Shōgun (TV Series) The Eightfold Fence (2024) User Reviews

Getting Inside Mariko's "Eightfold Fence"

[excellent_person · 10/10 · 12 March 2024]

Another great episode.

Full of dreamy, rainy Japanese scenery in the smaller village, as the Anjin finds himself in an increasingly better living situation and finds a way to make himself much more valuable to Team Toranaga than even he expected.

Great character development and relationship development in this one, as two characters emerge from their background roles to alter the course of the main plot. I enjoyed the shocking (and graphic) twist at the end that is not for the feint of heart!

Can't wait to see where this goes from here, particularly how Toranaga gets himself out of this huge mess.

One of the best tv episodes

[danscurtu-wow · 10/10 · 12 March 2024]

Everything is so well done in this episode. The characters interactions are amazing. One hour to make you forget completely that you are a spectator and those are actors surrounded by cameras. I think that the real cinematography shifted from the big screen to the tv adaptations and series today. More and more often I find the need to rewatch and discover the amazing cinematography of tv series while not caring much of the most of the movies made lately for the big screen. This episode was one of the best episodes I saw in a tv series. I can compare it with another episode from another show about samurai and Japan, but of a different nature, ep. 5 from Blue Eye Samurai.

I am so happy after watching this episode. I wish now I could have a time machine and watch now all the other episodes.

Shocking

[eduardocastroa · 9/10 · 14 March 2024]

That chapter was simply shocking! Almost perfect, the rhythm of this series is very good, it keeps you hanging on every minute about what happens with the main characters, it is one of the best chapters I have seen, surely there are even better chapters to come, the personalities of the characters are developed in a correct way, the setting, photography, costumes, dialogues, excellent. The turnaround of the situation with the guns, usami fuji was very good, I honestly did not expect it, as well as the decision made by Toranaga's son, which will have many consequences and the beginning of a great war that we will witness in the next chapters.

Shogun does not disappoint!

Do you know about "The Eightfold Fence?"

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 4 May 2024]

This episode was my favorite one thus far, with some great development, exploration and deepening of characters. As well as some gorgeous settings and scenes!

This one gave us some great development on Mariko, as she slowly starts to open up, remimding us that you can never know what is going inside peoples heads, who they are and whether you know their goals!

This episode really gave me a feeling that perhaps we dont know everyone as well as we think we do, especially after the brutal last scene, that left me with no clue on what to expect next!

The visuals and settings were beautifull! I almost felt like i was transported to most captivating locations of rural Japan! This show really nails the tone and message and never feels like it is compromising!

It happened one night

[moritzherz · 9/10 · 31 March 2024]

You know, what makes a tv show great is the balance of quality. If you manage to keep it or even increase it episode for episode you made your job well.

Shogun started with an extremely high quality and got better each and every episode since the beginning. The proper word for such work is excellency.

Lord Toranaga leaves Blackthorne, Lady Mariko and his sin in Ajiro, Lord Yanushibe's village. Blackthorne introduces cannon warfare to the japanese warriors, which will be a game changer in a possible war.

Yanushibe is still plotting against his lord and when Ishido's men arrive he wants to show them their new weapons.

But Toranaga's son wants to step out of his father's shadow and kills them with a surprise attack. This means war.

Meanwhile Blackthorne settles in within his house. His maid at first irritates him, but he quickly learns of her qualities and welfares them.

And then it finally happened. Blackthorne and Lady Mariko do the thing. Since their first meeting love was in the air and I am glad the writers got the right moment. The hot spring could have been it even a bit earlier.

I also have to mention the subtle but great humor. Especially Lord Yanushibe brings me to laugh with his behaviour but also Blackthorne having no clue of the japanese traditions.

But let's focus on the conflict. Toranaga now finds himself at war with the council after his son brutally murdered Ishido's men. How will Yanushibe behave? He could betray his lord, take Blackthorne, Lady Mariko and Toranaga's son hostage or kill them and therefore prove his loyalty to Ishido. Or is it already too late and he stands on Toranaga's side?

Questions like these prove the shows quality. It's tense and awfully entertaining. You just want to keep watching.

Getting better though still missing key elements

[blackbird1048 · 8/10 · 12 March 2024]

OK talk about the ending first. Well done and solid decisions by the director in showing what such weapons do. All too often its sanitised in media. The only issue is that the reaction of the people. That should have been more stunned, as the lords are well back from such action as noted in the dialogue earlier in the episode.

Goof midway in that Blackthorne only gives one weapon to Koki when it was meant to be two as Blackthorne couldnt see Yabu with his weapons. The game playing scene is also cut out which would have added impact to it.

The whole seppuko scene is missing which is critical to Mariko opening up to Blackthorne. If they've moved it to next episode then they're messing about with the novel to make it more relatable / understandable to Americans. As in making Mariko fall in love with his way of thinking and his competence as a leader & teacher rather than his rebirth into a Japanese. The podcast certainly infers this unintentionally.

The beach troop inspection scene again is missing the impact of both the book and the 80s series. Whilst it had some, the playing with Yabu and keeping him under some sort of control was missing. It would have helped solidify Toranaga's awareness of Yabu and how to handle him.

deepening themes and character relationships

[nerrdrage · 9/10 · 13 April 2024]

This is a pivotal episode that does a lot of work to deepen and expand the story.

If you remember the 1980s Shogun with Richard Chamberlain, the romance between Blackthorne and Mariko was a big part of the story. Here, they're slow-rolling it, which is believable, considering what different personalities they have and what different cultures they come from.

They don't even seem all that compatible, really. But if they try to sell a romance to the audience, at least they're not foisting it on us unrealistically.

Blackthorne's relationship with Fuji is well done, and deepens his characterization well beyond the rather crude and thuggish pirate/sailor that he seemed to be at the start.

We get more insight into Japanese social psychology and (crucially) some smart thinking from Blackthorne, who gets out of the pickle he's in, trying the advise the Japanese on military maneuvers he knows nothing about. That's good since we need to see him as a clever, quick-minded asset to Toranaga, not just a strange exotic pet that gets dragged here and there.

And then Toranaga's kid, angry at being seen as a "Minawara brat" coasting on the family name, does something that amps up the conflict considerably.

Great episode as always, saving 10 star for the best of the best episode.

[iisandeshpoudel · 8/10 · 12 March 2024]

Why do all great leader character's son is so dumb and impulsive. I find this trope very predictable. Nonetheless, this show is top of it's game.

Great episode as always, saving 10 star for the best of the best episode.

Maybe the son could inherit his father's strategic brilliance, but grapple with the immense pressure of living up to his legacy. An internal conflict like that would be far more engaging. Imagine the son facing situations where his impulsiveness clashes with his strategic mind, forcing him to mature and find his own path as a leader.

But the show has to be faithful to the book. IK.

Beautiful episode

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 23 April 2024]

