This version of Shogun exceeded my expectations. Seeing something like this succeed through thoughtful crafting of the world and characters and true admiration for the source material is what you love to see. Mariko is a character for the ages finding purpose in her sacrifice and changing history. You couldn’t ask for better performances. And the best nun. Let me know what you think.

Yabushige eeeeeeasily the best actor in the series. Deserves an award.

I love how Fuji-sama tells Blackthorne that “let your hands be the last to hold her!” Flashback to when Mariko told Fuji-sama, “let her hands be the last to hold her son!” 🥺

“If I could use words, like scattering flowers and falling leaves, what a bonfire my poems would make” 😢

This final was incredible. I think my favourite moment, though, are the smiles exchanged between Toranaga and Yabushige. 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 also confirms to Yabushige that, yes, in his heart-of-hearts, he desires to be Shōgun, something he has so carefully guarded from those around him. It's a brilliant moment of these two comrades' hearts communing, leaving nothing unsaid at their final goodbye. Beautifully done! 👏👏👏

Yabu was an amazing character, literally updating his will throughout the series knowing at any point in time he will lose his head too😂😂

Anyone who's interested in the history behind these events, I recommend visiting Nikko in Japan. Specifically Toshogu Shrine, the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in the show) is enshrined. Also, there is an Anjin street in Nihombashi Tokyo, where William Adams (the real life Anjin) was given a mansion of his own by Tokugawa. There is a small monument there.

Man, I love your breakdowns! No spoilers from other sources till the end, profound analysis and attention to details and an honest and respectful stance about your own impressions and the possibly diverging thoughts of other viewers. Thank you so much for covering the Shogun!

Great series. I hate that Mariko died, while understanding how important her death was. I only regret that my time with these characters was so short.

I loved his shaded response of "what good is it to tell a dead man the future?"

The absolute best review. This series was an intellectual masterpiece that demonstrates the power of storytelling in subtle ways. Bravo FX👏🏽

I took Toranaga's smirk before taking Yabu's head was answering his question, Yes he did want to be Shogun. Yabu looks to his lord to see if he will answer his final question. The lord obliges and then takes his head.

My favorite philosophical part of the show - presence is felt most in absence - beautifully demonstrated in the absence of Mariko episode 10🤍

I enjoyed that it ended with Toranaga being utterly ruthless. In those times, peace wasn't necessarily achieved by clean methods, even today peace is rarely achieved by clean methods. Toranaga did care about people, but he was also ambitious and ruthless. It didn't necessarily make his character more likable but for me it made his character in this story far more interesting and fuller.

I really hope they don’t cave to the pressures that come with media success. And that is conjuring up a direct sequel/2nd season that just ends up hurting the perception of the series as a whole. This story is done. We don’t need anything more. Adapt other books by the author but leave Shogun alone.

I'm watching all the reviews I can from E10, and I gotta say, this is one that I enjoyed the most. It touches more on the internalization of each character. Nice job.

I loved this ending, it was so poetic. Bitter sweet, sure, but still amazing. Like Toranaga said to his son, only a young man who hasn't seen a battle rushes to war. That was the whole point. This was a masterful chess play and he ended it with checkmate using Mariko. Amazing TV, finally

For a moment, at the end, I felt pissed that it ended where it did… and then I took a moment to consider the entirety of the series, how many things were implied without being shown, the overall storyline - and I kind of felt it was a fitting end to a damn-near-perfect series. The ending was poetic, which I quickly realized was the entire point. I _would_ be okay with some sort of spinoff about Toronaga and Blackthorne should it ever come about haha

The look that Yabushige gave Toranaga before he cut his head off was incredible. So much in that look.

In the 1980s version of this, i felt satisfied at Yabushigi’s sepuku… in this one, it left me hurt. My heart really went out to him. True, he deserved it for the shit that he pulled. It just speaks volumes to the Actors in that scene..

