FX’s Shōgun is an adaptation of James Clavell’s classic novel. Set in 1600 Japan, a young Heir’s ascension to the throne invites a deceptive power struggle among the five remaining lords. Amidst the internal strife, foreigners shipwreck upon the land, shaking the foundation already boiling with tensions of civil war.
We’re introduced to a crew of English pirates whose time at sea has been treacherous. Low on food and water, many of the crewmen have expired due to starvation. John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the English pilot of these un-merry men, converses with a fellow boatman who has lost all hope. He extols how the wind against their face is “The breath of the almighty calling us home.” Moments later he takes his life. The next morning, a lone Japanese man walks on the rocky shores of his village as Blackthorne’s ship comes into view. Village militia board the ship, finding 12 live men among the dead. They are captured as the warriors simply ask “What are they…”
The next scene captures a man of nobility and his entourage traveling across a vast meadow. The man is Lord Yoshi Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) of Edo on his way to Osaka Castle. He has been summoned by the Council of Regents as a new Heir is set to come into power. His welcome is anything but warm as Lord Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira), the castle’s protector, and the three other lords announce plans to impeach Toranaga. The council accuses Toranaga of plotting against the other lords and holding the Heir’s pregnant mother hostage. One of Toranaga’s men, Tadayoshi, objects to these allegations. Immediately shamed for his outburst, he vows to sacrifice his lineage as retribution. Tadayoshi’s wife, Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi), resists her infant son’s fate until Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) solemnly convinces her to follow protocol. Once Mariko is alone, she silently weeps as she reminisces on someone she lost.
We return to the village of Ajiro where the foreigners are held prisoner under Kashigi Omi’s (Hiroto Kanai) watch. Rather than report their arrival to Osaka, Omi alerts his uncle about the strangers. Lord Kashigi Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) arrives to review the captives. Blackthorne insists they are wayward merchants who happened to wash up on shore. Yabushige acquires a Catholic priest to translate and he relays that Blackthorne and his crew are evil pirates. Yabushige decides to confiscate the ship and its contents, sentencing the foreigners to death. Blackthorne persuades Yabushige to spare him, forfeiting one of his men to take his place. The man is boiled alive as his screams haunt the village through the night.
Back in Osaka, Toranaga entertains the young Lord Yaechiyo, the heir and lone child of the late Taikō. As they discuss current matters, Yaechiyo requests his mother be returned, to which Toranaga agrees. As Yaechiyo departs for his daily lessons, Lady Iyo Daiyoin (Ako) consults with Toranaga. Aware of Ishido’s quest for power, she insists “It is time for a shōgun,” referencing the military dictators that ruled Japan decades before. Toranaga dismisses this request as the shōgun is a ruler of a bygone era.
Another ship arrives at the shores of Ajiro. Yabushige is surprised to see Toda Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka), Toranaga’s right hand, along with a fleet of men. Yabushige’s plan to confiscate the foreigners’ bounty fails as they are now the property of Osaka. Yabushige discovers a mole is among the village. Soon, Blackthorne is on his way to Osaka. Boarding the ship, he meets a Spaniard named Vasco Rodrigues (Néstor Carbonell) who speaks English. Suspicious of his story, he allows Blackthorne to assist in piloting the ship.
A harsh storm meets them on their voyage, throwing many men, including Rodrigues, overboard. As the storm subsides, Blackthorne convinces Hiromatsu to recover Rodrigues from the rocky cove. Accompanied by Yabushige and two of his men, they find Rodrigues floating near the bottom of a cliff. As Blackthorne prepares to rappel down to rescue him, Yabushige, feeling challenged, insists he does it. Beginning his descent, the rope frays apart sending Yabushige crashing into the waves below. His men rush to find more rope. Blackthorne watches in amazement as Yabushige prepares to take his life, admitting defeat. Just then, Yabushige’s men return with more rope, recovering him and Rodrigues. Blackthorne bows to Yabushige’s victory.
The evening has settled in Osaka when Mariko is summoned by who she thought was Hiromatsu. Instead, she finds Lord Toranaga seeking to ally. He promises to restore her purpose, one she failed to succeed alongside her late father 16 years ago. They decide to not only ally against the Council but with the “barbarian” who has infiltrated Japan. As the episode closes, Rodrigues reveals he knows Blackthorne’s true intentions: to ravage the Spaniards’ trade routes and the Japanese for economic gain. Rodrigues cautions Blackthorne into believing that Europe is the hilt of civilization as he enters the throne room of Osaka Castle bowing to Lord Toranaga.
Written by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with direction from Jonathan Van Tulleken, “Anjin” is a great introduction to the series. Translating to pilot in English, “Anjin” introduced us to our main players and their motivations immediately. Each individual is seeking a piece of the pie as a result of this power shift. Our main leads – Sanada, Jarvis, and Sawai – captivate when on screen. And the supporting power of Crabonell and Asano helps build the tension. One scene served to introduce a future player (Yuka Kouri’s sex worker, Kiku) felt gratuitous, but it wasn’t enough to disturb the narrative. An excellent prelude to the bloodshed to come.
Rating: 8/10