Episode seven of FX’s Shōgun, entitled “A Stick of Time,” finds our characters wrestling with fate as their futures hang in the balance. A potentially fruitful alliance renders the opposite result, allowing doubt to rise within the ranks of leadership. And an act of vengeance cements one’s fate to bloodied silence.
The episode opens 46 years ago as a young samurai declares his first victory on the battlefield. This “boy warlord” is Yoshi Toranaga, a mere teenager who led an army in defeating Mizoguchi. The surrendering lord permits Toranaga to commit his seconding – the final death strike after one commits seppuku in defeat. Legend has it, that Toranaga beheaded Mizoguchi with one strike of his blade.
In the present day, Toranaga and his inner circle await the arrival of his half-brother, Saeki. Toranaga proposes Saeki lend his army to assist in defeating Lord Ishido and the Council of Regents. Younger than Toranaga, Saeki is willing to discuss the proposed alliance.
As the village prepares for this precarious negotiation, many of Toranaga’s followers seek answers. Anjin questions his role in Toranaga’s strategy. With no clear answer, Mariko advises Anjin to let this query go, for now. Elsewhere, Lord Omi seeks refuge with his favorite girl, Kiku. However, Gin, the madame of the Willow World, tells him Toranaga has purchased her services for his brother for the week. Hiromatsu visits his granddaughter, Fuji, with a gift: the ashes of her husband and newborn. Fuji wishes to be with them after this conflict, but Hiromatsu challenges her to live. Conflicted, Fuji questions whether victory will be attainable to live for.
Evening settles and Toranaga hosts his brother for dinner and drinks. Here, Saeki shares tales of his brother’s decorated ventures as a warrior, with his nephew Nagakado following every word. Nagakado asks what his father was like when he was young, and Saeki describes the time Toranaga was held hostage by the Imatani clan. Soon, things become exceedingly awkward as Saeki describes that Toranaga soiled himself upon being traded. Toranaga attempts to end dinner so they can discuss tactics tomorrow morning, but Saeki objects saying he’s already accepted another offer.
Saeki reveals that Lord Ishido offered him the fifth Regent opening and that Toranaga has been summoned to answer for his alleged crimes against the Realm. His son, Nagakado, has been ordered to commit seppuku for the murder of Lord Jozben. Soon, the village is surrounded by Ishido’s fleet, imprisoning all inhabitants. This betrayal leaves Toranaga 24 hours to accept the request.
Within the next hours, each character comes to terms that this may be their last day. Toranaga finds solace in an unexpected place: the World of Willow. Madam Gin questions whether Toranaga truly has the will to fight, seeing how his movements could allude to him wanting to surrender. She quickly changes the subject, smizing that she knows nothing as a simple whore. This leaves an impression on the lord.
Yabushige, realizing his alliance with Ishido is dead, ponders how his fate became tied to someone like the barbarian. In an awkward interaction, he challenges the Anjin to a duel, citing how he doesn’t even know how to hold his blade. The joke turns threatening when Buntaro, with his gripe for the foreigner, draws his blade to Blackthorne’s neck as he’s fallen to the ground. He eventually yields.
Nagakado and Omi discuss their situation while bathing. As Nagakado sees admiration in dying by the blade, Omi sounds more rational and cautions to this rush for violence. Saeki agrees with Omi, telling Nagakado there is no tribute in death, just a lonely road.
In one of the episode’s best scenes, Buntaro approaches Toranaga and Mariko with a request to execute the barbarian, as he believes the Anjin bears feelings for his wife. Stunned, Toranaga reminds him that an accusation would sentence both the Anjin and Mariko to death. When confronted about the truth of this matter, Mariko’s only response is “My life is for my husband’s to take.” Buntaro rescinds his request. Toranaga outright questions whether Mariko is loyal to him or the barbarian, which she tearfully asks to be free “of this cursed life.” She pulls a small blade from within her kimono. Toranaga angrily objects as Mariko weeps.
The hour of Toranga’s decision has come. Surrounded by his council, the former Regent agrees to travel to Osaka and face judgment. Anjin in disbelief announces “You’re all dead.”
Our episode ends with Saeki enjoying Kiku’s services. Enjoying the more painful kinks, Kiku promises to elevate their play. As she departs to gather some other resources, Saeki hears a disturbance in the other room. He is suddenly ambushed by Nagakado and other armed guards. Nagakado manages to chase his half-naked uncle outside the quarters, along the bathing pool. As Nagakado raises his blade, he slips and falls on the wet surface, striking the back of his head against a stone. The young Nagakado, so eager for a warrior’s death, is granted his wish prematurely, blood streaming into the water nearby.
Episode seven bolsters superb writing and performances. Settling for a calm before the storm, this episode examines the stark reality Mariko so elegantly described to the Anjin in episode four: “We live and we die. We have no control beyond that.” Saeki’s betrayal heightens this reality forcing many of the characters to face hard truths.
This theme shines for the Anjin, who realizes the Jesuit prisoner’s words may have been true; he would never leave this country alive. It’s also emphasized in the heartbreaking scene as Mariko opts for eternal rest rather than choosing between duty or the barbarian. The conversation between Gin and Toaranaga exposes that the storied “boy warlord” may have never wanted to wield the blade, the weight of years of fighting and bloodshed becoming too much to bear. But no other scene cemented this harsh truth more than the ironic death of Lord Nagakado. Blinded by the stories and legend, he forgot to see the truth in death — it’s a lonely and permanent experience.
Rating: 10/10