Fun tidbits: 1. The jinbaori toranaga wears in the sekigahara battle scene is the same one he wears in the earlier flashback scene when he’s still a child. 2. Right before he cuts off yabushige’s head he stares at him for a brief second because he knows this time it won’t take him 9 tries like he did when he was young. It all comes full circle

I appreciate how it ended at the beginning of the end, and focuses on how Toronaga check-mated his enemies in his mind before any player could realize the game was over for them and the future written for Japan. Beautiful.

I think it's wonderful now that we're so much more receptive to watching shows in other languages. Sanada has said that he wants to provide more opportunities for these amazingly gifted actors to create many more great shows. I'd love all of these actors to become household names xxx

My favorite part was when Yabushige was like "You know, Toranaga-sama, you really are the Shogun."

Gotta give the show credit for being different and good.

Japanese actors that they cast and did the production in Canada, were almost all superb. "Fuji" was a family favorite. Within that great finale, Fuji and John Blackthorne had killer scenes.

Mariko was my fav.....I really loved her and Blackthorne's eye contact communication❤

A dream of a dream applies both to Blackthorne’s dream of returning to England & Toranaga’s dream of being Shogun

I loved the series, the cast & the ending. I completely concur that not showing the battle was a good decision. It’s not necessary, but I guess some might be disappointed.

The definitive “Ending Explained” video. You went even beyond the show and the book!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

One correction Adams was not the one who was instrumental in trade negotiations for the Tokugawa Shogunate. That was actually the 2nd mate of "de liefde" Jan Joosten van Lodensteyn who was taken in by Tokugawa alongside Adams. Adams build ships for the Shogun but Lodensteyn was made the main advisor on trade and foreign relations and was gifted a far larger and more lavish estate then Adams which was located where modern day Tokyo central station is located. Lodensteyn was also never given permission to leave Japan since he was that important to the Shogunate when it came to trade and foreign relations and was instrumental in setting up the monopoly that the Dutch had on trade with Japan during Japan its time of isolation.

The final moments between John and Fuji as the gripping OST plays is one of the best moments of the entire show. they somehow made us experience so much from just 10 episodes of run time.

An exceptional series. Anna Sawai is a force. Her acting in Episode 9 was beyond words. Hiroyuki Sanada was amazing throughout and maybe it took me 10 episodes to finally appreciate him but Cosmo Jarvis was terrific in 10. They paid a great honor to the original series. Bravo!

Your review is the BEST of all! Thank you for sharing your thoughts that truly reflect my own. Producers Rachel Kondo and her husband are excellent and will earn high marks for their effort. I am biased, of course, since Rachel was my student long ago at Maui High School. She is a gifted writer and remarkable woman.

This was easily one of the best tv-series I've watched, maybe even the best. Attention to historical detail going as far as real death poems, age-correct footwear and hell even having cast learn time correct dialect of Japanese is not something you will ever see in fully western productions these days. Also I absolutely loved the ending, and don't think they should make more even if it saddens me that I never got to see Anijn and Toranaga on his fleet together.

"Together forever" That scene had me shed a tear or two as I reflected on a loss of my own, the casting and cinematography of Shogun for me were perfect, Hiroyuki Sanada truly poured love into his craft as an Actor and on this occasion Producer; A truly iconic production which will last long into the future for others to see.

I am glad they opted to not include an epic war scene. A spectacle like that would have distracted from Toranaga's true accomplishment of arranging all the right pieces and checking without an all out battle.

This has been an incredible show, and following along with your series has made it all the better. Thank you for everything you've done.

thanks for the thorough review

I don't get how you repeatedly pick the best shows, see what is going on and tell it in a way that I deeply understand (non native english) and admire because of your analogies and outting things in perspective. First KZfaqr I am going to donate! Don't stop doing what you obviuosly thrive on. I'd really like to discuss shows with you, but I don't have your level of reading situations.... so I keep learning from you :)

well said. I bet a lot of viewers were expecting an epic “Crimson Sky” battle but instead got a lot more philosophy than expected. People will overlook the idea of winning a battle without fighting one is a more difficult and noble feat than actually fighting one. It irks me reading comments comparing this to GoT or worse copying GoT.

Really looked forward to your review. You didn’t disappoint.

