Every so often a series comes along that dominates the conversation. It becomes a cultural touchpoint for chats by the work fridge or at the pub, and people are throwing out theories and predictions left, right and centre. Not to mention the heated arguments about which character to root for, and why. It’s been a minute since we’ve had a series like this, but Disney+ is here to stop that drought in their new mini-series Shōgun.
In a setting we don’t often see on mainstream television, Shōgun gives you epic battles, layered political manipulation, and headstrong characters serving their agendas that are hidden from everyone else (and sometimes even us) all while telling stories of love, and lust, power and, of course, betrayal. Shōgun is sweeping and blockbuster in scale, with episodes releasing weekly on Disney+ right now.
But, in case you need an extra push to dive into this stunning and ruthless world, here’s why Shōgun is your new, game-changing streaming obsession.
Discover a war-torn feudal Japan
From the very opening seconds of the first episode, Shōgun plunges you into 17th-century Japan, a land simmering with war. You’re immersed in a bygone era where samurai with deadly katanas stalk the streets, enforcing a code older than time itself. Their loyalty lies with powerful daimyo — lords — who control castles and land, each a symbol of ambition and the fight for ultimate power.
Shōgun’s setting is one of the show’s most striking elements. Beyond the architecture inspired by that of the time, Shōgun takes us everywhere across feudal Japan. From lush green valleys to the open seas to cities we know today, like Osaka, that look completely unrecognisable.
A culture clash in real-time
While Shōgun follows the lives of many key players, the fish out of water is truly John Blackthorne, played by Cosmo Jarvis. To put it bluntly – Blackthorne’s brash. Despite coming to us from a shipwreck, he steps into this completely foreign world with unabashed, and maybe foolish, courage. But therein lies the clash – this man is from a completely different world. Where he prioritises himself, those he meets prioritise honour. The slightest dishonour toward the daimyo, for example, often leads to promises of seppuku (look it up). There’s one moment involving a gardener and a bird that rocks Blackthorne to his core.
From religious clashes (Christianity vs. Shinto and Buddhism) to the role of women in 17th-century Japan, Blackthorne is consistently at odds with the culture he needs to understand to survive. Often, his only bridging gap is the skilled translator Toda Mariko, who wields more power and savvy than any of the men she serves even realise.
Battle of the five regents
When we first step into the world of Shōgun, we see a once-unified Japan being barely held together. With the death of the country’s leader, Taiko, leaving the rule split equally among five regents, tensions quickly rise. In fact, the rivalry between two of these regents — Yoshii Toranaga and Ishido Kazunari — set the stage for the entire series.
Toranaga, the regent we follow closest, is in a sticky situation. That is, until he hears of a shipwrecked English ship pilot — and skilled foreign navigator — that might be his key to unlocking a door to victory. Toranaga is also a descendant of the House of Minowara, a very powerful family in feudal Japan. He is constantly prepping for war, and gets caught up in a game of political chess that sees all five regents try and outmanoeuvre one another. It’s thrilling from the very start — and complete with brutal battles over sprawling plains and deceit that occurs under the cover of night.
If you’re ready to step into the world of Shōgun, you can stream it now on Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Topics: Disney Plus, TV
Jackson Langford