Servants Of Two Masters – As the second episode of Shogun begins, Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) is in Osaka one year ago. Yaechiyo speaks to Taiko before he passes. Toda Mariko argues with the Father about the child receiving the Sacrament. Toranaga sits with Taiko who says there was a time when Ochiba could’ve married him. Taiko wishes they’d taken Korea together. Toranaga suggests letting it be a gift from his son. Taiko asks what he thinks about becoming sole Regent until the boy is grown. Toranaga worries that would give his enemies a reason to unite. Taiko admits he worries the civil wars will start again. He has ordered the formation of a Council of Regents. They include Ishido, Kiyama, Ohno, Sugiyama, and Toranaga. They will share power until Yaechiyo is sixteen.
Toranaga calls him the cleverest in the realm for creating a stalemate. Father Dell’Aqua (Paulino Nunes) learns more about John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) who is brought in front of Toranaga. Vasco Rodrigues (Nestor Carbonell) tells Dell’Aqua more about Blackthorne. They believe they can show the journals to the Japanese and have Blackthorne hanged for piracy. Father Martin Alvito isn’t sure it’ll be that simple because Toranaga will want a complete translation of the journal. Martin says he is going to the castle where Toranaga has been sequestered to translate for him this afternoon. Dell’Aqua wants him to make sure Blackthorne is not a problem. Yaechiyo asks Martin if Blackthorne is a cannibal. Toranaga says he hopes Lady Mariko’s presence doesn’t offend.
He wants her to be there to practice her Portuguese. Martin of the Society of Jesus introduces himself to Blackthorne who believes Martin will twist his words to his favor. Blackthorne wants Martin to tell Toranaga that they’re enemies. Martin tells him how to do it himself. Martin tells Toranaga what he’s done. Toranaga wants to know why Blackthorne is an enemy of Martin. Blackthorne tells him he’s from England and their countries are at war. Blackthorne explains there are two Christian religions, Catholic and Protestant. Toranaga asks if he became a pirate to wage war against his Catholic enemies. He also asks about his cannons. Blackthorne knows being Toranaga’s enemy would mean he’d likely die at the hand of a teki.
Blackthorne is told to stay quiet when Ishido enters. Ishido jokes about Blackthorne’s appearance and argues they should exhibit him throughout the Empire. He thinks Toranaga could use his time more wisely with his impeachment approaching. Toranaga says he’ll have his son escort Blackthorne to prison. Blackthorne is taken to the prison. Mariko speaks to a boy about Blackthorne later. Her husband, Buntaro, comes in and interrupts their conversation. He learns about Mariko meeting the barbarian today. Buntaro asks why she should be allowed to be anything outside their house. Toda comes in moments later and tells them that Toranaga has called another meeting. Mariko speaks to Lady Kiri and Lady Shizu.
Kiri mentions that they met 16 years ago at the last feast given by Lord Kuroda. Toranaga comes in and mentions the size of her rump. Then, Mariko gives Toranaga her thoughts on the meeting today. Toranaga reveals his grandchild was born in Edo this morning. Lady Ochiba requested to return to Osaka and he granted it. His spies tell him that the barbarian troubles the Portuguese. They will soon ask the Christian Regents, Kiyama and Ohno, to protest his presence in Osaka. When asked why they should care, Mariko says Toranaga can only be impeached if the Council votes as one. He uses the barbarian to sow division between Ishido and the Christian lord. At the jail, Blackthorne meets a Father who says the Jesuits put him there.
He tells Blackthorne that Toranaga is a prisoner in Osaka castle. The others will vote on Toranaga’s demise any day now. Lord Ishido is told it seems Toranaga has accepted his fate thanks to his leadership. Ishido wants to vote on it, but the others want to talk about the heretic first. They say imprisonment isn’t enough because there are stories of a massacre of Christians at Blackthorne’s hand. Kiyama and Ohno want him executed before they vote. Ishido alleges Toranaga is flaunting their rules and using them against them. He wonders if they’d worry so much about this God if it weren’t for the riches the priests heap upon them. Ohno is adamant that Blackthorne has to die. At the jail, the father tells Blackthorne about the title of Shogun. Another prison is escorted out.
Father Domingo (Joaquim de Almeida) tells Blackthorne that he will die a martyr. Blackthorne didn’t come all this way to just die on a cross. Domingo tells him that the Jesuits care nothing for their souls. They’ve made an idol of that cursed Black Ship. The Chinese hate Japan so all trade goes through the Portuguese. Taiko even tried to put a stop to it, but the church incited the rebellion. They smuggled guns from the base in Macao. Blackthorne believes that’s his way out. Ferreira asks Martin if he is on his way to the castle. Martin tells him he’ll be the first to know when Toranaga gives permission for the Black Ship to depart. Then, Martin approaches Mariko who learns he is dropping off papers. He was surprised she was involved in Toranaga’s affairs yesterday.
Martin asks if the dark thoughts she confessed previously are still with her. He warns her about Blackthorne no matter what her heart tells her about him. Ishido approaches Yabushige to speak to him. When Taiko was building this castle, all the lords gave their finest stones. He chose Ishido’s as the corner piece. He rewarded Ishido with a seat on the Council. Yabu tells Ishido that the barbarian is a pirate and a man of little character. He suggests Toranaga sees the cannon and guns in Blackthorne. He also mentions the hatred of the Portuguese. Toranaga believes the Christian Regents will soon be their enemies. Yabu is thinking about the future when Toranaga is impeached and dead. Ishido has the most power, but he’d have to contend with Kiyama and Ohno.
Yabu suggests he could use the barbarian as a vassal. Ishido reveals he had to approve the barbarian’s execution. Domingo urges Blackthorne to confess because it is believed he is about to die. Blackthorne is told he is a prisoner of Lord Kiyama. He is taken into the woods when arrows begin flying. Yabu’s men save him. Toranaga thanks Yabu for bringing him the barbarian twice. Yabu claims he was ambushed by bandits on his way to his execution. Mariko is brought in to translate for Blackthorne who says he is grateful to be alive. Toranaga asks about his country. He wants Blackthorne to draw a map of the world as he knows it. Blackthorne draws the map and tells him about Magellan’s Pass. He says it was safer to sail that way because they had to avoid a Portuguese base in Macao with Japanese mercenaries.
It was used as gunrunning against the Taiko. Toranaga wants the map later. Blackthorne tells him now. He explains the Portuguese believe Japan belongs to them. Mariko tells Toranaga that the Portuguese want to replace all non-Christian rulers with leaders of their own. Blackthorne wants to vanquish their common enemies. Toranaga urges him to abandon the war because he is outnumbered. He says it is hopeless. Blackthorne says that’s unless he wins. As Blackthorne is taken to his quarters, he sees Toranaga’s battle armor. He thanks Mariko. Blackthorne tries to convince her to think about the motives of the priests. She tells him to address her as Mariko-sama. Martin tries to get Toranaga to let the Black Ship sail. Toranaga says there is so much he doesn’t know, but a lot that the barbarian seems to know.
He refuses to let the ship depart before accusing the church of building secret bases in their region. Kiyama learns about his decision. In the middle of the night, a female assassin tries to kill Toranaga. Eventually, Toranaga stops her and Blackthorne helps him. Toranaga says this wasn’t Ishido. He gave his quarters to Blackthorne. The assassin came for him.
Shogun Review
After watching the first episode of Shogun, I decided to go back and watch the 1980s Shogun miniseries and the differences are drastic. The original miniseries is exceptional while the new adaptation is exceptionally bad. The original cast of Richard Chamberlain, Yoko Shimada, and others was perfect while the new cast doesn’t work on several levels.
Cosmo Jarvis and Anna Sawai aren’t nearly as dynamic as a duo as Richard Chamberlain and Yoko Shimada. The changes to the script have only complicated the story unnecessarily while removing what made the miniseries so spectacular. The miniseries had authentic humor, wonder, and romance even without endless subtitles. The language barrier was more authentic and added to the sense that John Blackthorne had ended up in a foreign land where he knew very little.
In this episode, the language barrier was dropped at points and the need for a translator was eliminated. During the initial encounter between Toranaga and Blackthorne, they were casually talking back and forth without anyone stepping in. The dialogue attempts to be humorous but it really comes off as being immature instead. This lacks imagination down to the constant muddy streets and greyish-blue skies. Even Blackthorne’s time in prison felt like a wash while endless dialogue between characters halfheartedly introduced drug into eternity.
Because of modern trickery, this will somehow maintain a higher score than its superior predecessor despite a lackluster, dull story and flimsy performances. This episode scores a 4.5 out of 10. Recaps of Shogun are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. Discuss Shogun and other shows at the Reel Mockery Forum.