I think you may have missed the detail where Toranaga lets Yabu know that his nephew was a spy since it was Yabu who originally said the line about telling dead men the future which was probably why they smiled at each other. Or at least you didn't bring it up.

Thanks for all the reviews. The ending was masterful, as the rest of the series. Definitively one of the best TV shows I've ever watched. I think one of the main questions they want us to ponder is if the end justify any means. Toranaga obviously did...do we?

What a truly beautiful and incredible show highlighting a great symbolic story. Thank you for covering this mini series, Pete 🙌🏼 Also, that shared smirk between Toronaga and Yabushige during his seppuku 😉

Extraordinary show. And thanks for the fantastic summary reviews.

Yabushige previously said the exact same line to Omi, ``Why tell a dead man the future?'' In the first episode, there was a scene where they discuss whether to report weapons from overseas to Toranaga. At the last moment, Yabushige realized that Toranaga knew this. Then they smile back at each other.

Tokyo Vice n Shogun ... best tv shows so far ... perfect endings. Japanese actors r in a totally different league.

Kudos to the writers. Every episode was well done. The finale tied everything up wonderfully. Mariko got what she wanted serving her lord and she makes arrangements to give Anjin what he wanted, life. Though I think he questioned his choice towards the end.

You know? Poetry recitation has been recognized as a part of the culture of samurai and aristocrats for more than 1,000 years. Therefor there is still the Emperor poetry session in Japan every year, and even Emperor or someone of their family reads a poetry in public every year!

1:44 Poetry are not for everyone, but for those who try to write them, poems may embody a writer's essence in simple stanzas. For Yabushige, his death poem reveals his straightforward mindset. Like shallow Koi ponds, where Yabu literally and metaphorically stood in, he too swims near the surface for all to see, unobstructed. Hence, would be easily manipulated by deeply layered plotters whose motives are buried below surface, invisible to the eyes. "My dead body. Don't bury me. Don't burn me. Just leave it in the field. And with it, fill the belly of some hungry dog."

Not often that I completely agree with a reviewer, but you nailed this one, as did the showrunners.

Awesome review throughout, the breakdown of each episode was great

Thoroughly enjoyed your expositions, well done, sir. 👏 Thankyou.

the series has left with with such complex emotions, even feeling teary at how beautiful the scenes were, how meaningful the script was, the source material clearly represented and how well they were performed by the cast! 10/10 from me!

I didn't understand the whole coma dream/ crucifix thing watching the other day. Makes a lot more sense now, thanks.

Having Seigahara final battle would be obvious and predictable. This finale was anything but predictable and was amazing.

I loved the finale it was so emotionally moving 🥲

The ending was as poetic and obscure as Japanese mysticism. Very brave and wonderful. Few shows command respect like ShoGun.

Your analyses were outstanding

Love your thoughtful, perceptive and comprehensive breakdown. A worthy companion piece to a masterful show.

Thank you, Pete, for this incredibly deep and thoughtful synopsis of the final episode and the series. Excellent work.

I agree that the battle sequence was not needed. Tomonaga's willingness to sacrifice those dear to him for the unification of Japan is very reminiscent of many Chinese Movies such as "Hero" which have the same thought.

Thank you for an extraordinary discussion (here and previous videos), I really enjoyed it and concur with most of what you say about this awesome series and the source, Clavell's book (fan of Clavell's Asian Saga books). My only major disappointment is that about halfway through the series it realised it was a miniseries and there wasn't going to be second season!

Finally you were behind on this one compared to the other shogun KZfaqrs I had to watch someone else’s this morning 😢but I’m here to support now lol 😂

Normally when someone claims to be playing 4D chess, its BS But i really appreciated that they explained that without Ochiba, the head main council guy would be seen as a traitor and the other armies would be Christian which would nullify the war

Amazing summary of each episode. Thank you so very much.

Great breakdown Pete. I also appreciate the insight you brought having read the book. Are you planning to do a new video now that we’re getting two more seasons?

