Amph 2024 FX Series - Shogun

I heavily anticipated this show since last year…

I’m just going to say this: this was the best premiere episode I’ve seen in my entire life and the truth is it’s not even close.

The perfect cast, the setting, the directing, the subject matter/time period, and the script… for me… everything has been a 10/10 so far.

 

It looks cool, but I keep meaning to read the book so I’m hesitant to dive in until I do so. Obviously such things aren’t 1:1 but I don’t need more excuses to keep putting the book off like “Well I just watched the Hulu version” or whatever.

 

Sounds like the production crew is making an effort, but not 100%.

 

yeah it was good, didn't realise til the end credits that it's based on Clavell's book. (never read it but remember the Richard Chamberlain version)

 

I didn't know I wanted to read the book until I watched the first two episodes. Just more for the unread pile.

Amazing.

 

Is the book based on the real story like it’s biographical or is it like a historical fiction book based on the real story?

 

It’s historical fiction.

But can I truly appreciate Shogun if I do not first have the extensive backstory of random ancestors of people from King Rat by way of Hong Kong commerce guilds? Can I?! What if this is somehow relevant to a novel set before either of those novels, Scoundrel?! WHAT THEN?!

 

The latter.

To be specific, it’s loosely based off of the experiences of William Adams, an English sailor who ended becoming a naval official in the Tokugawa shogunate.

 

Just started watching this

 

Just finished the opening episodes. I'm hooked. Not a fan of some cinematographic choices, but this world is so well-drawn and the story is so well-told and well-acted. Can't wait for the next episode.

 

Just Finnished both episode and loving this its best shoot series since GOT. The names is difficult to remember sometimes with the Japanese

 

I’m reallly hating the GOT comparisons… and I don’t really get it.

Never felt this way watching GOT and never thought GOT had a peak episode like this that wasn’t founded in shock value.

 

C’mon, let’s not exaggerate because of a disappointing final season. GOT had a number of really great episodes that didn’t rely on shock alone, and those shocks were rarely, if ever, unearned (beginning with Ned’s death). The setup was always there, and always rooted in believable human actions and motivations.

 

Not seen this yet but I loved the book and the original show

If it has the same level of "cinematic" quality of GoT season 1 then brilliant. Ignoring the shock factor, season 1 and 2 of GoT were well filmed, scripted and acted even when accounting for some of the liberties it took with the plot. It was only Season 3 onwards where it started to heavily go off the rails.

 

GOT season 3 was excellent and much better than season 2, in my view, and 4 was also excellent and perhaps my favorite (thanks to the Tyrion and Red Viper proceedings). Season 5 and 6 were a little lesser, not least because I didn’t find the religious thread that convincing (and Dorne was totally botched), and then 7 and 8 were far too rushed, though there were a few incredible episodes in there.

But enough about that. Shogun is off to a phenomenal start. And I think it’s fair to compare it to GOT season 1. Though I think a much better comparison would be Rome season 1, which I think was nearly perfect. Here’s to hoping Shogun keeps it up.

 

Oh you need to read it if possible. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Thousand pg thing of beauty.

I’ve finished eps 1-2. Waited a long time for this show and so far FX is nailing it. Kinda wish they kept Blackthorn getting laid by shocked courtesan in though.

Much head chopping to come in the weeks ahead. Idk think I’m going to like waiting each week but I doubt I’ll be able to wait for a binge watch.

 

So… I’m never going to read the book, at least not for the foreseeable future (I just don’t care to see Japan from a white guy’s perspective, written by another white guy).

However, can someone who has read it describe why they found it so good?

 

Did anyone actually watch this on FX? I know that in 2017 the station began to loosen up and allow f bombs on their shows(man I’d love to have SOA in that era) but did they show breast or was that only in the Hulu stream?

 

Really enjoyed ep 3. Man I really won’t want to reread this gem of a book now but this show might make me. I’m trying to put it off another decade if possible.