Really liked the moment whenn Toranaga said ''Why tell a dead man the future'' it was a reference to what Yabushige said about Toranaga to Omi in the early episodes, which could only mean Omi was working for Taoranaga from the start. Amazing short reference.

Thank you for the ride, your genuine reaction and comments. I enjoyed it along with you.

Research the real people, how they all really died in the end. Anjin dreamed his future back in England, he decided to stay in Japan and to protect his village and his people. Anjin Miura (William Adams)was a great lord and his life is celebrated still this day.

日本人ですがオーバーにせずに、月のように静かな終わり方で余韻の残るストーリーになって良かったと思います。

I truly appreciated that all significant characters were given multiple facets to them, instead of being template-driven tropes. Buntaro wasn't just a miserable jerk; he was a brave fighter and secret romantic. Muraji wasn't just a lowly villager; he was a spy and samurai. Fuji wasn't just a grieving mother wife; she was a dutiful consort and a sympathetic friend. All these people are given the chance to show their three hearts. It's why I ended up enjoying Yabushige very much, despite the show opening with the boiling death. I even sympathized with Nagakado, even though he was such a disappointment. I also appreciate Ishido, and that guy is a gigantic loser. 48:35 Maybe rewatch the show later with Hunter and Anthony after some time? 🤔

Shogun is fantastic and a reference drama, for sure. I also hope other filmmakers take this approach to TV/moviemaking. I only have two points of critique, whereas the second is more of a reflection on how to tell narratives. First, the show is a bit too short. Several times, I felt that certain sections and developments needed to be fleshed out more in order to be fully believable. For example, the reasoning behind Ochiba's withdrawal of support for Ishido does not match the amount of time used to define her animosity towards Toranaga. Second, and this might be a critique of the book, for those who know the history and of the characters that serve as models, it becomes very clear that heavy editing has been done to create a classical hero story designed to make it easy for the audience to watch-good vs. bad. In the process, complexity and a better narrative (but more demanding) are lost. In fact, many things should probably be reversed. Toranaga was the most powerful lord, who only used the heir as a pretext. Ishido raised himself from peasantry to the highest levels of society. He was a schemer but a very talented one. Ochiba maneuvered between these men to secure the best outcome for her son. Of course, that would be a different kind of story, and it is an artistic choice. But I hope that in the future it can be told. Shows like Shogun make me hopeful that we will get there one day.

Thank you for your reaction.

I really enjoyed your reaction! Can you watch Japanese movies with subtitles? I recommend you to watch “Twilight Samurai”, another master piece played by Hiro Sanada and I want to see your reaction on it! Really looking forward to see your next review. Maybe watching Shogun with the boys as second time watching vs first time watching?

「オーガは、彼が足元に花を押しつぶした瞬間に、彼の貴重な葉のない枝を失いました。結局のところ、姉妹」 “The Ogre lost his precious Leafless Branch the moment he crushed the Flower underfoot; sisters in the end, after all” Yabushige and Toranaga smirking at each other in the end was awesome, too. Yabushige got the best end he could have gotten, considering all he has done, realizing that whether he knew it or not, he has served his Lord Toranaga excellently. Blackthorne kills a possible future version of himself-an old man, filled with regret, clutching on to Mariko’s crucifix-by mirroring Mariko (literally doing a ritual su!c!d3 like a woman [a blade through the heart] instead of seppuku [slicing his belly open] like a samurai would) in order to protect Ajiro: the first completely selfless thing he has done in the show; and also by letting that exact same crucifix go into the water along with the ashes of Fuji-sama’s family. All the pieces are in place so that when the decisive battle does happen, Toranaga would be in a winning position. The broad strokes of the Master Plan has been revealed; but the details of battle itself, and some more backdoor politics about which armies remained loyal and which ones flipped are not yet shown. So who is ready for a “new/separate” mini-series, titled “Sekigahara”?