I liked this video and all the others on this channel about Shogun, an excellent TV series. A few more thoughts about episode 10. The video covered a lot but I’ll add some more. Yabushige (Yabu) tells Toranaga *”All this death … just to ensure some victory in our names… It’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it?”* Yes, but while Yabu is beginning to understand the deeper plans of Toranaga, Yabu hasn’t fully realized how deep it can go. - Because of Mariko’s friendship and death, Ochiba has told Toranaga that she has agreed to not support Ishido in the upcoming battle. Ochiba doesn’t realize it but that will be a death sentence for her and her son, the heir. - Toranaga plays on powerful people’s emotions, he makes promises to them, he gets people to back down, all of it for his advantage. - Ishido was going to marry Ochiba. Ishido, who came from a peasant lineage, was pledged to the heir which gave Ishido legitimacy. Toranaga who comes from a samurai family not only has no need for the heir but Toranaga has always seen the heir as a threat to his dream of becoming Shogun. In the future Toranaga (Tokugawa) will keep maneuvering and fighting the heir and his mother until they are forced to commit seppuku. A PS about Blackthorne; I was fine with Toranaga keeping the Anjin alive for amusement. The Anjin was no threat to Toranaga (Tokugawa) so, they could have a friendship without all the political maneuvering which dominated the ruling elite of Japan.

Great content here, thank you.

Great video. Excellent insight on this wonderful series. It's been a long time since I have been emotionally invested into a tv series like this one. I have to say I have I have a lot of conflicting emotions with Toronaga. I guess I need time to absorb with what I've just seen. I don't think they need to do a season 2. Why ruin a masterpiece? Keep up the great work.

Yes! I waited for your video on this! I love your summaries.

Amazing summery. Thank you

This is my second comment for this video. SPOILERS I saw the Shogun series a second time with my family. It helped that I did not have to wait a week for each episode to be available. Watching episodes each day helped to get an even deeper understanding of the back story of the series. I mean really deep. * Through flashbacks the audience is told that there were two former rulers of Japan. * Lord Kuroda Nobuhisa (who is based on Oda Nobunaga), who in the series is the father of Lady Ochiba (the mother of the heir). Lord Kuroda Nobuhisa is killed by Akechi Jinsai, (based on Akechi Mitsuhide), who is Mariko's father. * The next ruler of Japan is the Taikō, (based on Toyotomi Hideyoshi), who is the father of Lady Ochiba’s son, the heir. * In the series the killing of Lord Kuroda Nobuhisa (Oda Nobunaga) by Mariko’s father is considered by some characters to be a great disgrace. Mariko is berated by her husband, Buntaro, asking her to confess her father’s treachery. * However, with my second viewing and discussing this with my son who studied Japanese history in college, something new was revealed. - In the series Lady Ochiba says that she believes that Lord Toranaga was behind the killing of her father, Lord Kuroda Nobuhisa (Oda Nobunaga), the former ruler of Japan. - This is a huge revelation. Later statements by Toranaga support this idea where he tells Mariko that she needs to finish the mission of her father. * What is going on? Let’s go back to Akechi Jinsai, (based on Akechi Mitsuhide), who is Mariko's father. Over time many people in Japan have developed a positive view of Mitsuhide. There is a shrine to him with a statue and there are festivals celebrating his memory. * What happened? While it is accepted that Oda Nobunaga was a unifier of Japan, it is also recognized by many that he was a brutal tyrant. In the series the viewer can see Lady Ochiba’s father, Lord Kuroda Nobuhisa (Oda Nobunaga), cutting off the heads of Buddhist monks. - It has been speculated that this is one of several reasons why Oda Nobunaga was assassinated. * This leads to a bigger role for Toranaga as not only a unifier of Japan but as a man of peace which he explains in his speech to Yabushige before his seppuku. - As I mentioned, earlier Toranaga tells Mariko that she needs to fulfill her father’s great purpose. What is that? To rid Japan of tyrants who create more war in Japan. Ishido, who controls Osaka castle, has all the leaders of the main families prisoner. Anyone who tries to leave will be killed. Mariko’s death by Ishido exposes this and it breaks Ishido’s tyrany. * The later defeat of Ishido in battle finishes Toranaga’s master plan, to remove the tyrants of Japan who have sewn division and to allow him to become Shogun which will create an era of peace (that will last for 250 years).

