Shogun Ending Explained | Episode 10 Breakdown | Finale Recap & Review

This version of Shogun exceeded my expectations. Seeing something like this succeed through thoughtful crafting of the world and characters and true admiration for the source material is what you love to see. Mariko is a character for the ages finding purpose in her sacrifice and changing history. You couldn’t ask for better performances. And the best nun. Let me know what you think.

Yabushige eeeeeeasily the best actor in the series. Deserves an award.

I love how Fuji-sama tells Blackthorne that “let your hands be the last to hold her!” Flashback to when Mariko told Fuji-sama, “let her hands be the last to hold her son!” 🥺

“If I could use words, like scattering flowers and falling leaves, what a bonfire my poems would make” 😢

Yabu was an amazing character, literally updating his will throughout the series knowing at any point in time he will lose his head too😂😂

My favorite philosophical part of the show - presence is felt most in absence - beautifully demonstrated in the absence of Mariko episode 10🤍

This final was incredible. I think my favourite moment, though, are the smiles exchanged between Toranaga and Yabushige. Yubashige smiles because he has finally been let in on Toranaga's intrigues and knows, yes, his lord will prevail. His betrayal was all part of Toranaga's calculus as Toranaga has always known Yabushige's inner heart. Ironically, he realizes he has rendered faithful service to his lord through his unfaithfulness, and his actions have made a decisive difference. Toronaga's smile, in return, acknowledges all these thoughts and also confirms to Yabushige that, yes, in his heart-of-hearts, he desires to be Shōgun, something he has so carefully guarded from those around him. It's a brilliant moment of these two comrades' hearts communing, leaving nothing unsaid at their final goodbye. Beautifully done! 👏👏👏

Great series. I hate that Mariko died, while understanding how important her death was. I only regret that my time with these characters was so short.

I loved his shaded response of "what good is it to tell a dead man the future?"

I took Toranaga's smirk before taking Yabu's head was answering his question, Yes he did want to be Shogun. Yabu looks to his lord to see if he will answer his final question. The lord obliges and then takes his head.

I enjoyed that it ended with Toranaga being utterly ruthless. In those times, peace wasn't necessarily achieved by clean methods, even today peace is rarely achieved by clean methods. Toranaga did care about people, but he was also ambitious and ruthless. It didn't necessarily make his character more likable but for me it made his character in this story far more interesting and fuller.

Anyone who's interested in the history behind these events, I recommend visiting Nikko in Japan. Specifically Toshogu Shrine, the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu (Toranaga in the show) is enshrined. Also, there is an Anjin street in Nihombashi Tokyo, where William Adams (the real life Anjin) was given a mansion of his own by Tokugawa. There is a small monument there.

I really hope they don’t cave to the pressures that come with media success. And that is conjuring up a direct sequel/2nd season that just ends up hurting the perception of the series as a whole. This story is done. We don’t need anything more. Adapt other books by the author but leave Shogun alone.

I loved this ending, it was so poetic. Bitter sweet, sure, but still amazing. Like Toranaga said to his son, only a young man who hasn't seen a battle rushes to war. That was the whole point. This was a masterful chess play and he ended it with checkmate using Mariko. Amazing TV, finally

Man, I love your breakdowns! No spoilers from other sources till the end, profound analysis and attention to details and an honest and respectful stance about your own impressions and the possibly diverging thoughts of other viewers. Thank you so much for covering the Shogun!

For a moment, at the end, I felt pissed that it ended where it did… and then I took a moment to consider the entirety of the series, how many things were implied without being shown, the overall storyline - and I kind of felt it was a fitting end to a damn-near-perfect series. The ending was poetic, which I quickly realized was the entire point. I would be okay with some sort of spinoff about Toronaga and Blackthorne should it ever come about haha

My favorite part was when Yabushige was like "You know, Toranaga-sama, you really are the Shogun."

The absolute best review. This series was an intellectual masterpiece that demonstrates the power of storytelling in subtle ways. Bravo FX👏🏽

Fun tidbits: 1. The jinbaori toranaga wears in the sekigahara battle scene is the same one he wears in the earlier flashback scene when he’s still a child. 2. Right before he cuts off yabushige’s head he stares at him for a brief second because he knows this time it won’t take him 9 tries like he did when he was young. It all comes full circle

In the 1980s version of this, i felt satisfied at Yabushigi’s sepuku… in this one, it left me hurt. My heart really went out to him. True, he deserved it for the shit that he pulled. It just speaks volumes to the Actors in that scene..