The Eightfold Fence – As this episode of Shogun begins, Kashigi Omi (Hiroto Kanai) receives a message from Osaka. They learn that Lord Yabushige is coming to the village with a guest, Yoshii Toranaga. Usami Fuji (Moeka Hoshi) asks Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai) to remove this sentence from her head. Mariko reminds her that the Anjin needs a consort. Usami asks to leave the clan and become a nun. Mariko refuses. When they talk about her husband, Mariko says she will inherit his wishes and continue serving their lord. He only wants a year. Mariko tells Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) that she’ll give them six months. Yabu says everything in Ajiro will be in order. Their forces must be ready before the Council finds a replacement for Toranaga.

Toranaga reveals he gave Hiromatsu an order to deliver his resignation as soon as they left Osaka. Yabu worries he has killed himself and destroyed his cause. Toranaga says his head where remain where it is until a legal order arrives. Once they arrive, Yabu tells Omi that the barbarian is hatamoto now and should receive a home. His consort and Lady Toda will stay there as well. John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) is introduced to Omi. He quickly insults him. The men begin chanting for Yabu who asks Toranaga to inspect his guard. Toranaga tells them that dark clouds are gathering over Japan so they must protect it against treachery. Once he finishes speaking, the men begin chanting his name. Omi tells Yabu that the whole village has prepared for his arrival.

Blackthorne roams around while asking about his men. He speaks to Muraji (Yasunari Takeshima) who tells him his men were moved to different places. Blackthorne wants to go to his ship only to learn it’s forbidden. Mariko informs him that his men were taken to the city of Edo for their safety. As for his guns, they can fetch them if it ever becomes necessary. She explains that his ship and crew now belong to Toranaga who will use them as he wishes. Moments later, Blackthorne is introduced to the gardener named Uejirou. Then, he is taken to his house. Mariko shows him where she’ll be sleeping. He’ll be there for at least six months since that’s how long training will take. Mariko tells him everything he’ll receive. Since he doesn’t want to pillow Fuji, she will look after his house and servants.

Mariko makes it clear it would be an insult to their lord if he refuses. Blackthorne wants to refuse anyway. Yabu is told he saved Toranaga’s life only for him to spit in his face. Omi has not found out who leaked word of the barbarian ship to Toranaga. Yabu suspects Ishido thinks he’s betrayed him. He looks like he’s fully committed to this losing cause. Omi reminds him that the regiment is still his. He suggests the guns and artillery could be offered as a gift to Lord Ishido. Blackthorne gets upset because Fuji won’t leave him alone. Mariko reveals Fuji is her late husband’s niece. Recently, her husband and infant son were put to death. Her husband insulted Ishido so something had to be done to prevent bloodshed.

The child’s father served Toranaga. Now, Fuji will be allowed to do the same. Mariko asks Blackthorne if he knows the eightfold fence. She explains the concept to him. Blackthorne has a gun. In the morning, Omi tries to get Blackthorne to turn over his weapon. Fuji asks Mariko to tell Blackthorne to give her the guns. Blackthorne hands over the guns before Fuji points one at Omi. Moments later, Mariko tells Blackthorne that Yabu believes his men do not need to learn basic skills like loading or cleaning muskets. Yabo explains he wants to start with foreign methods that his enemies have not seen. Blackthorne starts by telling him about The Siege of Malta. Mariko finds it odd that he didn’t fight in the battle and wasn’t even born when it was fought.

She asks him to start with a battle he actually fought in. Blackthorne reminds her he is a sea pilot and there aren’t many infantry battles at sea. He thinks gun tactics are useless compared to the fine art of English naval warfare. He wants to demonstrate. They think it’s pointless because cannons are never accurate. Blackthorne soon proves them wrong. Mariko watches as Blackthorne continues training the men. Later, they go to a beautiful spot together. Blackthorne believes there are other ways he can help Toranaga. He suggests having a fleet of ships. His men in Edo could help him build a navy. Mariko reminds him his oath is to Toranaga and not the orders that brought him there.

