The miniseries Shogun is supposed to be really really good.
It shows all those brave Samurai warrior and the Westerner (of course) who helped them win wars.
I've only seen the first part so can't judge (I saw the older version and it was okay).
So what's not to like?
Uh, maybe the war that they sort of left out of the series. I am talking about the bloody war of these guys against innocent Koreans (in order to invade China), which is sort of passed over.
MSN:
The new FX/Hulu historical epic series Shogun refers to the real-life Imjim War several times throughout its first few episode...
Just before the events of Shogun, ... Japan was at war with Korea in the Imjin War.... Hideyoshi's efforts in the Imjim War were intended to seize power from Korea and China, which did not end up working in Japan's favor. With the TaikÅ's death in 1598, the Japanese forces that had invaded Korea for a second time were ordered to abandon their mission and return to Japan by the newly appointed Council of Five Elders.
what's wrong with this story? Uh, they left out this part: Wikipedia estimates 1 million Korean civilians and soldiers killed. (and that doesn't include the Chinese soldiers sent to help the Koreans or the 100 thousand Japanese soldiers who died to please the ego of the Japanese leader)... Hey, can't have our heroes involved in a genocide now, can we?
And that is why the Council of Elders told them it was too expensive: they lost their navy and couldn't live off the land .
like the Persians discovered at the Battle of Salamis, the Japanese discovered they couldn't feed their army if they lost their navy. And like the Persians, they forgot that sea lanes and tides are important.
So the lowly Koreans with the help of China successfully fought those Samurai who are so beloved of the western world.
Add the great man theory of history here: Admiral Yi who destroyed their Navy by using military strategy.
For example, Admiral Yi used the tides to turn the tides:
...
so one does wonder what the Koreans think of this miniseries.
