Let me begin that this isn’t your dad’s (or grandpa’s) Shōgun tale. Most Gen X-ers are likely familiar with or at least have heard of the 1980 miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne. I’ve only seen brief clips of that series, which is told mainly from Blackthorne’s POV and reeks of a ‘white savior’ narrative.

Based on James Clavell’s 1975 historical fiction novel, one thing that stands out to me right away is that one of my favorite Japanese actors Hiroyuki Sanada serves as one of the series’ producers. I met someone before the screening who had read the book and he said that the showrunners of this series wanted to right the wrongs that the 1980 miniseries did.

Per The Wrap, FX’s CEO John Landgraf said that the series would not ‘exoticize and fetishize Japanese culture through Western eyes’ That’s certainly a relief, especially for this Southeast Asian reviewer, that there are attempts to be made by the showrunners to right the wrong of past adaptations. Landgraf went on to say that ‘there is an exciting opportunity to tell the collision of two cultures from both perspectives in a way that wasn’t done before’ which I think the show does do a good job on.

The title Shōgun refers to a supreme military commander (equivalent to a Duke in Medieval Europe) and a de facto ruler of Feudal Japan.

Here’s the series official description:

Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “Lord Yoshii Toranaga” who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, “John Blackthorne” (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants.

I’m glad I was able to see the first two episodes on the big screen last week, as FX heavily promoted the series weeks ahead of its launch tonight. Right from its opening scene, this series looks gritty and massive in scale, which is fitting for a sweeping world of samurai fighting at the dawn of a century-defining civil war in the year 1600.

So is the series worth a watch?

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY! Here are 5 reasons why:

1) A gloriously-epic story well-told

A series steeped in such a complex history can easily be bogged down by exposition but the series did a good job of giving us the background in a way that doesn’t slow the pace down to a halt. As someone who hasn’t read the book, I have to admit it’s a bit confusing at first but it gets clearer as the episode progresses.

The scale is big and epic but it’s not all action, all the time. I actually appreciate the blend of fierce battles and intense dramatic moments. The machinations in this fierce power struggle between five powerful warlords are just as fascinating to me as the fight sequences. Director Jonathan van Tulleken did an excellent job with the first two episodes, keeping the tone mostly serious, even solemn, but with some moments of levity (mostly from Jarvis’ Blackthorne) to break the somber mood.

2) Authenticity

Actor/producer Sanada talked about the importance of authenticity in various interviews, which the series achieved by employing plenty of Japanese crews and experts so that the props, costumes, wigs, etc. look period-authentic. I was in awe of the large set pieces, Osaka Castle, and the Japanese fishing villages, but the smaller props, especially the costumes help immerse you in this historic tumultuous period. Love all the gorgeous silk Kimonos and Samurai armor that is so meticulously designed, so much eye-candy here to feast your eyes on.

One of the showrunners, Rachel Kondo is of Japanese descent and the co-creator is her husband Justin Marks, and there are a few Japanese producers as well in addition to Sanada. Naturally, having Japanese talents in front and behind the camera, and hiring Japanese consultants & crew helps make this a wonderfully authentic samurai drama.

3) Excellent performances

Hiroyuki Sanada always brings gravitas to every role he does, and this is far from being his first Samurai production. You might’ve remembered him from The Last Samurai, Westworld, Bullet Train, and most recently, John Wick: Chapter 4, but often in supporting roles. Glad he’s not playing second fiddle to a white actor here and he’s got that dignified quiet grace that’s mesmerizing.

I’ve just seen the New Zealand-born Japanese actress Anna Sawai in AppleTV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and while she’s good there, she’s definitely astounding in this one. As a disgraced aristocrat loyal to Lord Toranaga, her role as translator gives a voice to the few female characters in medieval Japan. Being a Christian woman makes it extra tricky as she toes the line between loyalty to her faith and her country. I’m certainly glad to see female Japanese characters that aren’t grossly sexualized and Lady Mariko plays a crucial part in the high-stakes political chess game. Speaking of Monarch, there’s a bit of a reunion with Sawai’s co-star Takehiro Hira (who played his dad in that series), this time as a member of the Council of Regents who poses a threat to Toranaga.

As for Jarvis, the last time I saw Cosmo Jarvis was in Netflix’s horrid Jane Austen adaptation of Persuasion. as Captain Wentworth. Well, he plays another English sailor in this one and his Blackthorne’s got that devil-may-care rouge-ish-ness that suits the part well. I remember a line in one of the Bond flicks where the villain says ‘You have a nasty habit of surviving, Mr. Bond’ and Blackthorne has that resourcefulness as he ends up being a useful ally to Toranaga. I didn’t expect Blackthorne to be the comic relief of the series, but Jarvis got a natural comedic chops as well as an air of unpredictability.

As the romance between him and Lady Mariko is central to the book, I look forward to seeing how things progress between the two.

4) Lavish production values

FX spared no expense in crafting a lush, lavish adaptation with immersive world-building that transports you to feudal Japan despite being filmed mostly in Vancouver. Not sure what the budget is for this series, though I read on The Hollywood Reporter that it’s the biggest the FX network ever spent on. The special effects on the two episodes are quite impressive, especially the ocean storm scenes. The blend of CGI and practical effects in bringing medieval Osaka to life is quite spectacular, which makes me excited to see the rest of the series!

5. Not Just Another White Savior Story

Representation is something Hollywood strives to do better these days, and a remake is an opportunity to right the wrongs of past versions. For one thing, it’s good to see that Japanese characters are not relegated to the background in their own story. This time, John Blackthorne makes up for one of the major characters in this Japanese historical saga, instead of being at the center of it. I’m glad to see so many Japanese actors in the series, some are doing a Western project for the first time, and there are just as many Japanese crew working behind the scenes.

Now, representation alone doesn’t automatically make for a good show, however, but Shōgun does a lot of things right to warrant a glowing recommendation.

I read in social media comparing FX’s Shōgun to Game of Thrones and I can see why as both deal with fiery power struggles and consist of intense battle scenes. But the pilot director Van Tulleken actually compared this more to another hit HBO series. Per Deadline, he said “Truly it is a character piece and it is about this intrigue…This is a dangerous world where violence can come out of nowhere but the real danger is in the machinations. A conversation can be as dangerous as anything else. A better comparison would be Succession or House of Cards.””

Another thing that sets this apart from GoT is the George R.R. Martin’s adaptation is more fantastical in nature, but Shōgun is more grounded in history and real-life people, albeit some creative licenses are taken. Based on the first two episodes, the violence or sex isn’t gratuitous, though there is a particularly horrific scene of a man boiled alive (more from the sound design than visuals). Viewers can also expect plenty of action, characters performing seppuku (feudal Japanese suicide practice) and a great deal of samurai fight scenes.

It’s really a treat watching the first two episodes on the big screen. I can’t wait to see the remaining 8 episodes on HULU. If you’re looking for a sweeping, epic series to immerse yourself on, then be sure to add Shōgun to your watch list!

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The two pilot episodes of “Shōgun” premiered on Hulu at midnight ET on Feb. 27 and 10 p.m. ET and the remaining episodes will stream on Hulu and premiere on FX on subsequent Tuesdays.

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Have you watched Shōgun? Let me know what you think!