Summary
A brilliant start for Shogun as the writers deliver equal parts story and epic sequences on a huge scale.
When John Blackthorne’s ship washes up on Japanese land, he and his crew find themselves in a world of trouble in Episode 1 of Shogun. With the potential of facing impeachment, Yoshii Toranaga hopes to use Blackthorne to save himself and his entire army from potential death. The Season 1 premiere is a brilliant start to the FX series.
Yoshii Toranga and his army head to Osaka Castle to meet with Ishido Kazunari, the castle’s Protector. Taiko’s passing has turned the city into a massive mess, with the five warriors vying for the top spot in the food chain. Lord Ishido has accused Toranaga of kidnapping and harboring Lady Ochiba, but he insinuates that it is untrue.
What demands does Lord Ishido give Toranaga?
Yoshii Toranaga is served papers by the crew stating he has to return Lady Ochiba in seven days or he will be punished under the penalty of impeachment.
John Blackthorne and his ship have washed up ashore in Japan. A crew of Japanese soldiers heads aboard to investigate why it is there.
With his current struggle with Osaka, Toranaga sends his general Hiromatsu to investigate the ship. On Yabushige’s orders, they have ordered Blackthorne and his crew to leave the boat. Blackthorne attempts to speak to the soldiers by asking for him and his men to be freed, but they don’t obey.
Lord Yabushige gets a priest to translate between him and Blackthorne. However, he only translates some things that Blackthorne says. Instead, he calls him a pirate who must die. Blackthorne rips off his cross necklace and stomps on it to prove he is not like the priest. Because he can’t prove Blackthorne is a pirate, Lord Yabushige orders them to clean and bathe him.
With Lord Yabushige sticking around, he talks to Kashigi Omi, who has been running the town since his father’s passing. He congratulates him on his hard work but is interrupted when Hiromastsu arrives on the island. Hiromastsu questions Yabushige about the ship and where all the gold, cannons, and goods are.
Reluctant at first, Yabushige agrees to give them the ship and goods. But he looks at Omi, saying he knows everything, meaning a spy was in his village.
Who saves John Blackthorne?
The men bring Blackthorne to speak to Hiromatsu, who orders him to go to Osaka. Before they go, Lord Rodrigues steps up to the plate to ask Lord Hiromatsu permission to take Blackthorne with him. He promises to get him drunk and then blow his head off. He agrees, and Rodrigues informs Blackthorne he is planning to take him to meet Lord Toranaga.
A massive storm causes things on the ship to go upside-down fast. Blackthorne uses his experience as a pilot to help get the boat back, but not without plenty of damage and the loss of many men. On land, Blackthorne demands that they look for Lord Rodrigues, who had been thrown overboard. The attempt to save Lord Rodrigues works, but it almost costs Lord Yabushige his life.
Lord Toranaga requests to meet with Mariko. He tells her about a barbarian (Blackthorne) who speaks Portuguese on his way to meet with them. Toranaga hears Mariko speaks the language and wants her to be the translator. When she questions him, he says he believes this barbarian could turn the tide for them.
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