Shōgun

“I don’t control the wind, I only study it” This is a really special show. The kind of prestige television that does not come around often, so when it does you simply have to sit back and admire the brilliance unfolding on screen— taking in every last second with complete focus and attention. There’s many reasons why Shōgun is so impressive. From its vast, expansive world building using incredibly immersive VFX, to its wonderfully moving score that elevates each and every scene. The deep respect and care to present Japanese culture as authentically as possible, and its nuanced exploration of religion and faith. However above all that is one triumphant masterclass. The beating heart of every single moment, and that’s its characters. Rarely have I seen individual characters written with so much care, love, thought and consideration. Each one with their own past, trauma, ideas, aspirations. All with their own personal spiritual connections and relationship to the brutality of the Japanese traditions back then. The part they all play in shaping this story, and carrying the core themes of the show in each breath left me in awe. This level of writing connects me to these people in a way that invests me in the outcomes of all their fates. THIS is what makes television so impactful, when you spend weeks with their arc, and you grow to truly care. I love it profoundly, and I will never forget the way in which this show made me feel. Lord Toranaga John Blackthorne Lady Mariko Yabushige Usami Fuji You all brought so much value to my life these past few months. You challenged me to look within myself and think about my own life and way of living. This show is everything I could ever want from this medium. I will carry this experience with me for a long, long time. Thank you.