My Breakdown of Despair to Triumph in Shogun's "Crimson Sky" (S1:E9) Did "Crimson Sky" leave you feeling inspired? I delve into themes of resilience, the power of hope, and the fight for a brighter future! Click the link below to unpack Shogun's emotional rollercoaster! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nZipncmbyt3TqJ8.html

I love how Mariko claimed her father's name in the end by referring to herself as, Akechi Mariko and NOT Toda Mariko

Remember she's been begging to die for far less, so giving her life for a greater plan in the service of her lord was perfect and what she desired. Great writing.

I'm Japanese. I watch many reaction videos of this show. You see what other people don't see. In Shogun, true feelings lie beneath many layers of their words. I appreciate your understandings. You are very intelligent.

The shinobi/ninja's assignment was to kidnap Mariko (they were grabbing her when they could've killed her instantly). Kidnapping her would prevent her from escaping or making herself a martyr. However, simple Ishido underestimated Mariko. Ishido is all desire for power whereas Mariko is all about duty and service.

Toranaga just unraveled the Gordian Knot of Ishido's power by unleashing Mariko, his peregrine falcon, to free the hostages. A queen sacrifice to win the game.

Ever since Shogun started, I was excited to see what people say about it who didn’t necessarily read the novel. You guys have been, by far, my favorite channel to watch Shogun reactions. You don’t really project what you want to happen in the story but allow the story to be told to you. You understand the setting of the story rather than question why actions, beliefs & motives by the characters. I wish the series had multiple seasons to really showcase the scale of novel. That said, I’ve enjoyed the journey of watching Shogun with you both.

This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking episode….my goodness give Anna Sawai her Emmy right TF now!!!!

I follow all of the Shogun reactions, and I must say that Rekkai is always the smartest bloke in the room. Much respect from London, Guvnor!

Best reaction channel. You're looking at the bigger picture, which some channels have yet to grasp. This is what makes this a great show. Great reaction. Thank you, guys.

Also a side note. The real historical figure of mariko. They still have her poems till this day.

that smile she gave the Anjin-san near the end…. my heart is in very small pieces

I think these guys have deep thoughts and so intelligent! I love this discussion!

There are a lot of subtleties in this wonderful series. The poem takes on extra meaning when you know Lady Ochiba's name means Fallen Leaves.

22:04 " A flower 🌸 is a flower 🌸 because it falls". That is saying "Life is life because we die"

Mariko-sama poetry is so perfect that it went over their heads…her “leafless branch” line was sublime. Her former best friend’s name, “Ochiba” means fallen leaves.

I had the exact same reaction…. Just shocked and upset and needed time to process. They set you up and then tear you down

Bravo fellas. You guys are spot on with your analysis. “Ishido is simple.” Yeah, he is no Toranaga. Ishido comes from a peasant background and doesn’t have the deep samurai roots like Mariko or Toranaga. When Mariko reminds Ishido about this fact, she’s rubbing it in his face (in front of everyone) that Ishido isn’t truly from samurai class. The key is time for Toranaga. He said it himself that if he directly attacks Osaka, he will lose. So he is buying time with every opportunity (his son’s death, Hiromatsu’s death, etc.) His son’s death bought him an extra 49 days to avoid going to Osaka. Meanwhile all the families being held hostage are growing more and more frustrated with their situation. This time also allows Toranaga to prepare and form new strategies. The goal of this ninja attack was to capture Mariko. If she is captured, this whole plan is ruined. All the families would be powerless to leave Osaka. Additionally, it is against bushido (samurai code) to be captured. Mariko would be shamed and Ishido could just wait until Toranaga is forced to go to Osaka. You guys keep mentioning Toranaga is playing chess while the Regents are playing checkers. If you think about it, Toranaga just sacrificed his queen. She is a peregrine falcon and her prey was Ishido, the Regents, (perhaps Lady Ochiba) and all the others in Osaka. The results of this power move will be exciting to watch next week. I can’t wait to see your reaction next week. “Shogun” introduced me to your channel and the first reaction I saw of yours was in Shogun episode 1. Your reactions and analysis are on point and entertaining. Thank you for your hard work and sharing your reactions, thoughts, and passion with all of us. You’ve won me over and I’m super curious to watch more of your reactions to other shows/movies. Liked and subscribed 👍🏽

