If anyone’s wondering where the rest of the episode reactions are, I’ve decided to leave them as Patreon exclusive reactions due to how it performed on UA-cam. I definitely didn’t intend on turning this into a Patreon exclusive reaction initially. I just don’t want to post something that could hurt the channel performance overall. Regardless, I LOVED this show and am so happy I watched it!
youve had several other show and movie series do worse on ur channel. Starting a series then stopping the uploads on youtube because it didnt live up to ur standards is weird.
This show nails the language barrier; giving the foreigners and the Japanese equally impactful conversations in parallel, and letting us see the third person as translator subtly change the phrasing to better suit what they want in the situation. And I like how they accurately depict Japanese anger. No cursewords or over reliance on yelling, but subtle choice of words that cut you to your core like it's light-work.
Hiroyuki Sanada isn’t just the lead actor he’s also one of the hands on producers on the show. He wanted an absolutely accurate depiction of 1600 Japan, so he brought on historians and experts in Japanese etiquette to make sure everything was absolutely perfect for that era. Plus, Hiroyuki is not only one of the best and most charismatic actors around but with his world class sword fighting and martial arts skills, he’s practically a samurai in real life. They literally couldn’t have picked a better person for the job.
Sananda-san was also a strong voice in the production of 'The Last Samurai' - and a lot of other Hollywood movies that portray Japan. He always fights for a more accurate portrayal of Japanese history and culture in whatever he's involved with, volunteering as a consultant to work with the producers and directors to make the production more respectful and accurate.
Toranaga treats Anjin like his favorite hawk. Tires him out, keeps him confounded by blinds and jess, and feeds him from his own hand. In this way, he creates a weapon no other regent has. The book makes the comparison more obvious.
Like Natalie said, one could also argue that Toranaga himself is like the falcon. He told his son about how it conceals itself against the sun while looking for the perfect moment to strike at its prey, and he himself is concealing his true intentions/secret heart from everyone while looking for the perfect opportunities to make his moves.
As a lover of Japanese culture and films, there is SO MUCH to love about Shogun! The attention to detail, the authenticity of the culture, the subtle/nuanced and layered performances by the entire cast, and the intriguing story and action sequences are all a sight to behold.
AND it’s amazing they filmed in Canada. Parts literally oozes Japan yet it’s Canada. I’m so happy when I see practical sets and cast physically interacting with their environment.
A big part to take in is that the higher ups and their actions are interpreted by the common man as religiously ordained by fate, and their gods, to happen. Which oc fueled the generations of Japanese jihads that we get these badass stories from
It also means he is trusted enough to bear arms in the presence of Toranaga -- and that gives Blackthorne both social and military rank. And that provides insight onto the diving scene. While it is *also* wholesome, it gave Toranaga a way to show off the strength and skill of his new bannerman, and designate him as someone worthy enough to *learn from* .
@@michaellockhart554 and the old spy. That's a hatamoto, too. Like most ninja. The most renowned Ninja was a Daimyo. His name was Hattori Hanzo, he was a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Other Hatamoto would be the guards of the Daimyo's tent. Who would ride beside him in battle. Of course it depends on the power of a Daimyo, how many Hatamoto a Daimyo would have. But in this chase, I would say that Toranaga would have a thousand hatamoto at that point. The historical figure, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had 10.000 Hatamoto after he became Shogun.
@@jarlnils435 Hattori Hanzo is quite special among ninjas. Hanzo is an Iga ninja who was given a castle when Ieyasu became a ruler, but since ninjas are basically secret agents, this kind of treatment is very rare.
Women of Samurai families were often taught martial forms of combat from early childhood. The weapon/polearm she picked up is called a Naginata which women were particularly trained in. In trained hands it can be a devastating weapon in combat even when outnumbered. While most women in the Edo Period of Japan had absolutely no agency those from high born bloodlines were extraordinarily gifted in politics and were very often very very influential advisors to their Lords
31:46 In this time of Japanese history (and even centuries earlier when the samurai were first formed), wives and female servants of samurai were often trained to fight to defend their estates and castles. The naginata (the spear with the sword blade affixed to the end that Mariko was wielding) was mostly their weapon of choice but they could also shoot from a bow (Japanese bows were a lot lighter and much more flexible than European bows, thus allowing women to fire them as well) and use knives and short swords. There are a lot of legends surrounding female samurai throughout the centuries, and so, while Japanese culture during this time period was just as sexist as most of the world, they still honor and value women's courage and skill when it comes to fighting. Japan has many Joan of Arcs and Boudicca's in their history.
Training wives to use a polearm is actually so smart. Reach and leverage helps to mitigate the strength difference between a homemaker and a soldier, and allows them to stall for as long as possible before death so that they can call for reinforcements.
34:03 Edo was a major city during this time, some even calling it "the capital in the East" while Kyoto was still the original capital being the palace of the Emperor. It would soon become one of the largest and densely populated cities in the world: Tokyo. So...yeah, what he is saying is a big deal.
He was also the lead in Ichi the Killer (despite not being the titular character, he's just that good) and after that I'm 0% surprised that he was perfect for this role
This is a series in which multiple watches per episode are necessary...and worthy of one's time. Yes, this miniseries is that good. Great reactions. Looking forward to seeing the remainder of episodes completed.
You're hooked! As an English Literature Major, and Japanese Religion and History Major I'm obsessed despite the iteration and intentional allegory of the history of the story.
