(ESP-ENG) Shōgun - Miniserie Review!
Hello friends, good vibes to all.
Few series have generated as much debate and expectation as this one has, but it is a conversation for the better because we are probably facing the best series of this 2024 and in terms of Japanese culture and everything related to them, it may be the best thing made in years. Shōgun before it premiered was already making people talk and critics considered it a real gem with only one episode. Personally I can say that it is the best I've seen in a long time in terms of history, acting, cinematography, costumes and the way they managed to show such a fascinating part of the Shogunate era in medieval Japan.
This story takes place in 1600's Japan where Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a very important lord, is in some kind of danger because his enemies are looking to conspire against him to remove him from the political scene. During this tension, a fishing boat arrives to the coast of the country from far away whose crew is under the command of John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a British pirate who unknowingly will end up being part of Toranaga's future or destiny since this European handles information that the Japanese obviously do not know because of their isolated and self-sufficient culture.
In addition to all this there is a third leg to this table and that is religion. In those times the Portuguese had an important influence in Japan through the Jesuits who came to evangelize. Evidently they are interested in power so they will also be relevant in this story. Blackthorne, not speaking Japanese, is assigned a translator, Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a woman with a top influence since she belonged to a very powerful lineage in Japan. She will soon become one of the most incisive characters in this whole story. The thing then is that this plot begins surrounded by conspiracies, calls to war, negotiations, loyalties and betrayals; all ingredients to make this story tense and full of surprises.
The first thing to highlight is how careful all the details are, but even the smallest, as far as culture is concerned. From the way of dressing, walking, serving tea, customs; the aesthetics in general. This is a plus because it denotes that it is a production of the highest quality, the visual experience is very important because in this Japan this was vital. I give as an example the Seppuku or Harakiri, a ceremony surrounded by an incredible brutality but that in the end is moved by honor and loyalty. The way they were shown to us was very real and heartfelt. Even the famous kabuki theater was represented. Really everything in this series is the details and the way they were captured in the scenes; this is what I think made the difference.
The plot as such is one that takes us through several paths, all respecting Japanese traditions and ways of thinking, proof of which was the last chapter when many of us thought that something was going to happen and the opposite ended up happening. Yes, there is an important violence very common in this context but there is also a way of handling things based on the honor I mentioned before. From beginning to end the negotiations and conspiracies do not cease, this makes the story more and more interesting, it is impossible to lose the desire to keep watching. I think it's me being a big fan of all this culture but every conversation, every poem recited, every gesture, seemed extraordinary to me and that, at least for me, made each chapter a different world.
The characters are everything. What Sanada did is spectacular, the way he mimicked this Shogun is impressive. Cosmo also did a very cool job, you have to remember that for the Japanese in those times foreigners were considered demons so that clash of cultures was good. But if there was someone who stole the show it was Anna Sawai, for me the character of the series. Everything she was seen doing on camera was honey for the eyes, her interpretation was perfect in every way, the importance of her character made her stand out a lot so that in the end she ends up being a pillar for the development of the story and its outcome. In fact, I feel that there is no weak performance, even the supporting actors stand out in their roles.
Shōgun came to be one of the best productions of recent times, you may think it is exaggerated but the truth is not, it is an audiovisual jewel that grows more thanks to its cultural, political and how to carry the art of war approaches. A miniseries, because I hope there is no second season although they are already talking about it, which is almost perfect to say the least in its entirety. For me it's 10/10 and that's it. It's something that deserves to be seen and that everyone should do it. It is available on Disney+ and consists of 10 chapters, one better than the other. In case you haven't seen it, I leave the trailer here.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos vemos en la próxima!
Well my people that's all for today, I hope you liked it.
¡A hug to everyone, see you next time!
Esta serie la vi en 1980 cuyo protagonista era Richard Chamberlaine. No se si esta nueva versión tenga la misma trama.
Si es la misma pero ya te digo que esta muy superior a aquella en todos los sentidos. Cuando puedas vela porque vale la pena.
Fabulosa. ! Una de las mejores del año. Desde ya, mi favorita para que gane varios Emmy.
Desde principales hasta secundarios. un elenco excelente. Detales bien cuidados.
Yo vi la versión de los ochenta y esta es mil veces superior, claro, esa adaptación vieja también fue muy exitosa en su momento, pero realmente esta nueva adaptación era necesaria.
Quede enamorado de Mariko
Mariko es muy top, esa escena en donde hace frente a los hombres que no la dejaban salir del castillo es de lo mejor de la serie, de verdad que la actuación de Anna es increíble.
Coincido que algunos Emmy se va a llevar por no decir todos en lo que esté nominada; desde vestuario hasta ambientación, banda sonora, todo está bien logrado.