A flower is only a flower if it knows when to fall, and so should humans. Now is the time to fall. Gracia Hosokawa's death poem, which was the model for Mariko

One of Mariko's lines to Ochiba is actually based on an actual poem of Hosokawa Gracia. "Only by knowing when to fall Do flowers become flowers And people become people"

Do people understand why Mariko did that ? Now all the high lords will blame Ishido for her death, as she is not a peasant but a high "royal" bloodline. ( they said the same in the end 😄 Good observation )

8:37 “red roses look like blood splatter…” RED ROSES = BLOOD CRIMSON WHITE GARMENT = A BRIGHT SKY 0:19 “SHE is Crimson Sky.” I think you guys hit the nail on the head. Everything that Mariko accomplished in Episode 9 is exactly what “Crimson Sky” was meant to accomplish when it was initially described in Episode 6: “A single, violent rush on Osaka castle that eliminates the council and forms a new government.” I think that Mariko-sama is that “single, violent rush on Osaka castle,” indicating that SHE is the true initiation of “Crimson Sky”… and has been all along. Toranaga’s plan to put “Crimson Sky” into effect depended on Mariko unleashing a quick and lethal attack on Ishido’s authority right in the heart of his stronghold, but to get her (his most powerful Chess piece) into position, he needed Ishido to feel safe (to feel like he had won), and the only way to do that was for Toranaga to completely convince everyone that he had given up fighting (which the death of his son and his closest friend allowed him to do very successfully). This also explains why Toranaga seemed to always summon Mariko-sama to his side, serving a dual purpose (as both a translator and his deadliest weapon hidden in plain sight), why he was upset that Buntaro hit her, why he wanted her to make a final decision about her intentions with Blackthorne, and why he refused to let her end her life too soon (until his plan was ready to be unleashed). Ya’ll we’re unlocking ALL the cheat codes this episode!!! Great, GREAT reaction and discussion! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

As before, I have been waiting for the two of you! And as usual, you guys are fantastic! I know that the depiction of death in this work brings tears to the eyes of the viewer who is more capable of understanding the situation and emotions of the characters. This is because we know that it is the culmination of a series of carefully drawn descriptions over the previous 9 episodes. I can't imagine how such a beautiful story will end.

Talking about a statue of Mariko, the historical person she is based on, Hosokawa Tama (Christian name Gracia) has a memorial at Sozenji temple in Osaka. In history, her death as a hostage caused such an uproar and ended up bringing more supporters to Tokugawa's side. Anna Sawai deserves all the awards and accolades. Some more great insight and analysis from you two!

My favorite reaction so far to this outstanding, brilliant episode. I've seen so many commenters saying "She wants to die! She WANTS to die!" Man, MARIKO IS SAMURAI. The last of her line, the last of a thousand samurai before her. She has endured loss and shame. She refuses to let that stand, and if her death restores justice and order and peace to the realm? Then it is WORTH it. You want an example of the Divine Feminine Warrior Archetype - based on a real woman, no less! - then y'all have FOUND it. Everything she does in this episode is a straight-up masterclass decades in the making - schooling all those with expensive swords and empty hearts. You guys get it. Also: what's so heartbreakingly beautiful in her thwarted suicide attempt is that she hesitates. Here she is, kneeling on the ground, permission having finally been granted to her for what she's professed to want all these years... and she hesitates. She and John have such an incredible breakthrough in that moment: he not only yields to her desire to achieve justice with her death, but is willing to kill the woman he loves to keep her from unimaginable suffering. And in that moment, for just a moment, she considers his point of view - the value of her own life. The simple act of drawing breath. When the doors close on them and it's just the two of them, frozen in their respective poses, neither one moving... I don't want to imagine what would have happened if Ishigo hadn't entered. The beauty of that paradoxical moment, the two of them forever frozen, is magnificent.