I watched the 1980 miniseries when I was in high school, and really enjoyed it -- along with most of the people in the United States. My mom also loved historical fiction, so we had the book in the house and I read that afterward. As one might expect, I discovered that a miniseries broadcast on NBC network television in 1980 had to leave out *a lot* . 😮 That said, it generated unprecedented interest in Japanese culture that persists to this day. That all *started* with the 1980 miniseries. 😊 Because this miniseries shows on a subscription streaming service, the production doesn't face nearly the same constraints. As such, it can (and does) explore the highs and lows of human experience, as well as the fraught nature of cross-cultural misunderstanding, in ways the original miniseries could never have gotten away with. Highly recommended. This is the best thing I've seen since "The Expanse."
The book is great (I've read it several times) and the original miniseries is pretty faithful to the book. This new series has been updated a little to be more historically accurate but overall I feel it does a good job at telling the main narrative~ I'm just glad the new series has created so much hype for a book that I love~ Thanks for giving it a go~
@@novAviator01 I get that but the whole mariko and john shenanigans was given far too much time ... I want to spend more time with the other characters as well
I spent a lot of my life finding and absorbing every old school samurai film I could find. There are sooo many great classic samurai films, and this series scratches that itch in a way that I haven't felt for a long time. It's a beautifully shot and well acted show so far. They hooked me too.
One little note: you said that Toranaga was taking a risk on John's life when he was put in the prison. Nope. He was one step ahead. In the book, we learn that Toranaga had men in the prison to protect the Anjin & to lead him to meet the Spanish priest. Toranaga knew about the priest, but couldn't touch him because the priest was the Taiko's prisoner, so out of bounds for anyone else. He killed 2 birds with one stone.
What a GREAT surprise. I lived in Japan for 3 years and studied Japanese History with a focus on the Sengoku Period. Though the names have been changed to protect the innocent... LOL... this an excellent and far less complicated representation of what it took to survive in the Edo period and to ultimately rule... for the next two hundred and sixty five years. I had the good fortune of having a Japanese mother in law who exposed me to some excellent Japanese historical mini series including "Môri Motonari" (1997.) In comparison to a period master piece like "MM97" , this production is superb.
I feel *Blessed* to have witnessed the first 'Shogun' broadcast across the open airwaves, so many decades ago. Also bought and have read/reread the book so many times, it's literally falling apart! Seeing some of the 'Reactions' to this remake has me intrigued. Obviously the quality of the episodes is outstanding, and from what I can tell, they're honoring the book.
This show really is something special. I have to watch each episode twice, which I am super cool with. Once to get to grips with the story and subtitles, the second, to marvel at the sheer beauty of if all.
The cool thing about all this is that this story is based off real life events. And I love how close to detail they have gotten. Even have the beautiful graceful walk, the women do. It's like they are floating.
I watched the mini series a few times in the 80's while I was a kid. I don't remember much, but remember the excitement when watching. I'm so happy to see this new version as an adult and having those same feelings. Glad you're reacting to this great series. Was waiting for your video ❤
In the 1970s and 1980s, television miniseries were huge events that were fully part of the national consciousness. Roots was probably the most famous of all, but Shogun was an enormous success as well. North and South, V (which became a series as well), The Winds of War / War and Remembrance, Lonesome Dove, and The Thorn Birds were others that were extremely famous at the time.
I was obsessed with V. Mom liked The Thorn Birds. I also remember Bangkok Hilton being pretty big. The theme song for Winds of War still plays in my head from time to time.
Fun fact! Shogun is based on real Japanese history, specifically the earlier Edo period, with Yoshii Torinaga being based on a famous Japanese figure called Tokugawa Ieyasu! The author changed the names so he didn't feel as restricted to the real history but I'd still recommend not looking into the history until you've seen the whole thing or you might get spoilers 😂
yeah, from what I know and understand, the author might have changed the names and such to give himself narrative freedom, but he ended up following the history rather closely, not to mention that he did use proper historical and folklore figures in the novel, so knowing the history of it all will definitely spoil the outcome
And since you've said this, there's a koan I post that is taught to children about the 3 great unifiers of Japan. They are asked what they would do about a bird they were given that did not sing Oda Nobunaga (Karoda in the book) says "kill it" Toyotomi Hideyoshi (The Taiko) says "coax it to sing" Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toronaga) says "wait"
Toranaga having his eyes open during the sunrise while Yabushige was squinting isn't accident. It's meant to represent Toranaga's ability to see the bigger picture, the future of Japan as he envisions, while Yabushige only partially sees it, hence his wavering allegiances.
YESSSSS I just watched Episode 5 this morning and holy shit this is so good. It's got an added layer of meaning for me because I majored in Asian Studies so I know some of the history that Shogun is based on, AND I can understand some of the Japanese as well as some of the cultural aspects.
I suggest also watching the original, which is even better (for its time). Ive studied Japanese for 3 years at University and this series is pretty good. Not accurate at all, but you get a good feeling of what it was like in terms of social components. Also Hatamoto means he is a member of the personal staff of Toranaga which is an insanely high honour
I also got emotional at Buntaro's scene on the harbour. I wasn't remotely attached to his character or story but the sheer respect and honor between him and his Lord in that moment was beautiful. The strength his wife showed was heartbreaking.
It’s not that Toranaga doesn’t want power, he just wants to be in a position to hold it first. He just knew that if the Taiko made him sole regent, the other lords would unite and easily overthrow him. Toranaga’s strategy is to accrue strength but project weakness.
