Be transported back to Feudal Japan in Shōgun, based on the best-selling novel from James Clavell. The 10-episode limited series focuses on a civil war that would help define the 17th century in Japan. While the show hails from FX, it is a global offering available right away for anyone interested.
That should be pretty tantalizing, as FX has been behind some pretty great shows in recent years: Snowfall, Reservation Dogs, The Patient, Mayans M.C., The Old Man, Justified: City Primeval, The Americans, What We Do in the Shadows, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Bear. Can Shōgun reach the same kind of level as those shows?
Here is everything that you need to know about Shōgun.
Shōgun next episode
The Shōgun finale is now available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK. US viewers that don't have Hulu can watch the show when it airs live on TV at 10 pm ET/PT on FX.
Here is the synopsis for episode 10, "A Dream of a Dream":
"In the wake of a tragic death, Blackthorne finally considers the true nature of Toranaga's plan."
For US viewers looking to watch on FX, the cable network is available through traditional pay-TV providers as well as live TV streaming services like Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.
Shōgun recaps
Here are the synopses for the Shōgun episodes released so far:
Shōgun episode 1, "Anjin"
"Destinies converge in Japan after a barbarian ship washes ashore in a poor fishing village. Meanwhile, in Osaka, Lord Toranaga finds himself outplayed by his enemies." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 1 recap.
Shōgun episode 2, "Servants of Two Masters"
"Blackthorne's arrival in Osaka stirs up a hornet's nest of rivalries. Mariko is trapped between her cause and her faith when she must translate for the barbarian in Lord Toranaga's custody." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 2 recap.
Shōgun episode 3, "Tomorrow Is Tomorrow"
"After Blackthorne survives a brazen assassination attempt, Toranaga realizes he must ferry his allies out of Osaka or risk certain defeat." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 3 recap.
Shōgun episode 4, "The Eightfold Fence"
"Blackthorne and Mariko test their new alliance as they train Toranaga's gun regiment for war. Yabushige must navigate his past promises to Ishido when an old friend comes to the village." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 4 recap.
Shōgun episode 5, "Broken to the Fist"
"Blackthorne and Mariko struggle to contain the secret that could get them both killed. Yabushige searches for the spy who has betrayed his intentions to Lord Toranaga." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 5 recap.
Shōgun episode 6, "Ladies of the Willow World"
"Lady Ochiba returns to Osaka in order to accelerate the Regents' campaign against Toranaga. In Ajiro, Toranaga tests Mariko's loyalty to his cause." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 6 recap.
Shōgun episode 7, "A Stick of Time"
"Outplayed by new alliances in Osaka, Toranaga is forced to carve out a new deal with a long lost family member." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 7 recap.
Shōgun episode 8, "The Abyss of Life"
"Toranaga's defeated clan moves to Edo; Blackthorne must decide who he fights for." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 8 recap.
Shōgun episode 9, "Crimson Sky"
"Mariko arrives in Osaka for the fight of her life. Blackthorne and Yabushige scramble to save their own heads as their options dwindle." Read WTW's Shōgun episode 9 recap.
Shōgun cast
The big name in the Shōgun cast is Hiroyuki Sanada, who is playing Lord Yoshii Toranga (in addition to serving as a producer on the show). Sanada has leant his talent to many big time Hollywood productions, including The Last Samurai, Lost, The Wolverine, The Last Ship, West World, Mortal Kombat, Army of the Dead, Bullet Train and John Wick: Chapter 4.
Here is the rest of the cast, including many highly decorated Japanese actors:
- Cosmo Jarvis (Persuasion) as John Blackthorne
- Anna Sawai (Pachinko) as Toda Mariko
- Tadanobu Asano (Thor) as Kashigi Yabushige
- Hiroto Kanai (Labyrinth of Cinema) as Kashigi Omi
- Takehiro Hira (Gran Turismo) as Ishido Kazunari
- Moeka Hoshi (Unsung Cinderella) as Usami Fuji
- Tokuma Nishioka (Sedai Wars) as Toda Hiromatsu
- Shinnosuke Abe (13 Assassins) as Toda Hirokatsu
- Yuki Kura (Ichiko) as Yoshii Nagakado
- Fumi Nikaido (Vivant) as Ochiba no Kata
What to Watch spoke with Shōgun stars Cosmo Jarvis and Takehiro Hira about bringing the samurai story to life.
Shōgun plot
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks handled the adaptation of James Clavell's best-selling novel, turning it into the 10-episode Shōgun series.
The series takes place in Japan in 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. But when a ship maroons in a nearby fishing village, its pilot, John Blackthorne, has secrets that could tip things in Toranaga’s favor and hurt the influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. To communicate, they must rely on Toda Mariko, a translator and Christian noblewoman who is the last of a disgraced line. While serving Toranaga, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to her faith and her duty to her late father.
Shōgun trailer
Watch the epic Shōgun trailer to get a sense of what is to come in the limited series:
You can also check out these teaser trailers for the series:
FX has also started to release some behind-the-scenes videos for Shōgun, which you can watch directly below:
