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The style is easy. The substance is hard.
There is an excess of big, expensive, expansive television shows Nowadays, but there isn’t a glut of big, expensive, expansive TV shows actually worth watching. They may look pretty, but they don’t always have great stories and performances (and sometimes They don’t even look that pretty). Big sets, costumes, and cast don’t make a good show on their own. It’s not easy to make something epic.
But FX “Shogun” (premiering Tuesday at 10 EST/PST and streaming on Hulu, ★★★½ out of four), a new historical drama based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel about first English contact with feudal Japan, makes make the epic seem easy. Beautiful, rich and deeply compelling, it might just scratch that “Game of Thrones” itch you’ve had since the HBO fantasy flopped in 2019.
There are no dragons here, just juicy political intrigue, lush visuals, and instantly memorable performances. “Shogun” invites you into the fully formed, deliciously dangerous and curiously complex world of Osaka in the 1600s, a setting that most Americans probably know less about than Westeros. But after watching a few episodes, you might find yourself perusing the local library for books on Japanese history. The series encourages gluttony; Even after 10 episodes, you might be asking for more..
The novel (and 1980 NBC miniseries) is an outside-in story, focusing on wayward Englishman John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), who is on a mission to bring his country’s interests to East Asia (and end with their Catholic rivals, the Portuguese). and Spanish merchants and missionaries). A welcome change is the preeminence of Japan and the political actors vying to rule it, greatly expanding the world and context over the disputes between local lords.
All about the show:FX’s ‘Shogun’ brings to life an epic new version of James Clavell’s novel: what you need to know
The lord we support is Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), one of the five regents of a council that governs Japan, while the heir to the throne is a boy. Toranaga has been the target of his fellow regents as they attempt to consolidate power, and the arrival of Blackthorne and his ship full of gold and weapons is an opportunity Toranaga will not waste. With the help of Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) as a translator for the “barbarian,” as many of the Japanese characters call Blackthorne, Toranaga attempts to keep himself and his people alive, and perhaps gain power for himself. . Those pesky Portuguese priests may also have more than just Catholicism on their minds as they try to gain a deeper foothold in the island nation.
All you need to know:FX’s ‘Shogun’ brings to life an epic new version of James Clavell’s novel
The production design of “Shogun” is impeccable, full of intricate details and gorgeous depictions of historic buildings, costumes and swords. But those trinkets come to life when worn by the actors, who are simply magnificent. Sanada, a veteran you may have seen in “John Wick 4” or “Avengers: Endgame” who is also a producer on the series, is a magnetic presence. It’s easy to see why Toranaga inspires such loyalty in his people. Jarvis is hilarious, playing Blackthorne’s fish-out-of-water comedy (he thinks the Japanese bathe too often) and spitting his holier-than-thou lines with sizzling venom. Sawai has a much more difficult job (and not just because of the restrictive kimonos he wears). Mariko is a more reserved and subtle character who lights up the screen, even without self-righteous diatribes.
1980’s “Shogun” was a ratings juggernaut and an Emmy favorite. There isn’t always a compelling creative reason to remake a story. But the nuance and innovation that the new “Shogun” brings, particularly in its extensive Japanese dialogue and perspective, more than justifies the project. If we’re doomed to a future of intellectual property-driven Hollywood content (and we really are), it should be like “Shogun”: familiar in some ways but unique in telling different, more diverse stories.
“Shogun” is the kind of series that reminds you that television can be an event, not just something casual you click on while folding laundry. It demands your full attention. So don’t commute, make dinner, or work while the TV is on. Sit down. Look. Take it all in. It’s not every day you get a free ticket to Japan in the 1600s.
This is an adventure you will not forget.
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