I also liked Yabu in this remake. Great character. In the original series he was portrayed by Frankie Sakai. You should watch the "old" adaptation as well. It's worth it. Seeing Mifune Toshiro at work is just a delight. *edit* Almost forgot John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from LotR) as Vasco Rodrigues. Also, worth the watch!
I can remember watching the 80s miniseries with my parents (Love you mom 💔) and its an amazing show!! Hiroyuki Sanada has driven the development of this and DEMANDED it be kept as accurate as possible for 1600s Japan! They're even speaking a more formal version of Japanese than what is typically spoken today :) You're in for a treat with this show :)
In the book and the original miniseries Yabu's ... execution ... of that sailors goes on for FOREVER. It was called "The Night of a Thousand Screams" and its mercifully brief in this! 😂🤣😂
I love this book! Read it 5 or more times over the years. From what I see here, the show seems like a pretty faithful adaptation. The book is pretty dern thick, so we may get plenty of episodes out of it
What I like about this series is that it’s based on historical events. There was an English sailor who landed in Japan who did indeed became a samurai and helped shaped events due to his influence 🤔
I don't think a show has been able to capture people's attention this well since maybe Game of Thrones or The Boys. You can tell that the showrunners and whole crew put real love into making this as authentic as possible.
This show got me so hooked in the first 2 episodes that I went and bought the book, I've almost finished it, and I'm really looking forward to the final 2 episodes of the show. As someone who doesn't like sub shows, this show has kept me so engaged and left me wanting more with every episode.
Personally, as someone who has watched Samurai films, been obsessed with Japanese cinema and culture, "Shogun" is one of those shows that truly deserves all the recognition. Hiroyuki Sanada and the company did a beautiful job portraying their beautiful culture and history for the screen in the most respectful and historically accurate way possible. This show deserves an Emmy!
At the begining, after the conquest of the Sultaned ofMalaca by yhr portuguese, the chinese govermente looked to the portuguese with distruss, trade with Portugal was closed, but some merchants made trade with Portugal through smuglling. When japanese pirates begin to raid the south China sea, the portuguese took action against the japanese pirates, this cought the atention of the chinese emperor. The emperor decided to give Macao to the portuguese and autorize trade betwen the two nations, in exchange the portuguese would have to patrol and secure the China sea along with Macao. The treaty was called the Trearty of Tordesilhas,mediated by the church, just a little while Columbus arrived to the Americas, if not for the treaty Portugal and Spain would be at war every where around the globe.
Treaty of Tordesillas divided the New World between the Spanish and Portuguese, while the Treaty of Zaragoza divided Asia between the two, with Japan falling on the Portuguese side.
True, but the intention was the same, when the Portuguese arrived at the Moluscas island the spanish were already there,so, there were a clash of arms, the spanish were victorious, when news of the conflict reach the church everybody knew that there going to be war...and so they decided to interven...every time the church didi so they wanted a piece...take notice that in the show, captain Ferriara says«...i don´t work for the church, i work for the crown...» @@Gameflyer001
@Filipe8775 É o Tratado de Saragoça Filipe, Tordesilhas foi quando o Papa dividiu o mundo entre Portugal e Espanha e nós que já sabíamos a localização do Brasil calámo-nos muito caladinhos...
@@Filipe8775 E eu também Filipe, nós já conhecíamos era a posição de Cabo Verde no mapa da costa africana, o Brasil ainda era "segredo". Mas no Tratado de Tordesilhas a parte da Ásia onde está o Japão foi-nos "entregue" por isso foi um erro relativo.Cumprimentos
Just finished this finally. I have Japanese family and they gave this a thumbs up. Such an impressive production. Great acting. Great story. Great illustration of an insane society trapped in a cycle of toxic protocol, ritual, and blind obedience.
As an old fart I saw the original on TV back when so the story has no surprises to offer. This one is so well done and brilliantly acted you just gotta love it. Fumi winning it all for me. Love her.
I've read the book twice and watched the 80s series multiple times. This version of the show is very, very well done and even though some scenes are different they still get the point across. It isn't a 1:1 comparison but I have to say I am impressed with everything in this show. After watching this show, I highly recommend watching the 80s version.
At the risk of repeating another post, Hatamoto translates to Banner Bearer, basically it is a vassal that stands next to the clan leader under his banner in time of war, making Blackthorne the highest ranking person other than Hiromatsu, the old guy who is Toronaga's general
Your comments on the theme in the 1st episode (only one I've seen so far) of facing death are spot on, actually. I hadn't thought about it but it's touched on very frequently in the episode in all of the storylines. Rather humourously you even have the Catholic priest (?) facing away (ie unaware) of his own death.
Lame af that it's being locked behind patreon after uploading the 1/3. Like why even bother at that point. When you're in it for the money I guess there's a loss of interest in actually doing something for the viewers.
kinda random but I just wanted to say thank you natalie. you don't know me but I just wanted you to know how much your reactions have helped me. I've been having a hard adjustment time in the military and with friends leaving your lively reactions have been one of the biggest helps in making my days a little less quiet because of how it feels like we as the viewers are watching it right there with you. please dont ever stop creating content :))
This is one of the best shows I've seen in a while. If you want to see another show about a westerner being really confused about how Japan works I recommend "Tokyo Vice". Inspired by true events in a more modern era, but also a really good show.
my biggest surprise so far has been the lady that plays Fuji. so has relatively few lines yet she emotes so powerfully with her eyes and expressions. she has strong scenes to play even if she's not given a ton of lines to act out in them.
