Shogun

[King Bob]

We're I think three episodes in and I'm enjoying it. Money was spent on this and it looks really good. Not too much violence so far; it's more about plotting and intrigue. I don't really remember the original although I saw at least part of it, so I'm curious where it's going. I recommend it.

[Drunk Monk]

I don’t have Hulu so I’ve been waiting for it to finish. Now that’s it’s nearly finished, I must find time to binge it before I invest.

Why did you post this on Netflix?

[Greg]

I have all but the first episode recorded. Still haven't watched any.

[King Bob]

Posted here because I wasn't paying attention (Christina usually switches between services/channels) and thought it was on Netflix. If only there were an administrator to fix that.

[Drunk Monk]

If only…

[Greg]

Gref drops the ball again.

[Greg]

He's busy.

I caught the first episode and really enjoyed it. The Queen not so much. She doesn't like subtitles because it interferes with her iPad usage.

[Drunk Monk]

I really need to get around to this one.

[Drunk Monk]

3 eps in and enjoying it. 

We just swapped Peacock for Hulu now that the Olympics are over.

The violence is quick and shocking like that decapitation in the middle of ep 1. The assassination attempt in e2 was more extended but in shadow. The ambush and dock fight in e3 was noble but the choreo is middling. 

I like the style and atmosphere - it’s gorgeous to watch capturing that refined Japanese aesthetic.

It bugs me a bit that all the Japanese speak Japanese but the Spanish and Portuguese all speak English. When I’m hearing English, I’m not sure what I’m listening to.

I’m all in. Now with Hulu, there’s a ton of shows I want to watch.

[Drunk Monk]

6 eps in and still thoroughly enjoying it. It moves like an old skool chanbara - lots of political intrigue and unrequited love, then a burst of sanguineous violence, then back to that refined and purposeful Japanese style.

It’s so much about Anna Sawai. She’s delivering an intricate performance, maintaining that stoic geisha-esque composure, but letting the slightest twitch of her perfect face betray her inner tragedy. Stunning and precise.

Blackthorne plays out much better, a conflicted barbarian Englishman, trying to sort out ‘the Japans’ as he says.

I never read Shogun. My impression is based on the previous miniseries which I didn’t like because Chamberline’s take on Blackthorne was more of a white savior, a cliche I’ve always disdained but back then, there wasn’t a term for it. My take on it is more about the historical Tokugawa Ieyasu upon whom Toranaga (Sanada) was based. 

I’m now 60% done but I’m taking a break for MJF. Hopefully I’ll be able to remember where I was…

[Drunk Monk]

2 more eps down, 2 to go. It’s slowing down a bit, building tension for the big finish. 

There’s a lot of man butt in this show. Not sure why. It’s mostly post-coital man butt.

There’s also a lot of seppuku.

The main characters are all delivering excellent performances.

[King Bob]

I just started reading Giles Milton's Samurai William, about the real William Adams that the show is based on. 

The opening chapter had some background about the Portuguese in Japan, and why they are in tight with the Japanese. It's because China had a trade embargo on Japan, and the Japanese wanted Chinese silk. The Portuguese imported silk in exchange for silver, raking in tons every year, an amount estimated to be half of the Japanese annual production of silver. The "black ships" (called that by the Japanese because the hull was tarred) that did the journey to China were the largest ships on earth at the time.

[Drunk Monk]

I knew the Black Ship reference but I question the 'largest ships on earth at the time.' I though Zheng He's ships were larger, but I suppose that was a century earlier. 

Ep 9 ended with a bang. 

I'm glad that I've totally forgotten the early Chamberlain version (all I remember was that Chamberlain said 'domo' a lot) because this is all so fresh to me now and I'm really enjoying it. E9 had me on the edge of my seat. 

Looking forward to the season finale tonight.

[Drunk Monk]

Seen

The finale was more of an epilogue. It teases the distant future when Blackthorne is an old man so we know he survives. It also leaves the door ajar for season 2, but several major characters are gone so it’ll be a tough go to get this rolling again. But with its historic Emmy wins, it’s the only option.

All in all, enjoyable, not so much for the violence but for the attention to detail in the costuming and rituals. I’ll watch another season.

D00M recommended.

[Greg]

Season 2 is already greenlit and in the works.