The fourth episode of FX's Shogun, based on the 1975 James Clavell novel, has been slow at times, but the fourth episode has gotten me hooked. Director Frederick E. O. Toye helmed the show, with Nigel Williams and Emily Yoshida writing. The slowness is not due to lack of action or presence, but the rhythm of the narrative. The main focus is on Cosmo Jarvis' John Blackthorne, or Anjin, as he slowly adapts to his new Japanese surroundings. This episode presents him with his biggest challenges yet, including his relationship with Moeka Hoshi's Usami Fuji. The writers use this relationship to further the relationship between Mariko (Anna Sawai) and Blackthorne, but more of it is needed as the series progresses. The two inch closer on a couple of occasions, especially during gift exchanges. The "all-noble man" schtick of Blackthorne is appreciated, but his performance in the 1600s is sometimes unappealing. The "twist" of Blackthorne not having been to a ground battle before is predictable, but the show manages to put Toranaga's men over the edge by learning how to use cannons. The political game of Shogun remains intriguing, but the development of this aspect in this episode was disappointing. The growing sense of war has been present in the past few episodes, and Sawai's character announced a guest in the final line of "The Eightfold Fence." However, the political subplot didn't stand out in this episode. It's clear that there are frustrations within the small village Toranaga and his people are living in, and the Council may be working to highlight these issues. The absence of Toranaga for most of the episode was disappointing. Anna Sawai's performance in Blackthorne's bath scene was stellar, with a special fanfare for pretending to be another woman who snuck into the Englishman's bedroom. The show's full potential is evident, but the author is eagerly anticipating more of her past. They are curious about why she speaks perfect English and why the religious subplot hasn't been revisited for a while, which is a significant aspect of the show. Shogun Season 1 Episode 4 showcases the talent of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks in establishing tone in a world where the average viewer knows very little. The opening scenes, such as a messenger carrying an urgent missive for Lord Omi, are familiar to viewers, as they depict peasants preparing for the arrival of bigwigs and the local lord beaming with anticipation. The title of hatamoto and the mores of feudal Japan are universal concepts, and we recognize Fuji's despair when we see it. While we are learning about the customs that have cost her her son and husband and are causing her degradation, we understand the depth of her suffering on an innate level. This pain could make her a danger to those around her or instill her with profound compassion and empathy. Fuji, ordered to serve as Blackthorne's consort, begs to quit the clan and become a nun, but is denied by Lady Mariko. Both women are without their husbands, but Mariko believes Buntaro died with honor, while Fuji's husband committed seppuku, leaving her without benefits. Fuji agrees to serve as the Anjin's consort for six months, as she retains power as a former samurai caste member. Toranaga, a former member of the samurai caste, avoids seppuku byzantine schemes. The Council of Regents must recruit a replacement before handing down a death sentence to Toranaga. Shogun writers face the challenge of introducing unfamiliar traditions and practices to a Western and 21st-century audience without pandering or slowing down the action. The series is innovative and distinct, making it a cliche to compare it to TV's last great feudal epic, Game of Thrones.

Good episode

[851222 · 9/10 · 5 April 2024]

Greetings from Lithuania.

4th episode called "The Eightfold Fence" was a slower yet rewarding experience in comparison with 3rd part. This time it's all about teaching tactics and finding yourselves in a new environment. It was a gorgeous looking episode with some good interactions between characters. I liked the dialogs in here, as they fleshed out characters, well, only two of them. And slowly I can already see we're things are going, I guess. The show started to slip into its trajectory, and it doesn't feel unique no more. It's not a bad thing if done right. And if it's done right we will see in next 6 episodes.

The Zerofold Fence

[Oslo_Jargo · 3/10 · 23 March 2024]

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

*Plot and ending analyzed*

Episode four was just dreadful. Apparently, the English steersman, who said he knew nothing of military tactics and expertise in the previous episode, is an artillery genius in this episode. And he trains a few Japanese soldiers, making them experts as well. Seventeenth century artillery guns were unwieldy and difficult to shoot accurately. In a highly preposterous scene, the new Japanese artillery men make waste of some enemy horsemen from 1000 yards out. And the general, whose limbs are all bloody and absent, mutters coherently, that it was not honorable behavior. All that because some impetuous young son wanted attention. Who is writing this drivel?

The English steersman, who in previous episodes is made out to be a devout Protestant, sleeps with a Japanese prostitute, and he is married. More hypocrisy. And there is more foreshadowing that the Japanese translator may be a key to the future. I personally think that she may be a trained assassin who has a shady past, and will kill the enemy lord. If that is the case, this whole series is a complete farce.

The episodes are getting progressively worse and worse.

Anyone who has wanted to bailout at this point, should take a parachute and jump from the burning plane already.

About historical inaccuracies and scenario

[uwmcom · 1/10 · 1 April 2024]

In this section, the siege of Malta is mentioned and it is stated that 600 soldiers defended against 60 thousand Ottoman soldiers. The defenders numbered 6100 people and the siege troops numbered 20 thousand people. Please don't tarnish the show with lies that demean people's ethnicity.

Additionally, the impression that the siege failed was given, which is also false information. I'm sure if we follow other historical events in the series, we can catch that the scriptwriters or producers fictionalized many things unrealistic according to their ideologies.

The high ratings of the series aroused my curiosity. But I don't think he deserves this score. Did 1600s Japan really look like this?

As for the scenario, it's really boring. No action, no internal conflict, no tension, no excitement, no mystery. This is nothing in the series. There is only conflict of interest, even that is mediocre. There isn't even any intrigue.