Thank you for these videos. Makes watching a great series even better.

Thank you....youve been brilliant

Wunderbar - Your episode recaps we’re fantastic. They really helped me understand and gave me a greater appreciation of the series.

Anjin actually married a Japanese woman according to my wife Yoko. I loved this series. I lived in Japan for over a decade and I never realized what Anjinzuka was or who it was named after.....I'm almost ashamed to admit it considering how often I used that train station in Yokosuka Japan.

I also think that in the dialogue with Yabushige we realise that Toranaga is not necessarily the "good guy". He wanted to become shogun and sacrificed his people for it. To his son he said: "You are playing a game of friends and enemies, when you have only yourself in this life."

I burst into tears when they looked over at the empty space. 💔

I don’t think Torenaga really meant that Anjin just makes him laugh truthfully. His next step was to completely shut down the window into his secret heart, so I think that statement was a half-truth, a closing of the window and a direct “fuck you” to Yabu’s earlier “you have me to thank for the Anjin”. Hia final “fuck you” though was not keeping silent on whether or not he wanted to be Shogun, but citing him the quote Yabu -whispered- to Omi, with his most trusty adviser right behind them, letting Yabu know someone close to him was Torenaga’s spy all along and never letting him know who it really was.

The series so far exceeded my expectations! It was beautifully written and wonderfully acted. Yabushige was such a source of comic relief. Thank you for bringing to light that the flash-forward was just a dream. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around that and it was rather confusing - until seeing this video! Now I can appreciate the finale and thee whole series even more.

Most shows these days are disappointing, or they change too much etc. Shogun was the first show in a long time, as far back as I can recall that I couldn't wait for the next episode. This is how storytelling needs to be. Amazing how in the last year, the best movie that was a total surprise was Godzilla Minus One and then this adaptation of Shogun being produced and starring Hiroyuki Sanada. This show was a masterpiece.

Never read the book or to be honest had any interest in watching the show. I took a chance on it when there was only 2 episodes out and I have to say I'm glad I did. I was very happy with the show I have recommended it to many people. I appreciate the back story and the break down or the final episode.

This show is beautiful, what a wonderful journey

The original mini-series ended the same way with not showing the battle. I just hope they won't do a season 2. They should just let this be. I thought this remake was really well done

Simply amazing

really impressed. Best of the year so far.

The silence, the facial expressions, the eyes, are excellent. We, the audience, are expected to read the air.

Great breakdown. Now I have to wonder what you'll be covering from now on. Haha

The smile at Yabushige got me really thinking. Was Yabushige correct in thinking that this was all to get Toranaga to become shogun and was that smile just confirming it

Nice work 😊👍

There were a lot of people who gave up their lives for the rise of Tokonaga's rise to Shogun. I lived in Japan and know the real story. But with the killing off of Mariko (who in my opinion was the show), Continuing would be pointless.

Great show.. and to think I almost didn’t watch it. Glad i gave it a shot!

I was disappointed not reading about Sekigahara over 20 years ago, and I am disappointed not seeing it now (somewhere in the middle I was disappointed by not seeing it in the 80s series). That said, Shogun is still one of my favorite books and I think the series will be one of my favorite series (I will give it time to digest). I have read James Clavell's other works and they didn't really stick with me, his type of story and story telling isn't the type of storytelling I enjoy, which makes the fact that Shogun is something I find masterful all the better.

U4 breakdown for this show is so far the best, thank u

That’s really super. The spoilers ahead prove there’s a lot to unpack from this great series. My take, not that Goyer’s was that Toranaga told Ochoba No-kata that Ishido would undoubtedly kill the heir. Mariko’s death poem about the leafless tree or whatever was, to me, the prelude to that letter. This series was like the wind, and I’ll watch again to peg my theory. I’m hoping for a continuation of some kind, but I’d rather hold my tongue than breath.

Excellent review

Excellent summary and insights for an excellent show.

Shogun is the cure to my depression from the last Game of Thrones season.