A beautiful intelligent "slightly expressive" young woman I've been subscribed to for years... can't think of a better person to review this new series I'm in love with ❤❤❤
Oddly the English at that time were not interested in taking over other people's countries, they had no Empire at that time, just a colony in North America, that was failing. The Spanish had just failed to invade England, and the English retaliation had resulted in the destruction of the English fleet. So they were at war with Spain and Portugal. Anything they could do to put a spoke in the wheel of their enemies, and of course make some booty on the way, that they would share with the Crown Elizabeth the 1st.
Your stuff is so well done the edits and the fact that I love your reactions 🤙🏽I’m so proud of my Asian stars really shining I saw the original and read the book in high school 😂
I'm hooked on the show, the official podcast is also worth listening to about how they put the show together and level of care and love for the original material and to make it as authentic as possible.
24:26 You have to realize that, while there is a system of honour, there is also a system of people maintaining their own agendas. Also, this wasn't the information age where word travels fast. So, it's easier to control information. Toranaga didn't even know about this treaty until he asked Blackthorne about the world. This is really good show about how misinformation is used to destabilize basically the shogunate, be it for someone's personal reasons or otherwise. Edit: In the end, Toranaga was wise to use Blackthorne as a distraction, because he knew that Blackthorne's presence was enough of a distraction.
such an amazing series so far! ♥ my only small quibble is them using english in place of portuguese 'guess we know who the buzzkill of the family is' 😃 Blackthorne has quite the way with insults! 😃
There's a lot of real history in the Shogun series. And almost every major character is based on a real person. In real history, where was no Toronaga. But there WAS an Ieyasu Tokogawa, who is basically the same person. And there really was a warlord who conquered the whole country, but died with an infant heir, and did appoint a council or regents to rule Japan until his son grew up. All of that is true. And there really was a lot of power play among the regents, centered around Tokogawa and Ishida (not Ishido, as in the series, but Ishida). . There even was an Englishman named William Adams, who was stranded in Japan and did become a member of Tokogawa's court. And taught him a lot about the Western world. So while a lot of the story is fictionalized, and the historical characters are replaced by fictional analogues with similar names, but it's still seeped in a lot of real history and real events.
TBH I am a huge fan of the 1980 Mini Series. This series is well done, but the additional information of the original makes much more sense at what is happening in the show. As a side note I actually learned to understand and speak some basic Japanese, as Mariko was teaching Anjin-san in the original.
Blackthorne isn’t trying to claim Japan for England. He works for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to open up trade with Japan. Historically, the VOC indeed displaced the Portuguese for the next few hundred years.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Don't Lose Your Heads! | SHOGUN [1x1] (REACTION)](/img/n.gif)
If anyone’s wondering where the rest of the episode reactions are, I’ve decided to leave them as Patreon exclusive reactions due to how it performed on UA-cam.
I definitely didn’t intend on turning this into a Patreon exclusive reaction initially. I just don’t want to post something that could hurt the channel performance overall.
Regardless, I LOVED this show and am so happy I watched it!
Well, i guess i'm not watching it.
Oh... Well that sucks.
Well that’s devastating
youve had several other show and movie series do worse on ur channel. Starting a series then stopping the uploads on youtube because it didnt live up to ur standards is weird.
@@unculturedswine2154 And there's no reason to continue a practice that hurts the channel
This show nails the language barrier; giving the foreigners and the Japanese equally impactful conversations in parallel, and letting us see the third person as translator subtly change the phrasing to better suit what they want in the situation.
And I like how they accurately depict Japanese anger. No cursewords or over reliance on yelling, but subtle choice of words that cut you to your core like it's light-work.
Hiroyuki Sanada isn’t just the lead actor he’s also one of the hands on producers on the show. He wanted an absolutely accurate depiction of 1600 Japan, so he brought on historians and experts in Japanese etiquette to make sure everything was absolutely perfect for that era.
Plus, Hiroyuki is not only one of the best and most charismatic actors around but with his world class sword fighting and martial arts skills, he’s practically a samurai in real life. They literally couldn’t have picked a better person for the job.
I heard he also stayed in a Best Western hotel before.
The tiny innaccuracies that do appear are so benign as not to matter, it really is a great accomplishment.
Sananda-san was also a strong voice in the production of 'The Last Samurai' - and a lot of other Hollywood movies that portray Japan. He always fights for a more accurate portrayal of Japanese history and culture in whatever he's involved with, volunteering as a consultant to work with the producers and directors to make the production more respectful and accurate.
If anyone could walk in the footsteps of the legendary Toshrio Mifune, who portrayed Toranaga in the mini series, it would be Hiroyuki.
Toranaga treats Anjin like his favorite hawk. Tires him out, keeps him confounded by blinds and jess, and feeds him from his own hand. In this way, he creates a weapon no other regent has. The book makes the comparison more obvious.
Some fav parts were Yabu being a madman.
Machiavellian as hell
Yep And Mariko is the falcon
Like Natalie said, one could also argue that Toranaga himself is like the falcon. He told his son about how it conceals itself against the sun while looking for the perfect moment to strike at its prey, and he himself is concealing his true intentions/secret heart from everyone while looking for the perfect opportunities to make his moves.
As a lover of Japanese culture and films, there is SO MUCH to love about Shogun! The attention to detail, the authenticity of the culture, the subtle/nuanced and layered performances by the entire cast, and the intriguing story and action sequences are all a sight to behold.
