MIDNIGHT REVIEWS Shōgun Episode One
Midnight Reviews features reviews and thought pieces written and edited by a parent, at night, after bedtime.
The evening review…
Shōgun Episode One: ‘Anjin’
Series created by: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks
Featuring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano
Synopsis: After the leader who united Japan dies and leaves an heir too young to lead, Lord Toranaga (Sanada) must deal with political manoeuvres that threaten his life and the life of those he holds close. Meanwhile, a ship carrying a group of Europeans ends up marooned nearby a small village in its search for the Japanese islands. John Blackthorne (Jarvis) is the only one who makes it out of the prison the rest of the crew are left in, forced to leave his shipmates in order to survive.
Review: Shōgun’s synopsis is enough to tell anyone wondering: there’s a lot going on. The above summary about Lord Toranaga and John Blackthorne is just the tip of the iceberg.
First off, this isn’t a show that’s afraid to spend a lot of time with a bunch of characters in a room, talking about what’s going on. As strange as it might seem, what came to mind when watching a show about seventeenth century daimyos and protestants trying to usurp catholics is Oppenheimer, though here the costuming is significantly grander.
In fact, the entire show looks sumptuous. Even the scenes involving Blackthorne and his crew, imprisoned and covered in shit, look beautiful.
We are introduced to Lord Toranaga, a liege to the shogun who has just passed away. Accused of kidnapping, with only flimsy hearsay in place of evidence, it’s clear that if he doesn’t do something drastic soon, his time will soon be up.
We are then shown the introduction of John Blackthorne to the islands of Japan. An English sailor whose mission is to first find Japan using information stolen from the Portuguese who got there years before, then burn any catholic buildings to the ground, Blackthorne’s determination is what got him here and may be what gets him through the whole thing alive. So far, so involved and it’s obvious from the start that these two are destined to meet.
When it does get going, could probably claim to be a crash course in feudal Japanese politics.
Despite the expensive-looking production and confidence that comes across with that, there are some issues that hinder this first episode. There is a significant amount of time spent on humdrum set up and poorly hidden exposition. Once the first twenty minutes are used to explain everything, the show gets going but this may be too much for those who expect men with swords and bows giving each other sleek death. Despite the high quality that is to follow, this first twenty minutes may make people switch off.
The occasional conspicuous use of a fish-eye lens can be as distracting as the bass and synth-sound sometimes made prominent in the soundtrack. It seems a strange decision to spend so much time and effort transporting us into such a detailed and seemingly-authentic world just to splay modern trappings over the top of it; like spreading a scratchy, plastic tablecloth over a beautiful wooden table.
Shōgun, when it does get going, could probably claim to be a crash course in feudal Japanese politics. The writers give just enough so that character motivations and reasoning are clear, and give the audience more than just a show about serious people chopping each other’s heads off. It is not afraid to spend time focusing on the political intrigue behind the grander, more showy scenes.
That’s not to say that the show is just people talking. There is violence and grime and screaming (a man is boiled alive just so that a Lord may attempt to study what happens in the moment before death). This pairing of down-and-dirty alongside the intrigue is to the show’s betterment and helps ground it in reality. It also represents the hidden dichotomy inside the majority of the characters: the flashes of immense violence surrounded by an ocean of calm, measured dialogue.
Compelling performances for characters we might otherwise find repulsive.
Anyone who has seen any TV show or movie featuring samurai will recognise certain iconography, and will perhaps be given a leg-up to help deal with all of the complicated politics. There is also the presence of Hiroyuki Sanada.
Sanada, who at this point in his career is recognisable to audiences across the globe having starred in Japanese and Hong Kong action films as well as crossing over into Western cinema and theatre, is the best at barely revealed contempt; those moments where a character just about hides the fact he does not appreciate what is going on around him. He’d do well as a primary school teacher.
This is perfect for Lord Toranaga. Here is someone who is incredibly powerful and is yet hamstrung by this power, along with his own personality, forcing him into actions he doesn’t really want to take. And making him a prime target of other Lords.
However, the emotional stoicism on display from Toranaga and others comes at a price. Sometimes what would, on paper, be incredibly charged comes off flat and it’s up to John Blackthorne and Kashigi Yabushige (Asano) to exhibit anything beyond an eyebrow twitch.
Jarvis and Asano play off each other well as prisoner and Lord, and both provide compelling performances for characters we might otherwise find repulsive. Yabushige seems a genuine pervert with a horrendous, proud streak of violence. And Blackthorne is full of religious and cultural intolerance for most of the episode.
The two of them are both signs that the show is unafraid to show culture and personality as they may well have been, as opposed to setting a show in the 1600s but transposing modern sensibilities onto characters. Though whether this holds true, or whether Blackthorne becomes a simple white saviour a la Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai, is yet to be seen. Jarvis has so far made a character with a ruthless streak at least relatable.
Overall Shōgun starts and means to move incredibly slow at times, with flashes of action, but so far is rewarding if given time. Only time will tell if this continues.
Shōgun is available to watch on Disney+, with episodes due once a week after a double episode premiere.
