The epic miniseries, Shōgun, has come to an end, leaving viewers feeling lost without the obsessive rules of loyalty and honour to follow. The new adaptation of James Clavell’s classic novel was beautifully put together, providing an authentic, romantic, and violent old-school experience, which had audiences keen to visit Japan, despite being filmed in Canada.
The series ended with a bang in episode nine, when Mariko was blown up by ninjas, but this set the scene for a contemplative finale with a soft exit, which was beautifully crafted and put together. The novel’s epilogue was imagined in the final battle scene when Blackthorne tries to imagine himself as an old man, dropping Mariko’s crucifix into the sea and devastated by her loss. The best of the finale, however, lay with Toranaga and Yabushige, who learns the hard way that staying neutral isn’t a firm footing to win, and he is ordered to commit suicide, sharing his last moments with Toranaga as they look out onto the sea.
Unfortunately, there is no news of a second season of Shōgun; the producers confirmed it was meant to be a standalone miniseries, and no sequels were planned. As Blackthorne says, “Which comes first, God or your purse strings?” Despite the success of the show, it is unlikely we will see more of it on our screens anytime soon. However, if the producers did decide to carry on telling the same story, there’s a chance they could pick up another book from Clavell’s Asian Saga series, as Tai-Pan, the next in chronological order, skips forward more than 200 years.
Shōgun is based on real events, with Toranaga a fictional swap for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the daimyō who fought the Battle Of Sekigahara in 1600 and established a shogunate that lasted more than 250 years. Meanwhile, Blackthorne was based on a real English sailor, William Adams, who washed up on Kyushu and eventually became a key military advisor to Tokugawa. There are plenty of real stories to be told about the historic figures the characters of Shōgun are based on, and plenty of scope for future seasons if there’s an appetite for it.
Finally, Shōgun stands as something special in its own right and doesn’t require a sequel. The miniseries was a rare gift, combining great writing, acting, cinematography, and atmosphere, and it did not outstay its welcome. While comparisons to Game of Thrones were inevitable, Shōgun was far too wonderful to be ruined by another seven seasons. As the first TV adaptation of Shōgun came out in 1980, it is still cited as a classic and a touchstone for other prestige small screen productions. The 2024 remake happened for this reason, and it has surpassed the original version with its delicate sense of duty to Clavell’s novel and real history. Hopefully, it will continue to stand out for years to come, remaining a classic in its genre
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