When he asks what orders, she says his crimes against the Portuguese. Mariko makes it clear that Toranaga will never be turned against his enemies. Blackthorne believes they have enemies in common since the Catholics were trying to kill Toranaga in Osaka. Mariko says they were trying to kill Blackthorne. He admits it and explains they were trying to kill him because of what he can offer to Toranaga. They experience a baby earthquake. Mariko says death can come for them at any moment. Omi has sex with Kiku. She talks about the cannons. Kiku admits the entire village is uneasy when his uncle is around. She mentions the possibility of Omi being their lord. Mariko watches Blackthorne train the men. Then, they learn Lord Ishido’s men are coming from the west and Nebara Jozen is leading the pack.

Yabu tells him he had no idea that Toranaga would escape that night. Yabu is given an invitation to return to Osaka. He is told to renew his oath to the council and accept the consequences of his actions. Yabu refuses. He warns Nebara that Ishido will lose an ally if they kill him. Nebara threatens to tell Ishido that Yabu has declared himself his enemy. Yabu tells him about the cannons and how they will shrivel Christian balls. He asks him to stay and watch the cannons tomorrow. Jozen eventually agrees. Yabu explains that Jozen will witness the artillery and return to Osaka where all the lords will quake. Then, he tells them about being summoned to Osaka. He tells Lord Nagakado that he’ll refuse. Yabu claims he’d give his life for Toranaga although he tells Omi he can’t believe it.

Omi suggests there might be a solution to this. Mariko tells Blackthorne that Yabu will be considered a fugitive if he doesn’t return to Osaka. If he does, he’ll likely be ordered to commit seppuku. Blackthorne wants to try her natto. He apologizes to Fuji for the way he behaved when he was first brought there. Blackthorne gives her a gun as a gift. If she’s one to do her job well, she’ll need the best. Mariko explains to Fuji that he is trying to be kind. In return, Fuji gives Blackthorne a sword that belonged to her deceased father and another. As a hatamoto, he should have swords. Lord Nagakado (Yuki Kura) and Omi talk about Jozen witnessing the cannons. Lord Nagakado doesn’t want to contact his father because everyone already thinks he’s useless.

Tomorrow, they’ll have no choice but to reveal their tactics to the enemy. Lord Nagakado insists he’ll handle it. Mariko finds Blackthorne naked down by the water. She came to thank him for giving the gift to Fuji. Mariko says he is wrong about her service in Ajiro. She insists it isn’t about religion. Mariko hasn’t told him her family name. Many years ago, a great injustice stole everything from her. Toranaga has offered her a way to seek a resolution for what has happened. Blackthorne insists she doesn’t owe him an explanation. They begin talking about London. Blackthorne tells her what they would do if he took her to London. In the middle of the night, a woman, who looks like Mariko, enters Blackthorne’s room and they have sex.

In the morning, he tells Mariko he is in good spirits after a night of good company. She asks if the courtesan was acceptable. Mariko and Fuji thought she would make a pleasing gift. Then, Yabu and the others gather to watch the cannons. The demonstration has been coordinated by Lord Nagakado himself. Lord Nagakado tells Jozen that his presence there is intolerable. He orders the cannons to fire killing Jozen’s men. Mariko tells Blackthorne not to intervene. Lord Nagakado kills Jozen. Mariko says it is war.

 

Shogun Review

Shogun’s biggest flaws were more obvious than ever in the fourth episode of the series. Again, everything about the new adaptation is inferior to the 1980s series. The acting is much weaker, the story has been charged to make things frustrating, and there is a lack of connection to any of the characters. The show hasn’t done a good job of building the relationship between Blackthorne and Mariko because it’s been rushed so much.

The series somehow even looks worse than the 1980s version because everything is dark, gloomy, and it’s always raining. When it isn’t, the CGI sucks the life out of the scenery. Other scenes are far too dark. The addition of so many characters has turned the series into a boring, lifeless mess with endless dialogue. Even the explosions at the end looked far too fake.

The biggest issue here is the lack of substance and heart. The show is just going through the scenes without making viewers care about any of it. It’s trying too hard to be more complex than it needed to be while being completely void of any emotion. With 10 episodes this season and painful weekly releases, there is a good chance that half of the people who start Shogun will give up before they reach the end.

It’s become just as dull as the unimaginative scenery but that’s to be expected when it’s filmed in Canada. The episode scores a 4 out of 10. Recaps of Shogun can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here. Discuss Shogun and other shows at the Reel Mockery Forum.