Summary
This is an incredibly well-balanced episode that continues to drive the story while providing small peeks at what’s ahead.
Yoshii Toranaga’s back is against the wall with his forthcoming impeachment in Episode 2 of Shogun Season 1. Toranaga devises a plan to utilize John Blackthorne to his advantage to divide the Council of Regents, sparing his life in the process. With the lack of understanding of the language, Blackthorne finds himself in trouble because he can’t keep his mouth shut.
One year ago in Osaka, we were with Taiko, who is seemingly on his deathbed with his friends and family surrounding him. Taiko sent everyone away except Toranaga. The two talk about cherished memories before Taiko asks him his thoughts on becoming sole Regent until his son is grown. He would share the title with him if he were to protect his son. However, Toranaga says no because their enemies will unite and kill him and his son if that happens.
What did Taiko create before his passing?
Taiko was testing Toranaga when he offered him the sole Regent and liked his answer. He believed because of his death, the civil wars would start again, so he formed the Council of Regents, naming Ishido, Kiyama, Ohno, and Sugiyama as part of the group. They will share the power until Taiko’s son Yaechiyo is sixteen.
In the present, John Blackthorne meets with Toranaga. The priest who wouldn’t translate Blackthorne’s words in Episode 1 has arrived, which worries him, but Toranaga has Lady Mariko there to help with the translation. Blackthorne and Toranaga exchange some barbs about why he is here, but they are interrupted by Lord Ishido, who isn’t happy they invited the barbarian (Blackthorne) to the castle.
Ishido expresses his frustration that he invited him to the castle. Furthermore, he says he doesn’t understand why he was wasting time on Blackthorne so close to Toranaga’s impeachment. To keep the peace, Toranaga sends Blackthorne to their prison.
What is Toranaga’s plan for Blackthorne?
Questioned as to why Toranaga is so worried about Blackthorne, Lady Mariko says that Toranaga can only be impeached if the Council votes as one. He plans to use Blackthorne to cause division between Ishido and the Christian lords.
The Council gathers to vote on Toranaga’s impeachment. Before they vote, they bring up Blackthorne, and Ishido speaks about how he has protested his being there, resulting in his imprisonment. However, the Council suggests that it wasn’t enough because of the horror stories they’ve heard about Blackthorne massacring Christians. Before they vote, they demand that he be executed. Ishido pushes them to vote, but the others refuse.
Ishido speaks with Yabushige to ask about his thoughts on Blackthorne, and he breaks down what he believes Toranaga’s plan with him is. Ishido tells Yabushige that to impeach Toranaga, they must kill Blackthorne. Moments later, we see a group of men come to take Blackthorne out of the prison and say he is a prisoner of Lord Kiyama now.
Later, Lord Kiyama brings Blackthorne back to Toranaga, who says he rescued him on his way to his execution. Toranaga brings Lady Mariko instead of the priest to translate this time around. He begins questioning his knowledge about his culture and how he came to Japan. Blackthorne shares that he traveled here and avoided a Portuguese base in Macao, which shocks everyone.
He said a secret base for gun running contains Ronin at this location. Toranaga explains he wants Blackthorne to show him where all the Portuguese bases are located. He believed that the Portuguese and Spain had split up the land and that Japan belonged to the Portuguese. Furthermore, they want to replace all non-Christian leaders with their own. Toranaga says Blackthorne should walk away from the war as he is outnumbered, but Blackthorne says he believes he can win.
Because Blackthorne unpacked so much, Toranaga refuses to sign the papers to let the black ship leave until they investigate these bases. The priest sends word back to his team, who aren’t happy. After allowing Blackthorne to stay in his room, we see a woman attempt to attack Toranaga but is unsuccessful and dies at his hands with the help of Blackthorne. Toranaga reveals that this woman was after Blackthorne, not him, and he knows who is behind the attempt.
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