adore Fuji. Just an innocent soul. Doing her duty as consort and eventually growing to trust Blackthorne to release her husband and son's ashes into the sea. When she told Blackthorne to let his hands be the last to touch Mariko's cross, I felt the touching emotion of that moment.

Shogun's finale is subtle and refined like the Japanese culture itself. No over-explanations, no unnecessary battle scenes. Everything was already said and it was pretty clear that Toranaga outsmarted everyone else and that he was to become the Shogun. My favorite line, which defines Lord Toranaga as an incredible strategist, is: I don't control the wind. I only study it.

The most beautiful part of the finale for me was how many people were affected by Mariko’s death, either by regretting it (Ishido, the Regents, Yabusige), remembering her poetry (Lady Ochiba, Toranaga) remembering her words (Blackthorne, Fuji), or honoring her wishes (Toranaga, the Monk Alvito). Toranaga’s vision (and four-dimensional chess game) was finally realized, but the show never forgot that Mariko was the true heart of the story, transforming everyone by her life and by her death, and destroying Toranaga’s enemies in a way an army never could. She was such an unforgettable character in a such a wonderful show. Thank you, Mariko-dono. You are the beautiful flower that finally fell, but, thankfully, you have been carried by the wind for all of the world to see and cherish, and you will never be forgotten. 🌸🌺🌸

John and Fuji on the boat... their platonic union, sharing their farewell to the people they loved, in the silence on their feelings for each other. Such a beautiful scene.

This story was never about battles, at least not military ones, it was a story of characters and boy did it deliver. Showing the Battle of Sekigahara would have added nothing to the story. And as Toranaga pointed out, the outcome was inevitable and history proved him right.

They went for the poignant and poetic end rather than the heroic and spectacular, consistent with the way the story was told up to that point. I actually loved the way Ishido's downfall was depicted as a manifestation of Toranaga's grand vision: just looking at the war correspondence and knowing he lost before the battle even began.

As a Japanese, I am grateful to this drama for introducing the feudal era of Japan to people around the world today. In historical fact, after the Battle of Sekigahara, peace prevailed in Japan for a while. However, it was a difficult time for Japanese Catholics. I recommend the movie "Silence" for its depiction of that time.

It was brilliant. A prequel or sequel would detract from that brilliance. Let the series stand as a guide to what producers need to do in the future.

"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." Sun Tzu It was the right ending 🏆

Im a grown ass oldschool man and I almost teared up watching Blackthorne reaction after Mariko's death. This is what good TV looks like. Incredible production.

It was the perfect ending because we got to see a glimpse of Toranaga's mind which was the most interesting aspect of the show. It was not about the battlefield. Also the ambiguity of his character was on point in terms of historical accuracy and overall storytelling.

The ending evoked memories of how the women of Shogun were instrumental in shaping the climax. Mariko, Ochiba, Fuji, Kiri, Kiku, Iyo; special shout out to Yabu.

20 years ago I'd heard about an amazing TV show produced in the 1980's called Shogun. The production took great care of bringing Japanese culture to life. I then began reading all of James Clavell's works. From the multi-hundred page sailing adventures to the meticulous thoughts of hearing every villagers thoughts as events were unfolding. The new series is everything just as good as the original TV production and brings a level of quality that fully modernizes a setting from the 1600's. I got to relive my fond memories of Blackthorne and Mariko. There was sort of fond sadness seeing this show draw to a conclusion. Emotions are displayed in subtle manners which left capacity for my own thoughts and feelings. I remembered how much these works meant to me 20 years ago and I'm lucky to feel the appreciation I have now.

you know why it was perfect? Toranaga: Any last words? Yabushige: 🤪hehehe 👏😂that's why.

The score in Shogun was just perfect. Upon re-watching I noticed that the music in the scene of Mariko's and John's last night together before her death was the same played during his last goodbye in the boat with Fuji. What a beautiful series Shogun was.

One of the best shows I've ever seen. The ending was such an emotional journey and just perfectly in tune with the overall feeling and motif of all 10 episodes. The acting by not only the 3 main characters, but also ALL of the supporting characters (Fuji and Yabu have a special place in my heart) was at the pinnacle of the profession. Cinematography, costume design, writing. Such an epic undertaking to make this quality of a show. I am blown away by this series.

The color palette was absolutely beautiful in this show compared to the 80's series. Very earthy tones and none of the bright colored kimonos. A very strong cast of characters well-acted. I think Asano Tadanobu may have made a name for himself with western film makers. Hope to see more of him.

I wanted fuji to stay with blackthorne.

Mariko’s death was heart breaking….so final episode was just sadness with her being gone. Episode felt empty without her presence….she really was the focal point of the show; and the affection between her and blackthorne. Sort of a Japanese‘Romeo and Juliet’ tragedy. It seems even in old age, blackthorne’s heart still belonged to ‘Mariko. He thought of her dying in his arms on his deathbed while clutching a cross. It was a love story vs Mariko’s duty to Japan.

Shogun felt more like the HBO mini series of old than current TV series. It's kind of nice knowing there is no season 2.

I was privileged enough to see both versions of Shogun as a kid in 1980 and now as an adult they did a wonderful job in this retelling of this story I hope they turn the next book Tai-Pan into a mini series

I totally agree, it is the most perfect and poetic ending for any series I have ever seen! I loved it. I love the part when Lord Toronaga released the hawk to the skies and retorted, “may you have many daughters” l realised that Mariko was like a daughter to him and his loss was deeply felt too!

The scene of old blackthorn was what he was afraid of and not real. First of all, he dropped Mariko’s cross into the sea, secondly, there was a brief flashback of his old self when he confronted Toronaga sensing going further with the protest will cost his life and the dreadful death to old age scene disappears.

"Why tell a dead man the future?" Most memorable line for me

I ugly cried all the way to the end. The funeral was a massive public display of the respect the people had for her, and that was huge. All the families stood together for the final goodbye. Thank you Mariko-sama ❤😭

The battle of Sekigahara where lord Tokugawa Ieyasu was out numbered 75,000 warriors to 120,000 and still won the war to become SHOGUN.

Man this show really hit me in the inside.

This show rewarded viewers who paid attention throughout and disappointed those who spent most of their time on their phones. I'm glad it didn't go for the easy crowd-pleaser of a massive cgi battle, which would've been a betrayal of everything this show had been about while insulting the viewers who had been watching diligently throughout.

To wind up a series based on a book which is so full of events and people is not easy. The last episode really nailed it. For me Toranaga was the main person who orchestrated the events and was simply brilliant .

Just to see Toranago standing there at the end..and then to have the title Shogun, be the final shot 🤌🏽 It made me cry. 10 across the board, this series is a masterpiece ❤️

Alittle disappointed of not having a battle, none the less, this series was truly amazing.. one of the best out there. the perfection that the actors and cast did for this was totally appreciated by many fans

For 12 hours in September of 1980, I was immersed in seventeenth century Japan and infatuated with a more mature and resourceful Dr. Kildare. Unable to let it go, I plunged into the 1000+ pages of Clavell's book. So in 2024, when I saw the trailer for this new miniseries, I was delighted. Then, as I watched each episode, I realized I had to erase the past if I was going to embrace the beauty of this version. I found it difficult to watch Blackthorn walk--a sort of lumbering next to the silken gate of Mariko and Fuji or Martin Alvito. And he never seems to get ahead of the intrigue. He is always a step behind. For me, Blackthorn was the star and in this version he was not. So, I cleared my mind, drank some tea, and rewatched the episodes. Their beauty is exquisite. Their subtle movements and glances matchless. By the last episode, it is clear Mariko is the main character. Her physical absence is palpable and this perfect ending makes us feel the pain each character feels remembering her. One thing I did miss that I was hoping would be included from the book--the pillowing discussion where Blackthorn gets very angry about them offering him a boy. When the guard suggests that he might want a duck, they hesitate to ask and he says they could just get a duck and let it walk around the room and let the Anjin use it if he wished. Hilarious! I would have loved to see that.

