Sex, violence, 'Game of Thrones'-style power grabs — the new 'Shōgun' has it all
-
Anna Sawai plays translator Toda Mariko in the new FX series Shōgun.Katie Yu / FX -
Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii ToranagaKatie Yu / FX
The original Shōgun, on NBC, aired in 1980, when miniseries were the hottest things on television. ABC's Roots had broken all ratings records just three years before – and three years later, the star of Shōgun, Richard Chamberlain, would score another massive miniseries hit with ABC's The Thorn Birds.
Even then, adapting James Clavell's sprawling story of an English sea pilot's adventures in Japan in the year 1600, was quite a gamble. The original version avoided subtitles, for the most part, to reflect the confusion the newly arrived pilot, John Blackthorne, felt when encountering Japanese culture and its people.
Except for occasional narration by Orson Welles, who sometimes threw in some radio-style acting by interpreting what a warlord was saying, most viewers in 1980 were as clueless as the sailor in the story. Eventually, things became a bit clearer when one of the Japanese rulers, Lord Toranaga, appointed a trusted translator: Lady Mariko, to whom the pilot became increasingly, and dangerously, attracted.
Part of the great appeal of that miniseries was the powerful performance by Toshiro Mifune as Toranaga. Foreign film fans at the time knew him as the star of the original Seven Samurai. But the chemistry between Chamberlain as Blackthorne, and the Japanese actor Yoko Shimada as his translator Mariko, was a big part of it, too.
This new, 10-part interpretation of Shōgun, adapted for TV by the married writing team of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, uses subtitles throughout – a choice that makes the narrative more immediately understandable. It also focuses just as strongly, and just as effectively, on the same three central figures.
Lord Toranaga is played by Hiroyuki Sanada, who's so imposing that even his silences are powerful. The translator, Lady Mariko, is played by Anna Sawai, who brings to her character even more strength, mystery and charisma than in the 1980 version. And instead of the matinee-idol-handsome Chamberlain as pilot Blackthorne, we have Cosmo Jarvis – an actor who looks more ruggedly handsome, and sounds a lot like Richard Burton. It takes a while for the three characters, and actors, to share the screen – but when they finally do, it's entrancing.
This new Shōgun has other strong performances as well, but they're not the only things that make this 2024 version so successful. Special and visual effects have improved exponentially in the almost 45 years since the original Shōgun was televised, and it shows here: Every storm at sea, every battle scene and, especially, every earthquake is rendered with excitement and credibility.
And finally, there's the overarching story, which has Toranaga employing Blackthorne as his secret weapon in a deadly civil war. The power grabs among the five rulers are like the hostilities in The Game of Thrones – except instead of a Red Wedding, there's a Crimson Sky.
I went back and rewatched the original Shōgun to see if it holds up. It does. But the several directors who worked on Shōgun for FX deliver a new version that looks much more stunning. It's sexier, more violent, and even more thought-provoking and illuminating than the original ... all of which, in this context, are meant as compliments.
The first two episodes of Shōgun are televised on FX opening night, and streamed the next day on Hulu, with the remaining episodes presented weekly. Don't miss it: With this Shōgun, as with the original, the TV miniseries is alive and well.
9(MDAxODcyMTgzMDEyMTgxMTY5NjYxN2I4OQ004))
Transcript
TERRY GROSS, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. The 1980 NBC miniseries "Shogun" was one of the most highly acclaimed dramas at the height of the miniseries era. It starred Richard Chamberlain as an English sailor finding himself in Japan in 1600. Now a new adaptation, also based on the same book by James Clavell, comes to television in a 10-part miniseries premiering today on FX. It starts streaming on Hulu tomorrow. Our TV critic David Bianculli has this review.
DAVID BIANCULLI, BYLINE: The original "Shogun" on NBC showed up when miniseries were the hottest things on television. ABC's "Roots" had broken all ratings records just three years before, and three years later, the star of "Shogun," Richard Chamberlain, would score another massive miniseries hit with ABC's "The Thorn Birds." But even then, in 1980, adapting James Clavell's sprawling story of an English sea pilot's adventures in Japan in the year 1600 was quite a gamble. The original version avoided subtitles for the most part to reflect the confusion the newly arrived pilot, John Blackthorne, felt when encountering Japanese culture and its people. Except for occasional narration by Orson Welles, who sometimes threw in some radio-style acting by interpreting what a warlord was saying, most viewers in 1980 were as clueless as the sailor in the story. Eventually, things became a bit clearer when one of the Japanese rulers, Lord Toranaga, appointed a trusted translator, Lady Mariko, to whom the pilot became increasingly and dangerously attracted.
Part of the great appeal of that miniseries was the powerful performance by Toshiro Mifune as Toranaga. Foreign film fans at the time knew him as the star of the original "Seven Samurai." But the chemistry between Chamberlain as Blackthorne and the Japanese actress Yoko Shimada as his translator Mariko was a big part of it, too.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SHOGUN")
RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: (As John Blackthorne) Your bravery is greater than mine, lady.
YOKO SHIMADA: (As Mariko) No, please, you must not say that.
CHAMBERLAIN: (As John Blackthorne) But that is the truth. How do you say truth in Japanese?
SHIMADA: (As Mariko) Honto.
CHAMBERLAIN: (As John Blackthorne) Then it is honto that you are braver than I. You are brave and you are beautiful.
SHIMADA: (As Mariko) You have a honeyed tongue, Anjin-san.
CHAMBERLAIN: (As John Blackthorne) That you are beautiful is honto as well.
SHIMADA: (As Mariko) Here it is not wise to notice another man's woman.
BIANCULLI: This new interpretation of "Shogun," adapted for TV by the married writing team of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, uses subtitles throughout, a choice that makes the narrative more immediately understandable. It also focuses just as strongly and just as effectively on the same three central figures. Lord Toranaga is played by Hiroyuki Sanada, who is so imposing that even his silences are powerful. The translator, Lady Mariko, is played by Anna Sawai, who brings to her character even more strength, mystery and charisma than in the 1980 version. And instead of the matinee idol handsome Chamberlain as pilot John Blackthorne, we have Cosmo Jarvis, an actor who looks more ruggedly handsome and sounds a lot like Richard Burton. It takes a while for the three characters and actors to share the screen, but when they finally do, it's entrancing.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SHOGUN")
ANNA SAWAI: (As Mariko) Good morning, senhor. I am to be your interpreter for today.
COSMO JARVIS: (As John Blackthorne) You speak Portuguese?
SAWAI: (As Mariko) It is my honor to learn the language of my Christian teachers.
JARVIS: (As John Blackthorne) Catholic teachers.
SAWAI: (As Mariko) I serve Yoshi Toranaga-sama. My name is Toda Mariko.
JARVIS: (As John Blackthorne) John Blackthorne. And you should know I'm not Catholic.
HIROYUKI SANADA: (As Toranaga, speaking Japanese).
SAWAI: (As Mariko) My lord would like to say that he is sorry for the time you spent in prison.
JARVIS: (As John Blackthorne) I'm grateful to be alive.
BIANCULLI: This new "Shogun" has other strong performances as well, but they're not the only things that make this 2024 version so successful. Special and visual effects have improved exponentially in the almost 45 years since the original "Shogun" was televised, and it shows here. Every storm at sea, every battle scene, and especially every earthquake is rendered with excitement and credibility. And finally, there's the overarching story, which has Toranaga employing Blackthorne as his secret weapon in a deadly civil war. The power grabs among the five rulers are like the hostilities in the "Game Of Thrones," except instead of a red wedding, there's a crimson sky.
I went back and rewatched the original "Shogun" to see if it holds up. It does. But the several directors who worked on "Shogun" for FX deliver a new version that looks much more stunning. It's sexier, more violent and even more thought-provoking and illuminating than the original, all of which, in this context, are meant as compliments. The first two episodes of "Shogun" are televised on FX opening night and streamed the next day on Hulu, with the remaining episodes presented weekly. Don't miss it. With this "Shogun," as with the original, the TV miniseries is alive and well.
GROSS: David Bianculli is a professor of television studies at Rowan University. He reviewed the new miniseries "Shogun," premiering today on FX. It starts streaming on Hulu tomorrow. Tomorrow on FRESH AIR, the director of the sci-fi epic "Dune" Part 1 and the new "Dune: Part Two," which opens this week. We talk with French Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, who also directed "Arrival," "Blade Runner 2049" and "Sicario." He'll talk about the work that inspired him from "Jaws" to comic books. I hope you'll join us.
FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. Our senior producer today is Therese Madden. Our technical director and engineer as Audrey Bentham. Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Ann Marie Baldonado, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Thea Chaloner, Seth Kelley and Susan Nyakundi. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Roberta Shorrock directs the show. Our co-host is Tonya Mosley. I'm Terry Gross.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad