Great reaction to an outstanding series! 10/10, everyone MUST watch. I suspect it’ll end up being my favorite series of 2024

Beautiful ending of the show and a very thoughtful resume from your side. Thank you for that.

When Torunaga let that bird go and said 'go bear many daughters' it was kinda like him saying goodbye to Mariko who was very useful to him but also symbolic cos she never 'hunted' before until Torunaga invited her to one and she marvelled at the 'steel bird' in a way its like he's releasing her from her duty and is mourning in his own way. I love the use of poems in this show to reveal a person's inner heart/secret heart. Mariko's words are always lauded as unbeatable and in her poem Ochiba asked her son how he would continue it. The Heir's words show his innocence - he sees the possibilities of fruits and flowers. But Ochiba ocntinues with the Wind. When Toranaga talks with Yabu about commandingthe wind you realise that she's speaking of him and that is when she reveals her secret alliance with him. I guess that the poem Mariko wrote and her continuation was what she wrote to Toranaga and is enough to state her intent of their alliance, given that he spoke the poem Mariko said to him and he wept in his own silent way. Yabu's poem was also simple, short and to the point. He wants to be useful even in death in so far as he can try to fight but if he loses (relevant to John's first words to Toranaga) then he is simply meat for hungry dogs. In John's seppuku he speaks the words Mariko said in her last breath, showing that he not only learns language fast but also that he has taken her lesson to heart - Life and Death are the same and both can be used as weapons and not useless at all. John can make Toranaga do what he wants but either way, he gets to die and join Mariko in death. He contemplated that future - dying old and alone clutching unto the memories but decided 'fuck it' In that whole scene, we know later that it was Toranaga who burnt his ship understanding that Mariko bargained for his life. And yet Toranga insisted on punishing the village to test John and his resolve. He claimed he had given up his war when the very reason he is alive is cos his witty response to Toranaga amused him so much he kept him around. And yet he is willing to give up his life for this small petty reason as the village same to how Toranaga found his depression around the gardeners death petty and small - John calls the whole religious war with the Portugeuse 'small' contrasting ep 2 where Toranaga's conflict with the regents seemed small in comparison to this new larger global threat John revealed to them about the Spanish-Portuguese treaty. In the scene where John and Fuji sat together, you can see the lessons that Kuki the courtesan taught in the WIllow World - the empty space beside John framing him and Fuji as they sit is highlighting that the empty space is an absence that can be seen and felt, t he absence of Mariko in their lives. I love the scene Omi takes his gun and sword - mirroring the conflict in early episode down to Fuji behind him but this time they're both so broken by their losses and trials there's no other for fighting anymore - which is a mirror to the entire conflict as a whole: to fight without fighting, to win before the war even starts. Toranaga won before they fought at Sekigahara. Also the poetry of just Yabu almost dying on a cliff to being executed on a cliff. Mariko's words that Fuji used to say 'let your hands be the last to hold her'

BRILLIANT series! If you want to see another stunning performance of Hiroyuki Sanada, "The Twilight Samurai" is absolutely amazing!

I'm so sad that it's over. I confess that since they changed some things from the book, I thought they might give us more of the battle of Sekigahara and kind of wanted that (fwiw, Toranaga does end up Shogun... and Ochiba kept the Heir out of the battle because she knew that "accidents happen" and if she put him out there, Toranaga would arrange the Heir's death... also, Toranaga gives Blackthorne Ajiro as part of his fief and gives him Omi's house and is set to give him Omi's wife and maybe Kiku the courtesan to keep him happy because he thinks of Blackthorne as a friend, one of his only friends... not that Toranaga is against Omi, but rather to free Omi of weaknesses and help him be a better samurai). I was so glad that they put Blackthorne's seppuku attempt in here. It was a huge event in the book that changed Blackthorne's perspective and caused others to accept him as a "new man" and more than a barbarian... and happened much earlier in the book. The story ends on a very bittersweet note, at least for me. And, like I said, I'm just sorry that the show is over.

Thank you Derek for sharing your Shogun journey with us! In the age of desensitized habituation to final battle scenes, I agree it's refreshing to see a feudal piece about samurais that fills the canvas with the absence of war and mass bloodshed. 26:43 Good catch about Mariko repeating those same words to Fuji. Bittersweet 360. I'm glad you listened to the pod prior to the outro to iron out the flash forward misinterpretation. 20:14 For me, this scene solidifies the title "a dream of a dream"... showing John's vision (or dream) of dying on death bed, dreaming (but more dreading) of life regrets of not helping the villagers when he had the opportunity. John holding on to Mariko's cross in the dream, as well as the moment of unsheathing his blade, was the impetus for deciding to honor Mariko by living and dying for a purpose greater than oneself. Taking action in the moment, for the good of the collective, in lieu of standing idly by. Letting go of that cross was a nice callback to an earlier episode on the sea where the two lovers once shared the carpe diem sentiment, "the past is the past." May everyone put their pain in the past. Bask in the present moments.