You’re what people call a Weeb. Ever wonder why Japanese people aren’t infatuated with other cultures?
AND it’s amazing they filmed in Canada. Parts literally oozes Japan yet it’s Canada. I’m so happy when I see practical sets and cast physically interacting with their environment.
A big part to take in is that the higher ups and their actions are interpreted by the common man as religiously ordained by fate, and their gods, to happen. Which oc fueled the generations of Japanese jihads that we get these badass stories from
It’s so cool that you were invited to check out the red carpet premiere of the first episode. Hiroyuki Sawada contributed a lot into making this show.
He is really proud of this show and that was enough for me to check this out
38:10 Hatamoto means something like Bannerman and is one of ranks among the vassals of a Daimyō (feudal lord).
It also means he is trusted enough to bear arms in the presence of Toranaga -- and that gives Blackthorne both social and military rank.
And that provides insight onto the diving scene. While it is *also* wholesome, it gave Toranaga a way to show off the strength and skill of his new bannerman, and designate him as someone worthy enough to *learn from* .
The rank and status is such that the only person, within Toronaga's circle, higher than Blackthorne is Lord Toda Hiromatsu, Toronaga's main general
@@michaellockhart554 and the old spy. That's a hatamoto, too. Like most ninja. The most renowned Ninja was a Daimyo. His name was Hattori Hanzo, he was a vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Other Hatamoto would be the guards of the Daimyo's tent. Who would ride beside him in battle. Of course it depends on the power of a Daimyo, how many Hatamoto a Daimyo would have. But in this chase, I would say that Toranaga would have a thousand hatamoto at that point. The historical figure, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had 10.000 Hatamoto after he became Shogun.
@@jarlnils435 Hattori Hanzo is quite special among ninjas. Hanzo is an Iga ninja who was given a castle when Ieyasu became a ruler, but since ninjas are basically secret agents, this kind of treatment is very rare.
Women of Samurai families were often taught martial forms of combat from early childhood. The weapon/polearm she picked up is called a Naginata which women were particularly trained in. In trained hands it can be a devastating weapon in combat even when outnumbered. While most women in the Edo Period of Japan had absolutely no agency those from high born bloodlines were extraordinarily gifted in politics and were very often very very influential advisors to their Lords
31:46 In this time of Japanese history (and even centuries earlier when the samurai were first formed), wives and female servants of samurai were often trained to fight to defend their estates and castles. The naginata (the spear with the sword blade affixed to the end that Mariko was wielding) was mostly their weapon of choice but they could also shoot from a bow (Japanese bows were a lot lighter and much more flexible than European bows, thus allowing women to fire them as well) and use knives and short swords. There are a lot of legends surrounding female samurai throughout the centuries, and so, while Japanese culture during this time period was just as sexist as most of the world, they still honor and value women's courage and skill when it comes to fighting. Japan has many Joan of Arcs and Boudicca's in their history.
Training wives to use a polearm is actually so smart. Reach and leverage helps to mitigate the strength difference between a homemaker and a soldier, and allows them to stall for as long as possible before death so that they can call for reinforcements.
One of the best epic samurai miniseries ever made.
Finally one of my favourite reactors watching Shogun!
34:03 Edo was a major city during this time, some even calling it "the capital in the East" while Kyoto was still the original capital being the palace of the Emperor. It would soon become one of the largest and densely populated cities in the world: Tokyo. So...yeah, what he is saying is a big deal.
In a time when most modern television and movies are found wanting, Shogun is an absolute breath of fresh air.
The actor playing Yabushige also played one of Thor's companions in the Marvel movies, Hogun.
Some Japan cinema royalty in this one, for sure. Waiting for cameos from Ken Watanabe and Takeshi Kaneshiro.
He's also the new raiden in MK movie
Wow. What a waste of an amazing actor. He is amazing in this and I don’t even remember him in the Thor movies.
Also played Kakihara in Ichi the Killer. Legend!
He was also the lead in Ichi the Killer (despite not being the titular character, he's just that good) and after that I'm 0% surprised that he was perfect for this role
This is a series in which multiple watches per episode are necessary...and worthy of one's time.
Yes, this miniseries is that good.
Great reactions. Looking forward to seeing the remainder of episodes completed.
You're hooked! As an English Literature Major, and Japanese Religion and History Major I'm obsessed despite the iteration and intentional allegory of the history of the story.
I watched the 1980 miniseries when I was in high school, and really enjoyed it -- along with most of the people in the United States.
My mom also loved historical fiction, so we had the book in the house and I read that afterward.
As one might expect, I discovered that a miniseries broadcast on NBC network television in 1980 had to leave out *a lot* . 😮
That said, it generated unprecedented interest in Japanese culture that persists to this day. That all *started* with the 1980 miniseries. 😊
Because this miniseries shows on a subscription streaming service, the production doesn't face nearly the same constraints. As such, it can (and does) explore the highs and lows of human experience, as well as the fraught nature of cross-cultural misunderstanding, in ways the original miniseries could never have gotten away with.
Highly recommended. This is the best thing I've seen since "The Expanse."
Yes. I remember liking the original series in HS. 😀
Amazing! So cool you're enjoying as well. I read the book several years ago and I cannot believe how good they made the series so far.
