Ladies Of The Willow World – As this episode begins, viewers are taken to Azuchi Castle 22 years ago. A young Mariko is introduced as the daughter of Akechi Jinsai and the new vassal. One day, she watches as Akechi Jinsai gets upset and nearly lashes out. Once they realize she is there, she is sent to bed. Before long, she begins training. Mariko is told about her marriage to Buntaro which will be an alliance. She isn’t thrilled about it because the Toda clan is a worthless alliance. Mariko believes her father is casting her away. Akechi speaks to his daughter before she is taken away. After the intro, Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) speaks to his men about death. He intends to reward John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) for saving him during the earthquake.

John is given a fief near Kanagawa worth 600 koku. He is also named the chief admiral of the Kanto and general of the cannon regiment. Later, Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) talks about the thousands dead and the reports being even worse in the north. He is concerned they’ll never be able to face Ishido like this. Omi complains about John having control of the cannon regiment now. Yabu says the army used to his, but it’s out of his hands now. He is more worried about being pulled into a fruitless war while their army is in shambles. Yabu thinks it’s time to write another will. Blackthrone and Mariko pray close to each other. Buntaro apologizes to Toranaga and explains he loses himself when he is around Mariko. Toranaga urges him to divorce her. Buntaro thought she’d be grateful that he spared her life, but she keeps asking for death. Toranaga orders Buntaro to isolate from her for seven days.

Blackthorne and Mariko approach Toranaga after that. Blackthorne wants to know why Toranaga gave him those gifts. He isn’t refusing, but he isn’t able to serve Toranaga in the way he wishes. Blackthorne wishes to leave Japan. If he stays in Japan, he’d like his ship returned so he can sail against Toranaga’s enemies and his. Blackthorne tells them how he can still help, but Mariko admits that isn’t in the lord’s interest. Mariko tells Toranaga that Blackthorne wants to attack the Black Ship to harm trade in ports controlled by the Catholic regents. Toranaga has no reason to attack the Portuguese. He refuses to discuss it any further so Blackthorne leaves. When they’re alone, Toranaga asks Mariko what’s going on between herself and Blackthorne. She says nothing except words.

Toranaga won’t accept disruption because they’re already dangerously close to defeat. He refuses Blackthorne’s request. Toranaga wants Blackthorne to spend a night at the brothel. Mariko promises to negotiate personally. She is told to be there as his translator in case he talks while he pillows. Ishido has taken the regents hostage. They’ve been locked in the castle with their families. Ishido is forcing their vote against Toranaga. A man rides away alone so he can warn Toranaga. Father Martin Alvito (Tommy Bastow) and Father Dell’Aqua (Paulino Nunes) talk about Ishido’s move. Ishido has decided the Regents shouldn’t leave until they can elect a fifth member and sentence Toranaga to death. They blame Lady Ochiba who recently returned. Alvito thinks they should ally with Toranaga, but Dell’Aqua isn’t interested in that idea.

Lady Ruri remembers an event from the past. She is told to flee and never return because her father was murdered in Kyoto. The men complain about being prisoners to the lady. They believe it’ll be over once the threat from Toranaga is eliminated. One man is concerned they’ll always be their hostages regardless. One woman says Ishido is nothing more than the Taiko’s favored kosho. The performer begins calling out to Lady Ochiba (Fumi Nikaido). Ishido’s wife is willing to give a gift to the consort who can bear them a son. The woman is told she will be known as “Ochiba no kata” from now on. After the performance, Ito is told the depiction of the late master was profound. Ishido says he looked up to the Taiko as proof even someone like him can reach new heights. Lady Ochiba speaks to Lord Ito about his performance. He says acting is his grand passion. They ask him about politics. Ishido invites Ito to join the council and vote for Toranaga’s death.

Later, Ishido thanks Ochiba for suggesting Ito. They talk about the Taiko and how they live in his shadow. Ochiba tells him to get rid of Toranaga and it’ll be his shadow they speak of. Blackthorne sees the messenger arrive and fall off his horse. He tells them that all of Osaka belongs to Ishido now. Their allies are being pressured into becoming their enemies. Toranaga is told it is time for Crimson Sky. Yabu asks what that is. He is told it’s a plan made a long time ago to have a single, violent rush on Osaka Castle. They would eliminate the council and form a new government. Toranaga would be sole regent. Yabu believes an attack on Osaka would be suicide. They talk about the possibility of joining forces with Saeki Nobutatsu. Toranaga’s son urges him to become Shogun since he has never lost a battle. He never started a battle and there will be no Crimson Sky.

