Summary
Thanks to a 900-page “bible” the editing team used as a guideline for the popular seriesShogun, I’m anticipating season 2 with high hopes. The show had its roots in a miniseries by the same name in 1980, adapted from James Clavell’s best-selling novel. It won several Golden Globes and prime-time Emmys but did not follow the same historical accuracy that 2024’sShogunhad aspired to with meticulous care and detail. The show’s intention to recreate the militia and politics-driven setting of the early 17th century was an ambitious one, but it successfully captivated viewers and critics alike.
During feudal Japan’s Edo period,Shogunintroduced characterslike the diplomatic Toda Mariko and the cunning Kashigi Yabushige. The show strayed pretty far from the extensive nature of the novel for the show’s cohesion and engagement. For instance, Mariko has been considerably watered down for television consumption, with her religious faith minimized for contemporary audiences. The complexity and depth of Clavell’s novel gave the show a considerable amount of storytelling material, but there are only so many seasons that can rely on one novel’s content. Once again, the 900-page bible could be the show’s saving grace.
Shogun’s Bible Of Japanese History Sounds Reassuring For The Show’s Future
While Clavell’s book helped steer the character development of characters like John Blackthorne and Lord Yoshii Toranaga, it’s the 900-page bible that sustained the show’s compelling nature. The bible was an elaborate binder of all the elements of Japan in 1600, including architecture, makeup, and the way different army factions would walk. The show has been renewed for two more seasons and will continue to borrow from the bible’s guide to samurai etiquette and customs. Season 2 could be reviving some fallen characters from the conclusion of season 1, but only time will tell.
Referencing characters such as Yabu and Mariko,Shoguneditor Maria Gonzalezsaid she would"love it if some of those characters came back in some form or another.” The editors won’t be making the final decisions on the character’s placements in season 2, but their sentiments echo the opinions ofShogunaficionados. Yabu and Mariko added to pivotal turning points in the show, compounding the tragedy of their deaths. Hopefully, this could encourage the writers to bring these characters back through flashbacks or visions, setting up season 2’s intrigue.
