The Abyss of Life

I've never read the 2000-page novel nor did we even have cable TV back when the Richard Chamberlain mini-series aired on ABC in the 1970s.

So all I'm going on is what the producers of this version of Shogun are putting on the screen in front of me.

And by and large I am entertained. I enjoy the palace intrigue a lot more than the action sequences. I enjoy the examination of duty, honour, loyalty and whatnot. Gotta pay attention, though. It's not for casual viewing.

In this particular episode we get an exquisite tea ceremony with Buntaro and Mariko, which was just the warm-up set piece. In the third act we have Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Toranaga asking his vassals to sign a loyalty oath, which then leads to a gripping scene with Tokuma Nishioka as trusted advisor Toda Hiromatsu. If this show doesn't win an Emmy for that scene, the vote is more rigged than the 2020 presidential election.

As the after-dinner mint we get Toranaga in a contemplative scene with Anna Sawai as Mariko. At that point, just give Sanada the Emmy for Best Male Actor in a Drama. Don't count all the photocopied ballots that they're gonna "find" in some random Billlings mailbox that say "Costner - Yellowstone" on them.

If this show were in English all the way, people would be falling all over themselves to recommend it to friends and family. The challenge is that the subtitles and characters can be a challenge to follow. Worth it to me, but I acknowledge the difficulty.

One beef: I don't find Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne all that commpelling. Neither as a performer nor as a character. The character at this point has been reduced to nearly Gump levels. And the portrayal is a bad parody of "Quiet" Richard Burton.

Luckily for me, this episode was mostly about the Japanese characters so I just bide my time until Blackthorne is off the screen.

This series is already a masterpiece before it even ended.

Every single character was developed thouroughly and given enough time for the viewer to truly understand their actions.

Never been this immersed in a Japanese story before.

I'd give most episodes around 8.5 to 9 stars, but this one has to be a 10. I even made this account just to be able to say that.

Is Shogun Worth Watching?

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to watch "Shogun" rests with the individual viewer. Those seeking a thought-provoking historical drama with complex characters may find themselves captivated by the series.

However, viewers who prioritize clear narrative structure and consistent characters might be frustrated by "The Abyss of Life" and similar episodes.

While it has felt like the entire season to this point has been the proverbial "calm before the storm", "The Abyss of Life" truly was the silent calamity before the storm of storms we'll see in the final two episodes. But what a beautiful, tragic, heart wrenching silence it was.

The entire series up to this point has been pretty stellar - well acted, well written, and poignant as all hell - but this episode embodies exceptionally what it is about Shogun that makes it so... exceptional. Shogun, on its face, is a show about power, which it is, but more subtly is a show about power over - power over others, power over oneself, power over life and death, power over one's fate; or, really, powerlessness over all of the above. In the context of the story, there are machinations larger and more powerful than any one person, even Toranaga (as Hiramatsu showed), that would make even the most powerfully resolute fold like a towel. In the context of the metaphysical introspection that Shogun ponders, we are all powerless over something and, whatever it is and however it may manifest for us individually, accepting our place is the only rational approach. But as much as this series broaches our powerlessness, it also broaches how powerful we can be when fate bears us down like a ten-ton anchor. Toranaga, for all his scheming and apparent willingness to wade into the overwhelming current of fate, might be the most powerfully defiant of the fate laid out for him.

But this show is much more than a meta commentary on the designs of concepts residing in the furthest reaches of human philosophy, it is a visual masterpiece that often uses hushed and drab tones to underscore the dire and damned situation our main cast finds themselves. Subtly framed shots that capture the (emotional and spiritual) distance between those depicted are a wonderful touch of the masterful cinematography that ties together beautifully this masterwork of television. Every element is perfectly crafted and laid out to build the environment and tension and intrigue that elevate this work to the very highest echelons of the canon of television and cinema altogether. This episode is a marked moment for how powerful television can be and solidifies Shogun, for me, as one of the greatest shows of all time. I cannot wait to finish this incredible visual story. 9.5/10.

This is storytelling at its very best. When each and every character has a role to play and they deliver with perfection, you couldn't ask for more, but more you want because this show delivers. The intricacies of each move being made is like the most strategic game of chess, carefully, watchful and thoughtful. At the end of the episode I was left reeling, exhausted as if I watched a two hour non stop action movie yet there was no action, it's all in the build up, the anticipation of what's to come and I cannot wait. With two episodes left, I'm already hoping to hear that season two is happening.

This movie is mind blowing, every episode can bring you deeper in to the line of this movie. It amaze me even more... so much wisdom , leadership, friendship, pain, tears , angry, motivated, past, future, determination, politic mindset,power,loyalty,pain,sacrifice,purpose,higher goal,strong mindset,strong character . All those relatable in real life. This movie succeeded extract exactly what feeling it's all about when we watch it. The art of war ancient Japan , the honor, you can see deeper the meaning of it . Whoever scripted this movie is a philosopher and once a great thinker. Not just like other movie! Thumbs up.