Toranaga will never seek to be Shogun. Mariko tries to arrange for Lady Kiku to spend the night with Blackthorne. They negotiate for an eternity until Mariko agrees to 300 monme. Omi admits he doesn’t know why Toranaga values the barbarian so much. Kiku insists the barbarian is nothing to her. Blackthorne talks to Mariko about getting Kiku for the night. Mariko tells Blackthorne that he should share his reaction and tell Kiku she is beautiful. She walks Blackthorne through the evening with Kiku. Kiku offers to explain why the Willow World is among the most treasures planes of existence. She tells him while Mariko translates for Blackthorne. Before long, Kiku invites Blackthorne into a private room. When they leave, Omi and Nagakado talk about it from a distance. Blackthorne thanks Kiku who invites him to come again.

Mariko returns to Toranaga and tells him about the night. He asks what she remembers of her childhood. He remembers her being close with Ochiba no kata. Mariko remembers her as Ruri. Once she became Ochiba no kata, Mariko never saw her. Toranaga wonders how she became the woman she is today. Mariko says a man may go to war for many reasons, but a woman is simply at war. Toranaga reveals her father once wished she’d been born a man. Her father planned to get her married so she’d be as far away from his fight as possible. He hoped she’d return one day to finish it. Although Mariko suggests she failed him, Toranaga insists her war isn’t over. Lord Ito is loyal to the Heir and the council. Lord Sugiyama (Toshi Toda) says no to him though. He says there has been no evidence of any plot against the heir.

Sugiyama will not vote on anything until the hostages are released. Once he leaves, Ishido says he will propose Sugiyama’s impeachment. Ochiba tells them they’re playthings and have no idea of the enemy they face. Her feelings for Toranaga began during her childhood in Azuchi. She knows Akechi took her father’s life, but she believes Toranaga planned it. Ishido wants her to tell this in public so his end will be swift. Ochiba doubts any of them can stop them. She asks if Ishido heard what she went through to give the Taiko a son. Ochiba says no one else could achieve it. She tells Ishido how Daiyoin drugged her with bitter herbs. Only she became mother of the heir by compelling fate to look at her so she could scratch out its eyes. Lord Sugiyama tries to escape with some of the hostages.

Ishido has them all killed but blames bandits for killing them. Toranaga knows Ishido will soon control the council and he’ll be falsely impeached. Then, war will be declared on his clan. Toranaga is adamant he will defend the Taiko’s heir. It’ll be Crimson Sky. They’ll send a message to his brother asking for his support. Then, they’ll rush Osaka and obliterate their enemies.

 

Shogun Review

The wheels have literally fallen off the train in the sixth episode of Shogun. Everything bad about the series came full circle in this episode and created a more underwhelming experience than usual. For starters, this episode tried to be heavy on the politics in Osaka and elsewhere. A bit of this here and there could be effective. The problem is that we have multiple scenes with unidentifiable characters jabbering about war, impeaching Toranaga, and so on.

These characters all look alike and they’ve barely been introduced through six episodes so most viewers probably don’t know their names. Even after recapping each episode painstakingly, I couldn’t recognize every character so I gave up midway through this episode. Not to mention, the series is adding more characters without proper introductions. When this is compared to the 80s Shogun, this is entirely too complex for no reason except to reach the 10-episode requirement.

The acting is lackluster compared to the 80s series. Today’s John Blackthorne and Toda Mariko just can’t hold a candle to the originals. This episode in particular felt a bit pointless with very little moving the story forward. In the old version, Blackthorne’s encounter with the prostitute was incredibly interesting while it was just skimmed over here. Too much time was spent on Mariko negotiating with the brothel owner. This Shogun is quickly becoming something it wasn’t by taking on a modern twist that simply doesn’t work.

If I am being totally honest, I was bored to death moments after starting this episode and no longer care about any of the characters. If viewers haven’t considered throwing in the towel just yet, this episode will probably make them reconsider. The 10-episode count with weekly releases hurt the pacing of the story, but the performances and dreadful writing are even more damaging. The episode scores a 3.5 out of 10. Recaps of Shogun can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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