The book is great (I've read it several times) and the original miniseries is pretty faithful to the book. This new series has been updated a little to be more historically accurate but overall I feel it does a good job at telling the main narrative~ I'm just glad the new series has created so much hype for a book that I love~ Thanks for giving it a go~
This show is so good. Im glad you are watching it! Impatiently waiting for episode 6 now 🤣
Episode 5 was ass though, hope it gets better
@@bernabasnegera8464 How so?
@@bernabasnegera8464what are you talking about? there was tremendous character growth
@@novAviator01 I get that but the whole mariko and john shenanigans was given far too much time ... I want to spend more time with the other characters as well
Superb show, happy you’re watching it.
Shogun is fantastic! I'm up to episode 5 and it has been amazing!
I spent a lot of my life finding and absorbing every old school samurai film I could find. There are sooo many great classic samurai films, and this series scratches that itch in a way that I haven't felt for a long time.
It's a beautifully shot and well acted show so far. They hooked me too.
One little note: you said that Toranaga was taking a risk on John's life when he was put in the prison. Nope. He was one step ahead. In the book, we learn that Toranaga had men in the prison to protect the Anjin & to lead him to meet the Spanish priest. Toranaga knew about the priest, but couldn't touch him because the priest was the Taiko's prisoner, so out of bounds for anyone else. He killed 2 birds with one stone.
What a GREAT surprise. I lived in Japan for 3 years and studied Japanese History with a focus on the Sengoku Period. Though the names have been changed to protect the innocent... LOL... this an excellent and far less complicated representation of what it took to survive in the Edo period and to ultimately rule... for the next two hundred and sixty five years. I had the good fortune of having a Japanese mother in law who exposed me to some excellent Japanese historical mini series including "Môri Motonari" (1997.) In comparison to a period master piece like "MM97" , this production is superb.
I feel *Blessed* to have witnessed the first 'Shogun' broadcast across the open airwaves, so many decades ago. Also bought and have read/reread the book so many times, it's literally falling apart! Seeing some of the 'Reactions' to this remake has me intrigued. Obviously the quality of the episodes is outstanding, and from what I can tell, they're honoring the book.
Whoa, Shogun is a remake? When’d the original come out?
This show really is something special. I have to watch each episode twice, which I am super cool with. Once to get to grips with the story and subtitles, the second, to marvel at the sheer beauty of if all.
The cool thing about all this is that this story is based off real life events. And I love how close to detail they have gotten. Even have the beautiful graceful walk, the women do. It's like they are floating.
I watched the mini series a few times in the 80's while I was a kid. I don't remember much, but remember the excitement when watching. I'm so happy to see this new version as an adult and having those same feelings. Glad you're reacting to this great series. Was waiting for your video ❤
In the 1970s and 1980s, television miniseries were huge events that were fully part of the national consciousness. Roots was probably the most famous of all, but Shogun was an enormous success as well. North and South, V (which became a series as well), The Winds of War / War and Remembrance, Lonesome Dove, and The Thorn Birds were others that were extremely famous at the time.
I was obsessed with V. Mom liked The Thorn Birds. I also remember Bangkok Hilton being pretty big.
The theme song for Winds of War still plays in my head from time to time.
Don't forget I, Claudius
Fun fact! Shogun is based on real Japanese history, specifically the earlier Edo period, with Yoshii Torinaga being based on a famous Japanese figure called Tokugawa Ieyasu!
The author changed the names so he didn't feel as restricted to the real history but I'd still recommend not looking into the history until you've seen the whole thing or you might get spoilers 😂
yeah, from what I know and understand, the author might have changed the names and such to give himself narrative freedom, but he ended up following the history rather closely, not to mention that he did use proper historical and folklore figures in the novel, so knowing the history of it all will definitely spoil the outcome
And John Blackthorne is based off William Adams
@@MrFredstt HEAVILY based on him from what I've read
And since you've said this, there's a koan I post that is taught to children about the 3 great unifiers of Japan. They are asked what they would do about a bird they were given that did not sing
Oda Nobunaga (Karoda in the book) says "kill it"
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (The Taiko) says "coax it to sing"
Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toronaga) says "wait"
@@michaellockhart554that's hardcore. Japan is a great counter-argument for those fools who say manly men shouldn't read poetry.
Making Anjin take a bath without telling him to
Shogun has done everything near perfectly! What a great mini-series they've put together.
We need more quality shows like this!
Yabushige is easily my favorite character😅 his facial expressions sure everything you don't need to know Japanese to understand
I love how he and the anjin have a whole relationship that's entirely built on the bro code.
Blackthorne's "hello there" really sounds like Ben Kenobi's "hello there" when he saw R2D2.
As far as I can tell, this is the most authentic representation of ancient Japan ever put to film.
@@hafor2846 🙄 lol sorry, EDIT “representation of end of Azuchi-Momoyama Period Japan.”
Toranaga having his eyes open during the sunrise while Yabushige was squinting isn't accident. It's meant to represent Toranaga's ability to see the bigger picture, the future of Japan as he envisions, while Yabushige only partially sees it, hence his wavering allegiances.
Nice catch on that first scene with Toranaga. It pretty much captures the essential nature of his character and overall strategy...😊
Glad you are enjoying the show.
Oh man, so glad you’re doing this one. It’s sooooo good!
YESSSSS
I just watched Episode 5 this morning and holy shit this is so good. It's got an added layer of meaning for me because I majored in Asian Studies so I know some of the history that Shogun is based on, AND I can understand some of the Japanese as well as some of the cultural aspects.