For some reason, the scene with Fuji and John Blackthorne honoring and letting go the people they cherished the most was my favorite. Fuji, played so well by Japanese actress Moeka Hoshi, was so good at showing a wonderful young woman who had suffered cruel, unbearable terrible tragedy and shaming. Fuji was an emotional center for both John and Lady Mariko. A loyal woman of high birth, education, bravery and we find - kindness. So happy the script had John Blackthorne doing her a great kindness in turn, the respect both had developed for one another as they gave eternal life in spirit, at least, in the burial at sea. That was the most perfect part of that perfect ending. The overarching theme of East meets West and a stranger in a strange land learning to try and grasp the mores and ways of the culture. To connect. And the boat trip of Fuji and John showed victory - how with work, very different people from very different cultures could have each others backs and build a strong relationship. Far better that than a CGI battle.

I think Yabushige's fear of death was further enabled by the curiosity that led him to boil one of John's men in the first episode. He was obsessed with understanding what a man's final moments felt like and he came to the conclusion that it meant nothing profound. I think it makes him an interesting character imo. It's also kinda funny how Yabushige arrived Ajiro as it's lord in the first episode, but arrived as a prisoner in the final episode.

I was thinking about this today; this has catapulted into one of the better TV shows I've ever seen, up there with Mad Men (for me). The sole fact that it's one season instead of trying to elongate the story into more just for commercial reasons made it better, even if it's a bit sad. The character development (especially John) was top-notch, the production level was insane, the acting amazing, the subtlety of the story much appreciated...I've been recommending it to everyone!

Thank you for all of these breakdowns 🙏🏽 All of them were great and this was such a great show. Now that its done I can go watch those deep dive spoiler vids you have for the real life characters 😉

I feel like Yabu isn't getting his props, but I guess he was written that way throughout the series. If I remember, in the book he goes out perfectly -- three slits to the belly (probably impossible in real life) without a sound, then decapitation, with everyone watching. The unhesitating seppuku was a nod to that in the show, and Toranaga's smile was a kind of acknowledgement of how well he died, I thought. I also vaguely remember that he planned on scheming his way through his next life to get revenge on Toranaga . . . Fun character. He was outclassed by Toranaga, just like everyone else, and was a competent schemer, but couldn't quite see the end game. But Toranaga did need him in Osaka for crimson sky to work. If the whisperer of assassins wasn't there, Ishido may not have killed Mariko so dishonestly, may not have even thought of it; if Yabu didn't die disgraced, Toranaga would have had to find another way to secure his troops; if Yabu hadn't been scheming with Ishido, Toranaga may not have looked weak enough, and Ishido desperate enough. He was there as the wild card, the disruptor and sower of chaos and dishonour, exactly what Toronaga needed him to be. So let's put some flowers on Yabushige.

I can’t believe this show was so good. I was thinking season 2. nope. This is the first time I’ve heard about this story. It was beautiful.

It's not what I had hoped for, but upon the 2nd viewing I'm a fan. The whole series could be called 'slow', but it never felt too slow for me. The insight and revelations each episode delivered were so solid. This ending revealed the true insight of Toranaga and in such a way made the title of Shogun so much more than a winner of battles. I applaud the series for doing its thing and doing it well. It was great.

I loved the semi main character of Fuji. Moeka Hoshi was so subtle in her characterisation. It was not only a perfect show. it was also a great complementary piece to the original 1980 miniseries as by watching both we get distinct opposing views of the story. The 1980 was a western, where the 2024 took mostly the Japanese perspective.

Agree 100% Even you brief inclusion of Fuji holding John’s hands before letting the cross fall into the water almost had me in tears again. A beautiful and emotionally resonant conclusion.

Like this if you got emotional when John said “No Translator” to Fuji 🥲

In an odd sense, the classic Samurai Trilogy is a sequel to Shogun. Shogun ends with the march to Sekigahara. The trilogy begins with Musashi awakening after the battle.

The battle Shogun had been building on was Mariko's battle all along..

Good time watching, been so long yet so short

Absolutely stunning front to back. Going to spend the weekend binging it to see everything I missed the first time. Can’t wait.

