MIDNIGHT REVIEWS Shōgun Episode Three
Midnight Reviews features reviews and thought pieces written and edited by a parent, at night, after bedtime.
Shōgun Episode Three: ‘Tomorrow is Tomorrow’
Series created by: Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks
Featuring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano
Synopsis: Lord Toranaga (Sanada) is still a prisoner in his own home. He must hatch a plan that sets him free, whilst foreseeing ways around the powerful rulers that want him dead. John Blackthorne (Jarvis) and Mariko (Sawai) get to know each other as they come along for the ride. Meanwhile, Lord Yabushige (Asano) has to somehow perform the perfect balancing act to convince two regents of his loyalties.
Review: After episode two (Servants of Two Masters) delivered a neat and tense episode based around dichotomies, Tomorrow is Tomorrow is back to building on plot. It is an excellent exercise in using a simple premise as a seed to grow certain elements of the show. Essentially, the premise of this episode is ‘Toranaga needs to get from A to B’ with all the obstacles the writers can think of to put in his way.
Lord Toranaga is still under house arrest and at the end of episode two was doing his best to make sure the ‘barbarian’ Blackthorne was still alive. In this episode the roles are switched with Blackthorne among the many trying to protect Toranaga as he plots an escape attempt, and like Lord Yabushige we must try and figure out Toranaga’s plan whilst holding on for dear life. The poor, put-upon Lord has an aim as simple as the episode premise: to build his fief. But life conspires against him and he doesn’t seem quite cunning or conniving enough to actually succeed as both regents he’s promised aid to distrust him. Such is the way when you play both sides.
Enough character moments to ensure the episode doesn’t feel like empty spectacle.
Just like episode two, Shōgun ensures it is not too serious and there are some last-minute improvisations (Blackthorne feigning shock and peevishness) along with carefully choreographed steps (no one accuses a pregnant woman) that bring everything from a wry smile to belly laughs. Even if you somehow don’t connect with the characters, you might want them to succeed just to see what happens next.
While this is no Ocean’s 11, it is still an exciting ride along with enough character moments to ensure the episode doesn’t feel like empty spectacle.
There are some minor negatives. Feelings towards Mariko’s husband Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe, excellent in every brief appearance) somehow change considerably within the space of five minutes. He was presented as nothing more than a heartless, jealous simpleton before this episode gives him a moment or two to shine. But this section could be viewed as manipulative as opposed to genuine, hard-earned character building. And the supposed set-up for Mariko and Blackthorne to fall in love is hopefully something the makers of Shōgun are deliberately setting up in order to pull the rug out from under us.
Shōgun so far has been the near-perfect example of what a limited series can be.
On the other hand, anything involving the relationship building with other main characters, whether it’s watching Toranaga and Blackthorne’s trust grow or Ishido (Takehiro Hira) trying to manipulate his supposed allies, is interesting. Everything feels organic. The plot moves forward, yes, but it’s not just about who’s in charge, who’s still a regent or countless other political points (something I bring up in my review of Dune Part Two and perhaps something that film can learn from). Toranaga seems to genuinely want the best for his country and he seems to be gearing up to make decisions he doesn’t want to make in order to reach this goal. The pieces are in place, and events seem set to explode.
Essentially, episode three lives or dies based on whether it can, like poor Lord Yabushige, balance the two sides. In this case, whether the episode can balance nail-biting tension without falling into boredom on one side or over-the-top farce on the other. It’s a testament to episode three’s director and editors that it succeeds completely and utterly, and by the time we experience key character moments come the finale, they are on the whole earned and genuine. Shōgun so far has been the near-perfect example to what a limited series can be.
Shōgun is available to watch on Disney+, with episodes due once a week every Tuesday.
