Shōgun
In 17th century Japan, shipwrecked British sailor John Blackthorne rises from outsider to samurai, while being used as a pawn in Japanese leader Toranaga's struggle to reach the top of the ruling chain.
Wokeness: 0%
Overall Score: 100%
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User Submitted Reviews
Michaels
Samurai are not woke
After two episodes, this seems a very worthy successor to the 1980 Shogun mini-series, and both stem from the novel, of course. There is a mentally strong and manipulative female character and a female ninja, but, well, why not?
Edit: After seven episodes, it's still great. There are more manipulative women now. I'm okay with it, because in that time period in Japan, we have records of women who would put Lady Macbeth to shame. Female ninja-like assassins were also a thing.
Created: 03-03-2024
45trump47
Not woke
3 episodes in, no woke themes. Heavy Catholic presence not treated in a totally positive light, but may be accurate for the time.
Created: 03-06-2024
NoWo
Accurate, relentless and mesmerizing
Historically accurate, at least enough to fool me.
Visually stunning, even in its gory moments.
I will note that the photography results from some rather extreme choices.
The showmakers seem somewhat fed up with the technical perfection of high-resolution digital cameras, so they paired them with some pretty retro anamorphic lenses.
I'm sure the gear was top-shelf and appropriately expensive, but I do mean retro as in 70s era Hollywood newcomers. Apocalypse Now comes to mind.
So, be ready to embrace blur, softness and chromatic aberration at the edges.
I does help build a visual identity, but I did find it distracting at times.
The cast is nothing short of stellar, both in its collective performance and dedication.
Apologies to the Japanese actors, who apparently re-trained in period-appropriate speech, their efforts push far beyond my capacity to appreciate them, but I can barely believe Bastow learned Japanese in a few months for this role, and with such results!
As for the story itself: I will not spoil it, but it is ruthless and heart-wrenching.
The title says it all: this is the story of a warlord.
Regarding wokeness: this show is accurate to a period when people did not have the luxury of utter stupidity.
So, no.
Created: 08-31-2024