Each episode just gets better. But yes, episode 5 was spectacular.
The first miniseries with Richard Chamberlain is pretty good too, worth a watch.
yes yes yes, so glad to see you adding this!
It's a truly amazing series. ❤
Hell yeah! Nat’s watching Shogun.
I suggest also watching the original, which is even better (for its time). Ive studied Japanese for 3 years at University and this series is pretty good. Not accurate at all, but you get a good feeling of what it was like in terms of social components. Also Hatamoto means he is a member of the personal staff of Toranaga which is an insanely high honour
I also got emotional at Buntaro's scene on the harbour. I wasn't remotely attached to his character or story but the sheer respect and honor between him and his Lord in that moment was beautiful. The strength his wife showed was heartbreaking.
Oh, Nat, you’re in for treat! This show is fantastic!
It’s not that Toranaga doesn’t want power, he just wants to be in a position to hold it first. He just knew that if the Taiko made him sole regent, the other lords would unite and easily overthrow him.
Toranaga’s strategy is to accrue strength but project weakness.
I also liked Yabu in this remake. Great character. In the original series he was portrayed by Frankie Sakai. You should watch the "old" adaptation as well. It's worth it. Seeing Mifune Toshiro at work is just a delight.
*edit* Almost forgot John Rhys-Davies (Gimli from LotR) as Vasco Rodrigues. Also, worth the watch!
This show is amazing
I can remember watching the 80s miniseries with my parents (Love you mom 💔) and its an amazing show!!
Hiroyuki Sanada has driven the development of this and DEMANDED it be kept as accurate as possible for 1600s Japan! They're even speaking a more formal version of Japanese than what is typically spoken today :)
You're in for a treat with this show :)
In the book and the original miniseries Yabu's ... execution ... of that sailors goes on for FOREVER. It was called "The Night of a Thousand Screams" and its mercifully brief in this! 😂🤣😂
I love this book! Read it 5 or more times over the years. From what I see here, the show seems like a pretty faithful adaptation. The book is pretty dern thick, so we may get plenty of episodes out of it
What I like about this series is that it’s based on historical events. There was an English sailor who landed in Japan who did indeed became a samurai and helped shaped events due to his influence 🤔
I am SO glad you're watching this. It's been so amazing.
I don't think a show has been able to capture people's attention this well since maybe Game of Thrones or The Boys.
You can tell that the showrunners and whole crew put real love into making this as authentic as possible.
This show got me so hooked in the first 2 episodes that I went and bought the book, I've almost finished it, and I'm really looking forward to the final 2 episodes of the show.
As someone who doesn't like sub shows, this show has kept me so engaged and left me wanting more with every episode.
Gets invited to red carpet says she loves show but puts up half, the disrespect
Personally, as someone who has watched Samurai films, been obsessed with Japanese cinema and culture, "Shogun" is one of those shows that truly deserves all the recognition. Hiroyuki Sanada and the company did a beautiful job portraying their beautiful culture and history for the screen in the most respectful and historically accurate way possible. This show deserves an Emmy!
At the begining, after the conquest of the Sultaned ofMalaca by yhr portuguese, the chinese govermente looked to the portuguese with distruss, trade with Portugal was closed, but some merchants made trade with Portugal through smuglling. When japanese pirates begin to raid the south China sea, the portuguese took action against the japanese pirates, this cought the atention of the chinese emperor.
The emperor decided to give Macao to the portuguese and autorize trade betwen the two nations, in exchange the portuguese would have to patrol and secure the China sea along with Macao.
The treaty was called the Trearty of Tordesilhas,mediated by the church, just a little while Columbus arrived to the Americas, if not for the treaty Portugal and Spain would be at war every where around the globe.
Treaty of Tordesillas divided the New World between the Spanish and Portuguese, while the Treaty of Zaragoza divided Asia between the two, with Japan falling on the Portuguese side.
True, but the intention was the same, when the Portuguese arrived at the Moluscas island the spanish were already there,so, there were a clash of arms, the spanish were victorious, when news of the conflict reach the church everybody knew that there going to be war...and so they decided to interven...every time the church didi so they wanted a piece...take notice that in the show, captain Ferriara says«...i don´t work for the church, i work for the crown...»
@@Gameflyer001
@Filipe8775 É o Tratado de Saragoça Filipe, Tordesilhas foi quando o Papa dividiu o mundo entre Portugal e Espanha e nós que já sabíamos a localização do Brasil calámo-nos muito caladinhos...
@@isabelsilva62023 verdade enganei-me... my bad...
@@Filipe8775 E eu também Filipe, nós já conhecíamos era a posição de Cabo Verde no mapa da costa africana, o Brasil ainda era "segredo". Mas no Tratado de Tordesilhas a parte da Ásia onde está o Japão foi-nos "entregue" por isso foi um erro relativo.Cumprimentos
Just finished this finally. I have Japanese family and they gave this a thumbs up. Such an impressive production. Great acting. Great story. Great illustration of an insane society trapped in a cycle of toxic protocol, ritual, and blind obedience.
A superb new miniseries based on my favourite novel 🎉
Awesome reaction of my favorite episode of Shogun!!!!!😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
As an old fart I saw the original on TV back when so the story has no surprises to offer. This one is so well done and brilliantly acted you just gotta love it. Fumi winning it all for me. Love her.
The opening scne of episode 3 skyrocketed my respect for Toranaga through the roof.
So glad you're watching this series!