What an episode. I had read the book and watched the mini-series when they came out. I remembered very little from either. Strange since I remember more Clavell's Taipan which I read right after. Maybe I was too young to emotionally grasp what was going on back then. I did not recall Mariko's character well, and didn't even recall her death at all. I was probably the most shocked and dismayed at a character's death than I have been since reading of Ned Stark's beheading back when the Game of Thrones novel came out. The writers pulling us along and toying with our despair, then relief, then shock reminded me of when a major character died in the 3rd or 4th season of The Walking Dead. Once again you did a great job presenting this episode. Your understanding and insights were right on point. You both continue to be the best at breaking down this series.

Best reviews on the net. Thank you for you intelligent break downs. I am here for more reviews of other shows too.

Thank you. You two put into words what had been before my inarticulate awe and mad respect for this story and, above all else, Lady Mariko and Anna Sawaii.

Really great reaction and perspective on this episode. Really enjoyed it, Thank U

Salute, great content! Ai'yo she exposed everybody in Osaka!

dang syntell, no moment of silence immediately after such a heavy moment? you straight to chatter and rekkai still tryna get himself together 😭😭 i feel him fr, i watched this episode VERY early (like 1 a.m) when it came out and it messed up my dreams and the rest of my day smh PRAISE TO EMMY (Anna) SAWAI THOUGH ❤️

The actual model for Toda Mariko, played by Anna Sawai, was Hosokawa Galasha, but her bombing was, unsurprisingly, a true story! The cemetery of Hosokawa Galashwa was guarded by her son and still exists. It was Marie-Antoinette who was very fond of Galasha's dying poem and was fascinated by her way of life and way of death.

Loving both your reactions and commentary, ya'll understand the world and characters so well

I know there will not a season 2 but they could very well do a prequel series and start from the beginning. That way we get all of the characters back and some other ones unseen as of yet. I think that will be brilliant.

I watched the original series many years ago so I knew what was coming but still....😮😢😮😢

Torananaga Crimson Sky plan was Perfect! lol

I am Japanese and have watched the various reaction videos of the Shogun and found this channel to have the deepest understanding.This is a great reaction video.

このドラマは欧米人には侍や武士、忍者という大好物なものがフルセットに揃えてありますが 戦国時代は非常に秩序が混沌としていて 単純に男社会のように見えて 実はより現実的で腹の座った女性たちの影響力を この将軍というドラマは深く掘り下げてくれています 吟や藤様を見ているだけでも必死な生き様を垣間見ることが出来ます そして、その女性たちの頂点に 落ち葉の方と鞠子様が描かれている その影響力は武家社会全体を揺るがす諸刃の剣になる事を エピソード９は示してくれましたし 鞠子様の死によって石堂は詰みました

Yabushige you traitor!!! Mariko-sama 😭😭😭 Ishido is simpleton who I hope gets his next episode

Mariko is crimson sky

I am absolutely heartbroken... I can't believe it but I think I know who's gonna fucking destroy Ishido. Lady Ochiba!

I think you nailed it again. As a Japanese, I appreciate Americans like you look deeper into samurai-era Japanese-psych.

Aw, man!!! Now I have to stop my third watch of your "Shakespeare Code" reaction to watch this!!! LOL!!! Seriously (and I was :)), I'm glad to check out this penultimate reaction!!!! Brace yourself, folks....!!!!

Buntaro had a bad fucking week

marikooooooooo

Our beloved Mariko... 😭 This is wishful thinking but, can she pull a "Buntaro" by escaping death..? anyways, In loving memorial to the one and only Toda Mariko - the finest queen of Japan, whose departure was with honor to her very last breath, whose life was fully dedicated to serve her Lord Toronaga and her Samurai bloodline, so that she could meet her death wish with grace ..... after a good ol' pillowing 🛌 RIP queen Mariko 🖤 Prediction: Lady Ochiba will play a huge part in the outcome confrontation between Toronaga & Ishido...

