Shogun - Episodes 1-8

I'm not that old, which means I've never had the pleasure of watching Shogun - a remarkable 80s show about the first Englishman to set foot in Japan and then become a samurai. Nor have I taken the time to read James Clavell's beloved novel of the same name. However, I have definitely had the pleasure of enjoying one of this year's most powerful TV experiences in the form of the new adaptation arriving on Disney+.

The plot? Osaka is on the verge of civil war when we first meet our Portuguese, English and Japanese characters. Vultures and bureaucrats circulate around the Lord Toranaga, who awaits death from his political enemies - the Osaka Council - until the defiant Englishman Blackthorne washes up on the Japanese shores and becomes Toranaga's pawn in an exquisite political power play. Once in Japan, Blackthorne not only becomes Toranaga's ally, he also finds his heart besieged by the beautiful interpreter Mariko.

For those who have missed a brutal drama with a medieval flavour since Game of Thrones graced people's evenings, this is the place to be. Espionage, conspiracies, swordplay, passion and intrigue are on the menu in this luxuriously packaged show, which hooks the viewer with its crisp photography, gorgeous set design and historical realism. It's massive and lavish in a way that makes you itch: you just want to hit the 'Next Episode' button as soon as an episode comes to an end. Despite some digital green screen effects (and digital blood), Shogun is a visual treat in its cinematic presentation.

In addition to the atmosphere, the acting choices are also very successful. Cosmo Jarvis is delightfully gruff as the show's 'fish out of water' character trying to navigate Japanese values and cultural contrasts (although the shouting can get a bit tedious in the long run), and New Zealand's Anna Sawai works very well as the calm water to Jarvis' raging fire. However, it's heavyweight Hiroyuki Sanada who shines the most here as the sympathetic lord with a sense of humour and a few aces in his kimono. The legendary Sanada is the one who holds the story together with his calmness and humanity, and that's often where the viewer wants to keep their focus. He carries the world, and the series, on his steady shoulders.

At the same time, there's a lot of Game Thrones-style corridor talk, and in addition to the pomp and circumstance, the pace tends to falter when you get stuck with less interesting characters, and there's an occasional episode here and there that doesn't always move the plot forward. At times the series was reminiscent of, say, the mediocre Game of Thrones challenger Marco Polo in terms of the intricacy of the plot and some flat drama, but the difference here is that you actually care about the characters and the power struggle in Shogun. Although the pacing is slow, the storytelling is patient and you appreciate the layers of world building. There are plenty of layers and twists that make Shogun an obvious TV favourite for the upcoming spring.

That said, I've only watched eight of the ten episodes so far, so the rating will be temporary until the grand finale is released. So far, however, I can state that Shogun is a cool and sometimes powerful TV adventure that shows good potential to end with a bang if it continues to focus on the right elements.