Explorers of the Other New World

As I have noted previously on the site, I find enjoyment in period pieces. I don’t know why stories set a few hundred years ago strike my fancy so much, but I do tend to enjoy seeing lushly made up sets and costumes while people go on about the drama of the period. Even if their stories aren’t any more dynamic or interesting than my daily life, hearing about it while people dress fancy and act like they’re in the 1600s grabs my attention far more than if they were doing the same things in a show set in the present day. “Meh, too normal. I can see this anywhere.” Give me a good period piece, though, and I’ll be there all day (which might explain why I still haven’t finished The Crown now that it’s gotten close to the modern period in its story).

There was a series on NetflixOriginally started as a disc-by-mail service, Netflix has grown to be one of the largest media companies in the world (and one of the most valued internet companies as well). With a constant slate of new internet streaming-based programming that updates all the time, Netflix has redefined what it means to watch TV and films (as well as how to do it). a few years ago, Marco Polo, which I enjoyed (although I haven’t reviewed any of it for the site, I realize). It was all about that guy, Marco Polo, as he took the trip down the Silk Road into the empire of Kublai Khan, all before becoming that emperor’s prisoner, ally, and confidant. The series had a feel of a white savior tale, with Marco going in and becoming the glorified Marty Stu of the series. It was interesting in places, though, and had a lush enough feel to the series that I was willing to ignore its flaws, many though they were.

I mention Marco Polo because, as I watched the first episode of Shōgun, the new series from HuluOriginally created as a joint streaming service between the major U.S. broadcast networks, Hulu has grown to be a solid alternative to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime, even as it learns harder on its collection of shows from Fox and FX since Disney purchased a majority stake in the service. based on the books by James Clavell, I was struck by the similarities between these two shows. They’re both focused on a white man who ends up in an Asian country, forced to be a prisoner before, slowly gaining friends among the nobles, proving himself to be a useful ally and asset. Of course, Marco Polo was only passably watchable, even pretty terrible in places, while Shōgun is actually legitimately good. So that’s a mark in the latter show’s favor that helps make it my new favorite period piece to sit and enjoy.

The series focuses on two characters. The first is Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), one of the five counselors to the young Emperor of Japan, serving as a counsel of regents to rule until the boy reaches the age of 16. Working against Toranaga are the other counselors, led by Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira), who want to see Toranaga brought down and executed for they fear the power he, and his clan, represent. Toranaga, meanwhile, swore to the old Emperor that he would guard and protect the young boy, keeping him safe from the other counselors, but Toranaga has no desire to be the Emperor (or Shōgun) no matter what the opposition might think.

Meanwhile, a crew of British sailors arrive off the coast of Japan. Stuck out on the ocean, half-dead and becalmed, the crew very nearly died. They’re captured, and their ship is unloaded, while their still-surviving highest ranking leader, Pilot-Major John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), is taken before local leaders. They view him as a savage (and he them, frankly), but he does just enough to pique their curiosity. He wants to break control the Portuguese have over the Asian territories, to open trade between Japan and England, and he just needs to find someone that will listen to him. Once Toranaga hears about the sailor he has brought to Osaka to meet, and, one would assume, the two will find the allies in each other they need for the coming conflict.

Shōgun is based on one book from Clavell’s Asian Saga, the eponymous Shōgun, a fictional telling of the Sengoku period in feudal Japan marked by civil wars and a lot of conflict. The characters in the book, and this miniseries, are based on real, historical figures, but the names and details were changed, of course, to make it so storylines could be altered and elements could be moved around. That means that while the period of the series feels accurate, the storyline itself doesn’t have to stick to the fine details of history. It can be its own thing.

From this first episode along, what Shōgun gets to be is really freaking good. Right from the start we’re presented with lush sets and wonderful costumes, all combining to make for a very detailed, lived-in, and accurate feeling period for the series. This alone gives the show that authentic vibe, clearly illustrating that the production team wanted to make this as historically accurate as they could. Producer Sanada (who also plays Toranaga) said as much, noting that if the show didn’t hit that accuracy, if it changed too much from what people expected from history itself, then people would be pulled out of the show and the drama would be lost.

It’s a credit to the series that you never doubt its accuracy. The first scenes on the British ship give way to life in feudal Japan, and every moment looks so accurate, so properly representative of the period, that at a certain point you forget you’re watching a reproduction and just accept it as real. This allows you to enjoy the series far more than you could with any other show that was sloppy about the details (like, say, Marco Polo). You want to be invested in the series so that you can invest in the story as well. It all pulls you along together.

This isn’t the first adaptation of Clavell’s Asian Saga (there were two films, two other mini-series, a related movie, and two video games) but this does feel like the one that’s seen the most care from all parties. I worried, learning the series was based on a novel written by white dude, especially learning that the novels were about a Eurocentric perspective on Asian culture. But this mini-series, at least, is respectful, giving the Japanese setting, and all the characters, room to breathe and feel like real people. This isn’t just a white savior story (although I’m expecting there will be at least a little of that as the show goes on) but a real representation of the culture and time period. It works so well.

It helps that it’s so well written. The series features tight dialogue along with a well crafted tale that unfolds quickly in this first episode. Despite half the dialogue being in Japanese (with subtitles) and the other half English (representing Portuguese when needed) you’re never bothered having to read the dialogue. The writing is sharp and snappy and the performances come through in body and tone even when you don’t immediately understand the words. This is high-class drama here, with it leaking out of every pore of the story, and that story is so damn good that once you’re sucked in you never want to leave.

Oh, and credit to whoever decided to name the first episode “Anjin”. Anjin means “pilot”, so that makes this the “pilot episode.” Someone on the staff set up a solid pun there.

Shōgun is everything I want from historical fiction: a lived in world, realistic setting and costumes, and lots of great drama. I find myself now waiting, antsy for each episode to come out as Hulu releases them week-by-week. In fact, the greatest tragedy I can think of is that since this is a limited series we won’t get more than a handful of episodes. I’m going to enjoy this series while it runs and then lament that we won’t get more once the story is finally told. But, hey, that’s the mark of truly great series, and it is better to get the full story, even if it’s short, than to see a long tale cut off before it can finish.