Brilliant again... I swear I wait almost as much for your videos as I do for the episodes... I've watched a good few other reviews where folk have predicted things and I think "ohhhh...you got a shock coming!"....your kimono thing was excellent... "Her kimono is putting in the work!" Very next second she does that spin thing.. spot on...that was sweet!

GREAT REACTION!!! It’s been a while since I have wanted to rage quit a show. I loved her character and I can’t WAIT to see how it ends!!!💯

Thank you guys love your channel. You guys explain things I miss. Love Shogun

2 days since I watched it…still not recovered. Happy to see I’m not the only man who is about to cry on this. Was not ready at all, I thought I was going to see a samurai fights and battles movie. But now it’s not about shogun for me…it’s about mariko’s fate

The color of the sky at dusk when Mariko tried to commit suicide was The Crimson Sky. It would be great if Mariko were still alive, but the historical facts are as follows. Mitsunari Ishida (Ishido in SHOGUN), who was an enemy of Ieyasu(Toranaga in SHOGUN), tried to take Garasha Hosokawa (Mariko Toda in SHOGUN) hostage at Tamatsukuri's Hosokawa mansion in Osaka, but Garasha refused. The next day, Mitsunari went out to use his force and had his soldiers surround the mansion. When the vassals told Garasha everything, Garasha prayed a little, then gathered all the maids and ladies in the mansion and said, ``As my husband has commanded, I alone want to die,'' and led them outside. . Later, as suicide is prohibited in Christianity, the chief retainer, Hidekiyo Ogasawara (Shosai), intervened with Garasha and committed suicide by setting explosives in the mansion and setting it on fire so that no body would be left behind. Her death haiku was, ``Only when you know when it is time to scatter can flowers in this world become flowers and people become people.'' A few hours after her death, Father Niecchi Sordi Organtino visited the burnt remains of the Hosokawa mansion, picked up Garasha's bones, and buried them in the Christian cemetery in Sakai. Ishido must have tried to imprison Mariko somewhere. Rather than killing Mariko in the video, he was trying to kidnap her. If he kills Mariko, he will make enemies and divide his allies. That is Toranaga's aim. Before the full-scale battle begins, the outcome of the Battle of Sekigahara will be decided by how many daimyo join your side.

Waiting for ya take on this one

What a great reaction. Finally! Someone recognized that "Crimson Sky" is a who not a what. In other comments I have said that the women are the real heroes of Sho-Gun. Toranaga's wives, Fiji, and especially Mariko. I know this is historical fiction, but this series follows the factual fairly close. The person that Mariko represented was Akechi Tama. She was murdered, maybe not in this fashion but murdered non the less. John Blackthorn represented the real life, William Adams. Who, to this day, is a real-life hero to the Japanese. Mariko had great power because She came from a very powerful family. Mariko is "royalty" in Japan. Her family may have been disgraced but she was still a person of power. Today, killing her would be the equivalent of killing Prince Harry. At that time, there was only one person smarter than her and that was Toranaga. Can you imagine the conversations between Toranaga and her. Did you notice that, though this series, Toranaga aways differed to Mariko. We know she could talk by her spontaneous poetry. We are going to need oxygen for the last episode in order to survive. This is TV at its best. Again, thank you for an excellent reaction.

Marikos part ,was to sew decent amongst the high lords ,and basically encourage a revolt from the inside ,that will leave them vulnerable to be taken by surprise by toronaqa ,all part of the ploy

An incredible tribute to the OTHER Season 1 / Episode 9 on Game of Thrones when Nedd Stark lost his head....

Here's my take on this. Mariko and Yabushige are all willing participants in Toronaga's great plan, to let the Shinobi into the compound and carry out the killings was planned by Toranaga to make it appear that the slaughter was ordered by Ishido. Mariko was always going to make the ultimate sacrifice, as she had been longing for death which would bring her peace, and knowing her death either by her own hand or by Shinobi would serve the main purpose of framing Ishido causing a revolt from the high families destabilizing Ishiro's position at the head of the Council and the secondary purpose of bringing honor back to her family name in her service to Toranaga, This was made clear in the last episode when Toranaga asked Mariko "are you ready to do your part?". Yabushige looks like he is the ultimate double agent, loyal to Toranaga but outwardly shows himself as self serving, with questionable loyalty.

Mariko died in the 1980 version too. Seem like her & Blackthorne reverse role played in 2024. In the older version Blackthorne was threatening to commit seppuku bcuz of an unjust edict by Yabo that he learn Japanese in a specified time or the whole village would forfeit their lives. But in 2024 its Mariko being the ultimate samurai and dying an honorable death. I got no problem with that. Blackthorne was a badass too volunteering to second Mariko during her seppuku ritual. In this genre of fiction we always see the western outsider proving his worth and becoming more native than any of the natives. Its a worn out plot device thats finally being reversed.

There is Hosokawa Gracia (Mariko's model real person) statue at a Christian church in Kyoto (capital of Japan until moved to Edo=today's Tokyo.

Matt Barnes threw the ball at her and she didn’t even move 🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀

*ISHIDO TAKE NO Ls, especially from a translator. LFG*

29:37 naw that transition is treacherous

Damn that was a great point Yabu WAS ready to end his life around the second episode when he scaled down the cliff but he was pussy when his true card was pulled! He wants to LOOK like a hero by just being on the winning side. That’s why he liked when Blackthorne paid him that compliment about him taking fate in his own hands.

mariko is a gangster ! a ride or die! wifey material

When Mariko spoke about peasents to Ishido, that was because he came from nothing. It was a dig at him, he has no bloodline. He's a bum and he's going to get his ass handed to him in the next episode. Karma is a bitch

😎👍❕️ Would you'l take suggestions of possible spinoff mini-serirs you might like to watch such as... Shogun: The Bushido Code Shogun: The Willow World of Edo ('nuff said) Shogun: Battles of the Faiths (Catholics vs Protestants vs Buddhists) Shogun: Tales of Wajiro's Stone Garden Shogun: Sepuku of a Warrior, The Permanent Solution To A Temporary Problemshog Shogun: Yabu-Shigi's Book of Death #KatanasAndKimonosRock

Its a true crime that you cut so you could plug your patreon.

I’m sure a whole lot of y’all Crimson Cried. You were all chasing after a Crimson Herring, only to realize, too late, that you believed a Crimson Lie. Despite my criticism in previous episodes about how Mariko the wife continued to handle her domestic affairs, especially after how the truth of as to why she was kept alive has laready been revealed; I do have all the respect in the world for Mariko, the Retainer. She fulfilled her duty and managed to say out loud what every Lord in Osaka was feeling but were too afraid to say. And she also made the distinction clear: all the people in that assembly are samurai, while Ishido comes from a line of peasants. And she was committed to everything to the end. (Minor Tangent: I am happy the gate scene was not a "girl-power mopping the floor with all those men" moment) Now all of Osaka's Lords are soured against Ishido; and Ochiba might have to put the engagement on hold in order to Mourn Mariko. Her mission is a success. Speaking of which, it’s so heartwarming and heart breaking that “Leave us” scene between Mariko and Ochiba. I'm Happy Ruri-hime did not just outright hate Mariko for being her father's daughter; but their exchange was so heartbreaking as they both knew each other so well and what the other was doing and them pleading with each other to make the step to end the hostilities, and saying their goodbyes like that... it was made clear: Ochoba was willing to do anything to continue on living, while Mariko was samurai through and through and was trying to convince her that the duty is what is most important. The fact that Ochiba-Sam’s had to turn away to hide her tears and she can’t maintain her mask )9 fold fence) was just Gold. i think I'm sweating through my eyes. 😭😭😭 And Blackthorne finally doing the right thing and deciding to Second Mariko, instead of just dismissing all of Japan's customs and cultures as BS , that was the best gift he could have ever given her. So much so that despite my misgivings about Mariko the wife; their last night of intimacy was completely EARNED. As a Christian myself, Blackthorne pretty much says “despite me wanting you to live; I will kill you and add this sin on my conscience so that you will not condemn yourself to hell.🥹🥹🥹 And thankfully, Ishido stepped in, because Blackthorne was already shown as not capable of properly wielding that sword. Imagine if it had to be shown on screen the Anjin having to chop a couple of times. 😱😱😱 Yabushige's betrayal was to Kidnap Mariko AND not lay a hand on any of the VIPs (it was shown on screen that Shizu and Kiri was not killed when the shinobi identified them in their sleep). They need to make it look like some bandits or assassins got to her while she was sneaking off in the evening despite getting her permits: that was why the shinobi did not kill her right away, but rather were trying to take her away. Mariko became aware of this right away and chose where to meet her end: she did not go to the gate where she would get captured as Yabushige intended. Having grown up there with Ochiba, she knew what would happen when she chose to hole up in the store house.

Dude on the left, your reactions are entertaining, but you don't need to do coke before recording.

THIS EPISODE 9 IS STUPID!!! IT MAKES NO SENSE AND THE WRITERS DID NOT RESEARCH!! FLAWS: 1) Mariko was tasked to A) rescue Toranaga's Wife, Consort and New Son, and escort them from the castle. B) if refused to leave, that proves all the "royals" are prisoners. Her "Suicide" was to Embarrass Ishido and the Court. 2) Since Ishido relented to release Mariko and the others, HER DUTY WAS TO GET THEM TO Toranaga, letting herself be killed was BREAKING THE PLEDGE to Toranaga!! MAKE NO SENSE, ESPECIALLY since she just found Love with Blackthorne!! 3) THERE IS NO HISTORY OF WOMEN OF ROYALITY COMMITING SEPPUKU! Mariko was a "Lady", ie Royalty, and NOT A SAMURAI! QUOTE: The custom known as "seppuku," which specifically refers to ritual suicide by disembowelment, was reserved for men of the samurai class in feudal Japan. Samurai women had different methods, which traditionally involved either slashing their own throat or stabbing themselves in the heart.Apr 16, 2024" AGAIN, MARIKO WAS NOT A SAMURAI, She Was Royality, "Lady"!!! The Character that Markio is BASED ON, NEVER HAD CONTACT WITH BLACKTHORNE, DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE OF ANY KIND, was actually killed by her servant as she about to be captured.!! PS, the ACTUAL "Translator" that Toranaga assigned in the REAL story was a JAPANESE MAN, NOT A WOMAN!! The Writing in the Hulu Fantasy Shogun is Bullshit and Full or Flaws and Historical Inaccuracies! Blackthorne's REAL Character "Adams" Actually MARRIED his Japanese Consort assigned by Toranaga and they had two children.

Battle of sekigahara next, the war for the torunaga (tokugawa) period, period of 250 years of united japan!

One other thing. Notice Lord Kiyama did not show up to be her second. In order to forcer her not to go through with it. Christians can't commit suicide due to the christian faith. That back fired and Ishido had no choice but to grant the permit so the High Families in Osaka would not revolt. Also at the end, did you notice how the Shoulin killed everybody except Mariko-sama? They actually grabbed her and tried to pull her away. Why?

At last ninjas are shown

At a lost for words on this epeisode. I saw it at midnight on Monday. Been waiting to see yall's reaction. Still thinking about this one. Like last episode, Torrenga's right hand man said. "You must not give up on our lord even when it seems he has given up on himself".The looks on both yall faces is what I still have right now. Game of Thrones wasnt that bad for me, cause I read all the books.So I was aware of good characters taking a "L". hahahahhaa @ the Pollen count. This wa a tear jerker episode.Get ready for the "House of Dragons". Read that book too. Its about to be off the chain.

WOW! You have understood high context hidden meaning. I feel I have learned a lot from you and this drama and it made me want to visit Japan to follow the historical places related to Shogun!

I got a feeling she not really dead

Yo. This show is World Class Chess visualized. Anna Sawai. Girl I was unfamiliar with your game. I apologize. (Shaq voice) . Mariko STOOD ON BUSINESS ❤❤ RIP BAD BITCH.