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 .

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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 .

Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga looks thoughtful in Shogun with the series' poster behind him

Custom Image by Kate Bove

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones

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.

Shogun

Marco Polo