Let's hope that the brilliance of Shogun will bring further exploration into the rich history of Japan. I would love to see an adaptation of the Tale of the Heike, or perhaps a story centered on Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and the establishment of the Shogunate.

Thank you BrainAnjinsan.

Mr brain pilot take this ❤, loved your breakdown videos for shōgun

Toranaga relied on Ochiba's deep respect for Mariko. I still didn't believe she would flip sides like that especially after what she said about Toranaga. I wonder why they stayed away from the paternity of the heir?

Perfect yes! Thank you for this

There was no need for a big battle scene. The battle was won with Mariko's mission resulting in the strategic earthquake under Ishido's feet. A woman was sent to do what an army could not.

I was initially disappointed with the ending, but it was mostly out of expectation of an epic battle and seeing complete resolution with characters like Ishido/Saeki. Upon reflection, I realized it was a perfect ending. A huge battle would have been out of place with how the entire show was and I love the end scene with Yabu where it feels like Toranaga is talking to us. It really left me with a holy shit feeling and made me reflect on all of his actions throughout the show. Like this dude wanted power the entire time and the council was right to want him gone. Maybe they could have managed everything with 12 episodes, but for a 10 episode series with the pacing they had, they nailed the finale.

6:20 - Toranaga repeats the exact words in such a way that he reveals to Yabu that he knew all about his betrayals from the very start (whether from Omi or another informant), which at least can provide some palliative consideration for Yabu that his dithering wasn't in vain. He may have failed himself, but he still proved useful to someone else.

Currently crying while reliving that finale through this video. Just spectacular.

It is one of those shows you finish and you can't stop thinking about days later. It was really well done.

It is a perfect show and Since there is no season 2…. “Flowers are only flowers because they fall.” A perfect show is just a perfect show because it has an ending. It’s good not to milk things out that should end

It was a pleasure, the 21 episodes (inclusing yours, giving us one more today). Lonely tuedays ahead...

I just wish we could have had text of the epilogue from the book (which is like one paragraph long). The shock of not having the battle and instead getting a textbook "this many people died and Ishido suffered" was great.

Maybe if you never read the book or saw the original series, the ending wasn't bad. However, the 1980 series ending was much better and showed the cremation of Mariko-san. That was sadly missing. Somethings are better in the new and some are better in the old. Do yourself a favor, see both and read the book.

I totally agree. Not many shows could end so perfectly.

Very well described and summed up. They did a brilliant job with conveying the characters’ emotions and arc.

The boat scene where Angin helps helps put her son and behind her was perfection. The way they look at each as. the camera pulls away you kind of hope she scraps the convent idea and they get something going as he obviously would like to do.

Loved every moment, simply a masterpiece!

I thought that Fuji and the Anjin suddenly being such good friends was a bit weird, ofc in universe they spent months together but Fuji just got so little screentime after episode 4 that i didnt really feel like they buld that friendship. Fuji deserved more than a scene every 2-3 episodes, epspecially after they kind of teased a deeper relationship between the anjin and Fuji with that hand gesture after the earthquake. I gotta saythat Mariko and the Anjin also needed more direct romantic moments, she was hard because she had to be and im sure she knew her fate for a long time but her making out with John in episode 9 was way to sudden. I just think these small moments they had since ep 4 werent enough to show that they are still very muich in love like that

After the first 2, I almost gave up on it with the changes from the book. But so happy I hung in there. A very satisfying ten episodes. In the end, Toranaga achieved his goal. Ruler with minimum amount of bloodshed. Whole armies survived and peace came.

It was the best tv series for some time with a specific atmosphere, poetics and mood. beautifully presented old Japan and samurai time. so much work for us, by set designers, choreographers, costumes. wow. bravo. thank u.

We also have to think how the producers in 1980 would think if they had the tech we have now to make a nice battle. With modern computer we can easy make a good battle, so maybe a battle would also be good. Either way it was a good modern version of the 1980 version. Both was good.

I stand in awe of these great artists that took this story and made it their own. It made me feel so many different emotions for these characters and it’s been a long time since I cried but this made me cry and feel and think.

