FX's Newest Historical Drama is a Must-Watch for Game of Thrones Fans

Summary

• A new series based on James Clavell's novel Shōgun will air on FX and Hulu in late February.
• Critics who have seen the series are raving, giving it a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
• The show's plot accurately depicts the historical realities of early 17th century Japan, and is no less convoluted and politically charged than Game of Thrones.

FX's Shōgun inevitably draws comparisons to Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai: both are produced in America, both are artistic interpretations of real events that took place in Japan, and both center on a white character.

Only the upcoming show is not a typical epic action movie with a white savior bringing civilization to barbarians. On the contrary, without unnecessary pathos and with utmost respect, Shōgun conveys the historical atmosphere of Japan at the intersection of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The review embargo for Shōgun was recently lifted, and many critics and journalists, who have already seen 8 of the 10 episodes available to them, are expressing incomparable joy.

Not only has the critical consensus reached a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, but many reviewers also note that this is a smart (if a bit clichéd) political drama that emphasizes slow-burning plot and intrigue, reminiscent of Game of Thrones thanks to the machinations and ruthlessness of the political forces involved.

Let's find out what the long-awaited historical drama is all about and what critics are already saying about it.

A New Adaptation of James Clavell's Novel

The series is a new take on James Claywell's 1975 historical novel of the same name. Before that, there had already been a fairly successful attempt to adapt the story: in 1980, NBC released a five-episode miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune.

Shōgun is set around the year 1600. Factions fought bloody wars, formed alliances, and were no strangers to treachery. All for influence over Japan, in a situation where the emperor had only nominal power. The real power was in the bakufu, the administration headed by a military dictator, the shōgun. However, it was not only the lords who vied for influence in the country, but outside forces as well: Catholics, supported by Portugal and the Vatican, and Protestants, supported by the British and the Dutch, also divided the country into spheres of influence.

In such circumstances, John Blackthorne (based on a real historical figure, William Adams), played by Cosmo Jarvis, finds himself in. He is an English navigator stranded on the shores of Japan after a shipwreck. Blackthorne is at first distrusted by the Japanese, who see him as a spy, and he himself views the non-Christianized barbarians with arrogance (though he later learns that some of them, including the feudal lords, have converted to Catholicism).

However, after befriending the powerful Lord Toranaga (based on the first shōgun of the Tokugawa Shōgunate of Japan, Tokugawa Ieyasu) and beginning to learn the language and culture, Blackthorne becomes a loyal ally of the future shōgun and helps him in his conquest.

Critical Acclaim and Strengths of the New Series

As mentioned above, critics have given the series a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many noted that although the story is told through the lens of Blackthorne, who is a rather stereotypical white character, the show doesn't shy away from focusing on its talented Japanese cast. Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai and Tadanobu Asano stand out in particular. It's also a big plus that the series doesn't shy away from dialogues in Japanese and Portuguese, which adds to the authenticity of the events.

Finally, let's get back to the Game of Thrones comparisons. The series promises more than a few shocking plot twists tied to violent political games.

The first two episodes premiere February 27 on FX and Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ worldwide. In total, this limited series will consist of ten episodes, with the final episode scheduled for April 23, 2024.