The Eightfold Fence

Greetings from Lithuania.

4th episode called "The Eightfold Fence" was a slower yet rewarding experience in comparison with 3rd part. This time it's all about teaching tactics and finding yourselves in a new environment. It was a gorgeous looking episode with some good interactions between characters. I liked the dialogs in here, as they fleshed out characters, well, only two of them. And slowly I can already see we're things are going, I guess. The show started to slip into its trajectory, and it doesn't feel unique no more. It's not a bad thing if done right. And if it's done right we will see in next 6 episodes.

Another great episode.

Full of dreamy, rainy Japanese scenery in the smaller village, as the Anjin finds himself in an increasingly better living situation and finds a way to make himself much more valuable to Team Toranaga than even he expected.

Great character development and relationship development in this one, as two characters emerge from their background roles to alter the course of the main plot. I enjoyed the shocking (and graphic) twist at the end that is not for the feint of heart!

Can't wait to see where this goes from here, particularly how Toranaga gets himself out of this huge mess.

This is a pivotal episode that does a lot of work to deepen and expand the story.

If you remember the 1980s Shogun with Richard Chamberlain, the romance between Blackthorne and Mariko was a big part of the story. Here, they're slow-rolling it, which is believable, considering what different personalities they have and what different cultures they come from.

They don't even seem all that compatible, really. But if they try to sell a romance to the audience, at least they're not foisting it on us unrealistically.

Blackthorne's relationship with Fuji is well done, and deepens his characterization well beyond the rather crude and thuggish pirate/sailor that he seemed to be at the start.

We get more insight into Japanese social psychology and (crucially) some smart thinking from Blackthorne, who gets out of the pickle he's in, trying the advise the Japanese on military maneuvers he knows nothing about. That's good since we need to see him as a clever, quick-minded asset to Toranaga, not just a strange exotic pet that gets dragged here and there.

And then Toranaga's kid, angry at being seen as a "Minawara brat" coasting on the family name, does something that amps up the conflict considerably.

The fourth episode of FX's Shogun, based on the 1975 James Clavell novel, has been slow at times, but the fourth episode has gotten me hooked. Director Frederick E. O. Toye helmed the show, with Nigel Williams and Emily Yoshida writing. The slowness is not due to lack of action or presence, but the rhythm of the narrative. The main focus is on Cosmo Jarvis' John Blackthorne, or Anjin, as he slowly adapts to his new Japanese surroundings. This episode presents him with his biggest challenges yet, including his relationship with Moeka Hoshi's Usami Fuji. The writers use this relationship to further the relationship between Mariko (Anna Sawai) and Blackthorne, but more of it is needed as the series progresses. The two inch closer on a couple of occasions, especially during gift exchanges. The "all-noble man" schtick of Blackthorne is appreciated, but his performance in the 1600s is sometimes unappealing. The "twist" of Blackthorne not having been to a ground battle before is predictable, but the show manages to put Toranaga's men over the edge by learning how to use cannons. The political game of Shogun remains intriguing, but the development of this aspect in this episode was disappointing. The growing sense of war has been present in the past few episodes, and Sawai's character announced a guest in the final line of "The Eightfold Fence." However, the political subplot didn't stand out in this episode. It's clear that there are frustrations within the small village Toranaga and his people are living in, and the Council may be working to highlight these issues. The absence of Toranaga for most of the episode was disappointing. Anna Sawai's performance in Blackthorne's bath scene was stellar, with a special fanfare for pretending to be another woman who snuck into the Englishman's bedroom. The show's full potential is evident, but the author is eagerly anticipating more of her past. They are curious about why she speaks perfect English and why the religious subplot hasn't been revisited for a while, which is a significant aspect of the show. Shogun Season 1 Episode 4 showcases the talent of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks in establishing tone in a world where the average viewer knows very little. The opening scenes, such as a messenger carrying an urgent missive for Lord Omi, are familiar to viewers, as they depict peasants preparing for the arrival of bigwigs and the local lord beaming with anticipation. The title of hatamoto and the mores of feudal Japan are universal concepts, and we recognize Fuji's despair when we see it. While we are learning about the customs that have cost her her son and husband and are causing her degradation, we understand the depth of her suffering on an innate level. This pain could make her a danger to those around her or instill her with profound compassion and empathy. Fuji, ordered to serve as Blackthorne's consort, begs to quit the clan and become a nun, but is denied by Lady Mariko. Both women are without their husbands, but Mariko believes Buntaro died with honor, while Fuji's husband committed seppuku, leaving her without benefits. Fuji agrees to serve as the Anjin's consort for six months, as she retains power as a former samurai caste member. Toranaga, a former member of the samurai caste, avoids seppuku byzantine schemes. The Council of Regents must recruit a replacement before handing down a death sentence to Toranaga. Shogun writers face the challenge of introducing unfamiliar traditions and practices to a Western and 21st-century audience without pandering or slowing down the action. The series is innovative and distinct, making it a cliche to compare it to TV's last great feudal epic, Game of Thrones.

This episode was my favorite one thus far, with some great development, exploration and deepening of characters. As well as some gorgeous settings and scenes!

This one gave us some great development on Mariko, as she slowly starts to open up, remimding us that you can never know what is going inside peoples heads, who they are and whether you know their goals!

This episode really gave me a feeling that perhaps we dont know everyone as well as we think we do, especially after the brutal last scene, that left me with no clue on what to expect next!

The visuals and settings were beautifull! I almost felt like i was transported to most captivating locations of rural Japan! This show really nails the tone and message and never feels like it is compromising!