Shogun: An Epic Miniseries Worth Watching
Photo via Pexels
“Shogun” is television’s latest hit, as its sheer epic proportions are taking viewers by storm. The show is already a little over halfway through, with episodes being released every Tuesday to be watched on either FX or Hulu.
Based on the successful novel written by James Clavell in 1975, “Shogun” follows the lives of John Blackthorne (played by Cosmo Jarvis), an Englishman trapped in Japan, and Lord Toranaga (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), a clever, well-respected leader who is constantly at odds with his political enemies. Taking place in the early 1600s, “Shogun” takes the audience on a breathtaking journey through feudal Japan that only gets more exciting with time.
The series begins with a long and dragged-out episode that introduces all the main characters and conflicts at hand. It can be quite boring at times, especially since there’s no real action and the viewer has to learn a lot within the given runtime; however, this is all necessary to understand the story going further, and it only makes the intensifying conflicts later on even more special. Get ready to be fully engaged by the second episode, as political strife, sword action and character development get sewn together to create a fun viewing experience.
The historical fiction show may be hard to binge, as each episode is roughly an hour long, so I would recommend taking the show in at a more casual pace. Another thing to note is that the show is very heavy with subtitles, as the language spoken in almost half of each episode is entirely in Japanese.
Not to worry though, because if one dislikes subtitles for whatever reason, Hulu offers an English dub version, which can create an easier viewing experience. Watching it with subtitles can be more immersive, though, meaning it doesn’t matter which version the viewer chooses to watch the show in, as both are great in their own ways.
The visuals in “Shogun” are arguably its greatest asset, as every shot seems to be made for the theater. The amazing cinematography, grand landscapes and epic magnitude truly make for a cinematic experience that undoubtedly stands as the main highlight of the show.
The constant clashing of cultures makes for another, as they allow the viewer to question their ideals and beliefs in an interesting fashion. I found it fascinating to know that I could enjoy a show so much, even as I was simultaneously receiving an educational lesson in cultural differences.
“Shogun” offers a wide variety of visual spectacles for the audience to engage with and only gets better as it progresses. And for any battle-hungry fans, the action is most likely only going to increase with time as the series continues with its second half. For anyone who is intrigued in the slightest and hasn’t started it yet, now is the time, as you’ll be entertained with a show you won’t forget.