It is a complete story, no need to fabricate a second season or a prequel. Great video, keep up the good work! 🙏🙌

Truly all the chapter feels heavy, like mourning mariko, but there she is, indirectly only, but felt all the episode. Makes you think how a single event can have such importance in the present and in the future. Great show!

Initially I was disappointed on finding out there was no second season. I felt that the Series ended without a resolution However, the more i've thought about the ending, the more I liked it. We the audience really were Yabushige. The explanation of crimson sky was fantastic. Episode 9 was also called crimson sky- that confused me so much last week but makes SO much sense now What a tear jerker of a finale too Brilliant show

Presence is most felt in Absence -Kimki

9/10. I wanted to see the cannons fire one last time. Didn’t need a full episode dedicated to the battle, but show it’s start at least like the beginning of a charge. 😭

I think in all the praise I see and all the discussion on the show, Omi’s journey/development is going under appreciated. I like the subtlety of it all. It’s no drastic change like, Blackthorne or Ochiba or Mariko. But that’s why I appreciate it sm.

Less is more, only one season to no full battle scene- smartly done. I feel like this will be an annual re-watch for me as a companion with Blue Eye Samurai.

Show don't tell. It leaned too heavily into telling. I think there was an expectation toward more of a show for the finale. But alas.

Well said!

you really add value to the show, and like more time to enjoy the show

Toranaga was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers! This show was superbly done in every way possible! No need for a battle because it was already won in the mind! 🎬

Grandiosa serie!

I felt that the ending was great. The subtle nod from Toranaga, and the returned grin from Jack felt like he finally understood. Though, it does have me wishing for more. Likely due to how genuine and good the acting was. And the set designs, and costumes were just well done too. I feel there won't be anything quite like it for a good long while.

Mind boggling how good this show was and how I didn’t know about it till a couple days ago!

I'm glad they didn't show the battle. It would have changed the vibe of the last episode. Also, the cgi of the reference to the battlefield was already a bit janky, so I wouln't like to know how the battle would look.🙈

This iteration of Shogun is a masterpiece. The ending so meaningful. Made me wonder how one person can hold so many schemes in their head and execute them and win, Amazing.

They had the chance of having a really cool battle scene portraying Sekigahara, like a LOTR battle, they have the CGI to do it, huge battle scenes are really cinematic, and they skipped it, I was really disappointed by that.

Probably one of the most clever and meaningful ways to avoid the massive production coasts of a battle. Really well-written.

When your scheming and strategy is so on point you avoid an entire war and still come out on top. That shows how smart toranaga was. And although a massive (cgi) battle would have been intense and entertaining. This was the better ending

Agreed. It is perfect.

No notes on changing this: I count myself very fortunate to have witnessed both TV adaptations of the novel in their first airings, and reading Clavell's imperfect tale (shortly after the 1980 niniseries) led me to study non-Western histories with interest equal to the more Eurocentric accounts. As a viewer and admirer of both actors, I am as delighted for Sanada as I was with Mifune in their distinct portrayals of Toranaga, but what a an additional triumph for Sanada-sama to hold the reigns on this massive production! Everyone played to their best and the camera crew, D.O.P.s and editors made it look and feel completely natural in the playback. A total work of art from start to finish.

I think there was a beautiful closing of the circle with Yabushige’s death. In a way he died on those rocks earlier in the show, and his death happening in the same place with his body returning to the sea. I think Toranaga being his kaishakunin and sending him off in a single stroke instead of the nine it took when he was a 12 year old “boy warlord” was important too. It showed him fully and completely becoming the “warlord”/Shōgun. Can’t wait for season 2.

Imagine showing Thanos getting all 6 infinity stones and then the movie ends. Like WTF.

It was perfect. It would be great if they make more period series about other stories from Japan but with the same team of actors and writers!

I enjoyed Yabushige's demise alot. In an early episode, it was shown that he was fascinated with the moment of death. He even took notes and had poems written about death. When it finally came to his own, he saw it coming literally miles and miles away. He had written his own death poem in advance. And it was very blunt. a little bit ironic, fantastic show

the scene with the empty space where mariko would sit also brought me back to that episode where the courtesan was teaching the novice about empty spaces.