Superb acting, directing, scenery, rendition of Shogun
A superb drama. Very high quality production, excellent acting by all, great story, fantastic directing.
Really enjoyed it, Had planned to watch couple of episodes at a time, but ended up binge watching it. Not a moment of boredom for me with this fantastic drama. Felt like watching an extremely well made movie. Of course, not everyone will like or enjoy this drama as much as I did, and that is totally OK. Thank goodness for variety.
I really liked this rendition of Shogun. It truly was different, so it did not feel like a remake rather than a new story all together. I was a young lad when I watched the original 1980 Shogun with Richard Chamberlain, so don't remember it that well, but I do remember that I did like it. Maybe it's due to my age and the experience I have had, but I do like this rendition very much and it doesn't feel like I am watching the same story, so really I should not compare the two.
Sanada Hiroyuki acting was superb, no wonder he got top billing and many awards, including for this role. Anna Sawai acting was top notch, worthy of her "2025 Nominee Critics Choice Award Best Actress in a Drama Series". Asano Tadanobu, another superb actor. Amazing that the Japanese actors did extremely well with a non-Japanese director. What an awesome cast all around, including the non-Japanese.
Couple of things I should mention, this drama has plenty of profanity, few nudity and sex scenes, and plenty of violence, hence the Mature Rating MA. I am not a fan of profanity, but I did understand why the director wanted to include it for the sailors. When I was young I really enjoyed the sex scenes, but with free porn availability on the internet, I do think "most" sex and nudity scenes in the movies and drama are unnecessary. Here, some where needed for the story, but not sure if all of it was. Violence was done when needed, it was a violent time, so not sure how they could tone it down.
This is really an American production shot mainly in Canada. Yet, to me, it really feels like a genuine Japanese production. Beautiful scenery of British Columbia which I am somewhat familiar with.
Really enjoyed it, Had planned to watch couple of episodes at a time, but ended up binge watching it. Not a moment of boredom for me with this fantastic drama. Felt like watching an extremely well made movie. Of course, not everyone will like or enjoy this drama as much as I did, and that is totally OK. Thank goodness for variety.
I really liked this rendition of Shogun. It truly was different, so it did not feel like a remake rather than a new story all together. I was a young lad when I watched the original 1980 Shogun with Richard Chamberlain, so don't remember it that well, but I do remember that I did like it. Maybe it's due to my age and the experience I have had, but I do like this rendition very much and it doesn't feel like I am watching the same story, so really I should not compare the two.
Sanada Hiroyuki acting was superb, no wonder he got top billing and many awards, including for this role. Anna Sawai acting was top notch, worthy of her "2025 Nominee Critics Choice Award Best Actress in a Drama Series". Asano Tadanobu, another superb actor. Amazing that the Japanese actors did extremely well with a non-Japanese director. What an awesome cast all around, including the non-Japanese.
Couple of things I should mention, this drama has plenty of profanity, few nudity and sex scenes, and plenty of violence, hence the Mature Rating MA. I am not a fan of profanity, but I did understand why the director wanted to include it for the sailors. When I was young I really enjoyed the sex scenes, but with free porn availability on the internet, I do think "most" sex and nudity scenes in the movies and drama are unnecessary. Here, some where needed for the story, but not sure if all of it was. Violence was done when needed, it was a violent time, so not sure how they could tone it down.
This is really an American production shot mainly in Canada. Yet, to me, it really feels like a genuine Japanese production. Beautiful scenery of British Columbia which I am somewhat familiar with.
Was this review helpful to you?
