Shogun
Summary
The Emmy - constitute FX seriesShōgunis not only an unbelievable series , but a massive melioration overMarco Polo , Netflix ’s historic heroic poem from 10 age ago . Although the serial publication follow vastly unlike diachronic moment in their respective options , bothShōgunandMarco Poloare large - scale dramatic play that pit ambitious men against ech other — one an outsider and one entrenched in the ongoing upthrow . With a astonishing 25 Emmy nomination under its belt , the Japanese - languageShōgunhas made TV history . However , the serial publication made its mark before the awards time of year as , arguably , the class ’s most talk - about show .
AlthoughShōgunis loosely inspired by a true story , the historical fiction heroic nitty-gritty on the cunning Lord Yoshii Toranaga ( Hiroyuki Sanada ) , a sinewy daimyo with many political rivals ; John Blackthorne ( Cosmo Jarvis ) , a bluff English maritime pilot who becomes strand in Japan ; and Lady Toda Mariko ( Anna Sawai ) , a set fair sex who must prove herself — and her allegiances — as she serves as the transcriber between Toranaga and Blackthorne . BetweenShōgun ’s incredible cast of charactersand rich menses - piece existence - building , it ’s easy one of TV ’s most compelling historical heroic poem , reiterating what Netflix’sMarco Polocould’ve been .
FX’s Shogun & Netflix’s Marco Polo Share Many Similarities
Both Historical Epics Navigate Similar Themes & Character Dynamics
LikeShōgun , Netflix’sMarco Polois a big - budget historical epic . However , despite some powerhouse performances from silver screen legends like Joan Chen ( The Last Emperor , Twin Peaks),Marco Poloonly gestures at being true prestigiousness telecasting . The show ’s first outing was universally pan , saddlingMarco Polowith a grim 33 % aggregate grudge on Rotten Tomatoes . fortuitously , the historical drama turned the tides in its sophomore season , which still boasts a 100 % unfermented evaluation . give the series ' massive budget and spotty output , Netflix canceled its HBO imitation , suffering a report $ 200 million lossin the aftermath ofMarco Poloseason 2 .
… the core premise ofMarco Polois that an foreigner — in this case , a white Venetian merchant — set himself in another rural area ’s political sphere .
see back , it ’s almost as ifMarco Polografted some of the most troubling dynamics of author James Clavell’sShōgunonto a different setting . Starring Lorenzo Richelmy as the title character , Netflix ’s sometime - fashioned epic is generally inspired by the true events of Marco Polo ’s clip in the court of Kublai Khan ( Benedict Wong ) , the Mongol Empire ’s Khagan and Yuan dynasty founder . LikeShōgun , the corepremise ofMarco Polois that an foreigner — in this case , a white Venetian merchant — plants himself in another country ’s political celestial sphere , only to clash with an every bit ambitious loss leader .
Despite being position up as the pennant ’s answer to HBO ’s Game of Thrones , this massive serial only cease up lasting two time of year .
Why Shogun Is A Much Better Show Than Marco Polo
Shogun Is One Of The Year’s Best Dramas But It Isn’t Without Its Issues
compare toMarco Polo , Shōgun ’s impressive Rotten Tomatoes score — a 99 % from critic and an equally telling 92 % from audience — talk for itself in many way . In fact , Shōgun , whichMetal Gear Solidcreator Hideo Kojimadubbed " Game of Thrones countersink in seventeenth hundred Japan , " get high marks for its ambitious scope , keen attending to period - while detail and authenticity , and largely muscular execution . WhileFX ’s adaptation does a much better job of focus on its Japanese fictional character , it ca n’t completely scat the Eurocentrism of its source stuff , thoughShōgunis for certain more ego - cognisant than other diachronic drama .
FX’sShōgunseason 1 is pullulate on Hulu , while both seasons ofMarco Poloare streaming on Netflix .
Shōgun , free in 2024 , is fix in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant polite warfare . It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents , while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby sportfishing village , complicating the tide of power .
Custom Image by Kate Bove
Shōgun, released in 2024, is set in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant civil war. It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents, while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby fishing village, complicating the tides of power.