I love watching Toranaga’s half-brother Saeki realize that his big play to become a regent and have power and prestige actually just placed him into the role of a puppet. Oops! Also, it is satisfying seeing Ishido grasping desperately to keep the other regents in line and get them to obey him. You can feel the straws breaking and his hold on power slipping through his fingers. Lol

it wasn't a dream he was having, it was a vision of a possible future, hence the name of the episode "a dream within a dream" i really liked this ending. the entire series you've been lead to believe toranaga is a selfless, benevolent person, yet the most selfish, malevolent person (yabashige) is the one who reveals the truth. Toranaga wants to be the sole ruler, shaping their world into his view. not the taiko's heir, but his Shogun rule

Your reactions were so sincere and heartfelt. Thanks for sharing them with us! This was a truly epic saga. All I can say is that the original books (The Asian Saga) and the Shōgun mini-series were so popular that they followed up with a mini-series adaptation of his book Noble House a few years later. I am hoping the success of this adaptation will lead to more... (John Rhys-Davies and Damien Thomas, the actors that originally played Rodrigues and Alvito were in both mini-series.)

Buntaro and John united in their affection for Mariko and sealed with a drink.

and like that, blackthorne gained the freedom to be free of himself...

Yabushige was probably somewhat concussed, but with the catfish ordeal he was making a subtle point to Ishido, likening his excuses to that of the Taikō's excuses with the catfish; he's humorously pretending to be Ishido, looking for the nonexistent catfish.

Fuji-sama! 😍

Edo is called Tokyo now. and now Tokyo has a Subway Line called Oh-Edo Line.

Thank you, Derek! 🗾 After I streamed it this morning, I checked to see if a second season was coming. The web says that even though viewership was high and reviews were good, the makers are unlikely to want to continue it, since they ended it like the end of the novel, as they intended.

your attention to detail and remembering previous lines is very impressive !

I looked forward to hearing your response to each episode and will miss both the series and your opinions afterwards. I really hated to see the series end! At least we can look forward to Dr. Who now. 😀

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. 🌸🌺🌸

これはビデオゲームでは表現出来ない、でも映画にするには複雑過ぎる。 ドラマシリーズだからこそ表現できた作品だったと思う。

「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” For the first time in the entire series, Ochiba sama looks directly to Ishido while talking to him; in all other episodes, she glances at him but looks away. That was the most subtle, passive-aggressive death stare I have seen on screen to date.🫣 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. And maybe, just maybe, lightening the burden in his conscience a bit, afterall: a future Toranaga victory will never come to pass if Mariko did not die INSIDE of Osaka. Goodbye to our favourite sociopath. 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. And to think he did all those things mostly as an act of kindness to Fuji-sama… she deserves the best. 🥹🥹 "I forcced fate to gaze upon me so that I can pluck its eyes out" -Ochiba no Kata Also, the fact that Anjin used the word 詰まらない【つまらない】 (tsumaranai) when he said “my war is small” can also be translated to “my wars are petty/trivial/silly/worthless” in reference to his ambitions and designs for England and his war against the Catholics. That was him letting go of his personal ambitions for something greater. The setup to be in a position to win the final battle is mostly complete, and the broad strokes were revealed, but the details of the plan and how the battle ensued are still hidden. So who is ready for a “new/separate” mini-series, titled “Sekigahara”? Ohhh, and what was Toranaga holding in his left hand just before it cut to the title card?

9:14 only recently found out Cosmo Jarvis is a musician, not to mention pretty dedicated method acting

Anjin doesn't leave Japan, that was only him dreaming when he was unconscious. In the real history he just has ships and sails around Asia. He never goes back to the UK

I just finished all of your reactions for this outstanding series. I've seen you pop up in compilation videos and only tracked your channel down once and then for some reason I forgot it. Now I can subscribe to the channel and sorry to say, you're stuck with me now. lol I'm old enough to remember when the original series came out. Even though this is Japanese, I'm Korean, I didn't watch this, because I knew I would be made fun of and related to this story. I would love to see the original if it became available.

✨🌸✨🗞️🪭🌊❤️‍🔥

16:55 "Bye, Fumi"? Come on man, it's not that hard! :D

Not "Fumi". Her name is "FUJI"!