Really enjoyed watching this show with Nat. She's up to episode 4 over on her Patreon if you can't wait for more 😊
Loved your commentary and reaction to Shogun. Will be back for more. Keep up the great work.
Such a good show, every episode is 🔥🔥
I've read the book twice and watched the 80s series multiple times. This version of the show is very, very well done and even though some scenes are different they still get the point across. It isn't a 1:1 comparison but I have to say I am impressed with everything in this show.
After watching this show, I highly recommend watching the 80s version.
Absolutely loving this show so far. 3 episodes in. 😊
Been waiting for this reaction since you posted about the premiere. Super excited!
At the risk of repeating another post, Hatamoto translates to Banner Bearer, basically it is a vassal that stands next to the clan leader under his banner in time of war, making Blackthorne the highest ranking person other than Hiromatsu, the old guy who is Toronaga's general
netflix has ruined my ability to wait a week for each episode i dont know what to do with myself inbetween them now
Your comments on the theme in the 1st episode (only one I've seen so far) of facing death are spot on, actually. I hadn't thought about it but it's touched on very frequently in the episode in all of the storylines. Rather humourously you even have the Catholic priest (?) facing away (ie unaware) of his own death.
Lame af that it's being locked behind patreon after uploading the 1/3. Like why even bother at that point. When you're in it for the money I guess there's a loss of interest in actually doing something for the viewers.
kinda random but I just wanted to say thank you natalie. you don't know me but I just wanted you to know how much your reactions have helped me. I've been having a hard adjustment time in the military and with friends leaving your lively reactions have been one of the biggest helps in making my days a little less quiet because of how it feels like we as the viewers are watching it right there with you. please dont ever stop creating content :))
This is one of the best shows I've seen in a while. If you want to see another show about a westerner being really confused about how Japan works I recommend "Tokyo Vice". Inspired by true events in a more modern era, but also a really good show.
my biggest surprise so far has been the lady that plays Fuji. so has relatively few lines yet she emotes so powerfully with her eyes and expressions. she has strong scenes to play even if she's not given a ton of lines to act out in them.
@Natalie Gold - the 1980 mini-series was superb also…and has held up very well over time.
A beautiful intelligent "slightly expressive" young woman I've been subscribed to for years... can't think of a better person to review this new series I'm in love with ❤❤❤
Oddly the English at that time were not interested in taking over other people's countries, they had no Empire at that time, just a colony in North America, that was failing. The Spanish had just failed to invade England, and the English retaliation had resulted in the destruction of the English fleet. So they were at war with Spain and Portugal. Anything they could do to put a spoke in the wheel of their enemies, and of course make some booty on the way, that they would share with the Crown Elizabeth the 1st.
Your stuff is so well done the edits and the fact that I love your reactions 🤙🏽I’m so proud of my Asian stars really shining I saw the original and read the book in high school 😂
I'm hooked on the show, the official podcast is also worth listening to about how they put the show together and level of care and love for the original material and to make it as authentic as possible.
24:26 You have to realize that, while there is a system of honour, there is also a system of people maintaining their own agendas. Also, this wasn't the information age where word travels fast. So, it's easier to control information. Toranaga didn't even know about this treaty until he asked Blackthorne about the world. This is really good show about how misinformation is used to destabilize basically the shogunate, be it for someone's personal reasons or otherwise.
Edit: In the end, Toranaga was wise to use Blackthorne as a distraction, because he knew that Blackthorne's presence was enough of a distraction.
Great stuff - you are SO the right person to react to "Shogun!"
such an amazing series so far! ♥ my only small quibble is them using english in place of portuguese
'guess we know who the buzzkill of the family is' 😃 Blackthorne has quite the way with insults! 😃
Plsss release the part 2 the series is already done 😊😊😊
"I'm hooked on *SHOGUN*"
Yeap... so am I... so am I.
There's a lot of real history in the Shogun series. And almost every major character is based on a real person.
In real history, where was no Toronaga. But there WAS an Ieyasu Tokogawa, who is basically the same person. And there really was a warlord who conquered the whole country, but died with an infant heir, and did appoint a council or regents to rule Japan until his son grew up. All of that is true. And there really was a lot of power play among the regents, centered around Tokogawa and Ishida (not Ishido, as in the series, but Ishida). .
There even was an Englishman named William Adams, who was stranded in Japan and did become a member of Tokogawa's court. And taught him a lot about the Western world.
So while a lot of the story is fictionalized, and the historical characters are replaced by fictional analogues with similar names, but it's still seeped in a lot of real history and real events.
The book is one of my favorite books of all time and I reread it every year or year and a half usually. It's so so so good and well written.
I loved the book, was too young to remember the mini series, can't wait to buy it on disc, and love your reaction.
I started following you for some time, I love your reactions and videos, I'm glad you react to this series.
TBH I am a huge fan of the 1980 Mini Series. This series is well done, but the additional information of the original makes much more sense at what is happening in the show. As a side note I actually learned to understand and speak some basic Japanese, as Mariko was teaching Anjin-san in the original.
I just started this show and I'm SO glad your watching it. W show
I appreciate you and thank you for making content.
I think you would love Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai . It’s an epic masterpiece of storytelling . Cheers
So, so, so good.
I have read the book many times since I first did in 1975, one of my favourite re-reads.
Best show since GOT
Blackthorne isn’t trying to claim Japan for England. He works for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to open up trade with Japan. Historically, the VOC indeed displaced the Portuguese for the next few hundred years.