Shōgun (TV Series) Broken to the Fist (2024) User Reviews

Hooked

[Truedutch · 10/10 · 19 March 2024]

Shogun is simply brilliant, with each episode it hypnotises me more and more into a dead stare at the screen not being able to take my eyes away. Even during shows I'm really enjoying I still have that stupid quick flick on my phone but nottttt during Shogun.

I'm writing this right after seeing the episode and from the costumes, set design, acting and the stunning writing it is all amazing. It's all these things that add to the GoT comparisons. Finely tune each aspect and get a schmicko production like this. So many things I have seen lately have lacked good gripping dialogue and the series Shogun finally produces the goods. There's not one scene that ever feels wasted or just filler, every single one is engaging.

A scene where they are having dinner and drinking Sake goes for a while but it's one of the best scenes on TV you'll see this year, truly brilliant. The tension, laughs and a heart punch just gives you everything.

Dead set hooked can't wait for next weeks episode gimmeeeee.

Engaging, Destructive and Powerful TV.

[AbsMo2121 · 10/10 · 19 March 2024]

This episode although had no action whatsoever, beautifully told a story on how destructive words, values and conversations can be.

"Broken to the Fist" showcases the consequences that one has to their actions, be it a sentence so trivial as the one Omi had told his uncle Yabushige in this episode which had Omi harrowing in his boots.

It could be an action such as Blackthorne contesting Toda Hirokatsu to a sake drinking competiton without knowing the implications of what can happen if he has too much.

It can also be a "joke" as Blackthorn said whoever touches the pheasant "shall die" not knowing that the significance of death is great in Japan. It isn't a joke and within the episode he quickly learns how his actions and words have had serious consequences.

Hiroyuki Sanada absolutely kills it again in his role as the cunning Yoshii Toranaga but who steals the show this week is Anna Sawai and Shinnosuke Abe. Anna Sawai absolutely perfects her role in playing a woman who is practically a prisoner lacking autonomy. She is a prisoner to her circumstances that she says were an "injustice" from a long time ago. She is also a prisoner in an abusive relationship. She knocked it out of the park with her acting making the entire scene at the dinner table that much more intense and emotional.

Shinnosuke Abe who plays Buntaro conveyed so much character just from his facial expressions and his eyes. He truly makes you feel uneasy whenever Buntaro (Toda Hirokatsu) is on screen almost as if any bad word, any bad action can cause a rupture large enough to cause a landslide.

Speaking of landslides.

A humble, yet powerful take on the cultural rift

[greenmangreat · 10/10 · 20 March 2024]

We've been so used to seeing "uncultured" cultures in media eventually learning the "civilised" ways of the West, but this episode instead opts not to fall on that trope, and merely points out the stark differences between a culture that's driven by individuality as opposed to another that's driven by collectivism. One believes in pushing against the current, while the other believes in going with its flow.

I shared John's frustration with the complex traditions of his hosts/jailers, but as it turns out, his unwillingness to accept the culture of the land he stood on was ultimately shortsighted, with others around him suffering for it.

Once again, the show never relents on the never-ending tension, keeping audiences glued to the screen to see what happens next. For a period drama, Shogun is the best political thriller I've seen since House of Cards.

Powerful.

[aeneaskokkelmans · 10/10 · 19 March 2024]

Man, im having such a blast with this show, it keeps getting better and better!

This episode focusses mostly on the traditions the Japanese have and how seriously they take them and the viewers learns about this trough the eyes of blackthorne, which is captivating.

The dinner scene was incredible from starting rather funny to becoming really serious and emotional very fast. Probably the best scene of the show thus far.

Besides that the plot keeps unfolding and keeps getting more exciting, I already can't wait for next week. This show is so good, the actors, music, beautiful scenery are all incredible. It is truely history in the making!

Simply amazing

[navidcontrol · 10/10 · 20 March 2024]

Everything is great but for me it's the moral dilemma, this episode focuses more and more on Japan culture and how a harsh and hostile environment could led to people believes, lives, and way of living and seeing life, I love the difference between western toughts and eastern, from one side the west values life more than anything and in east , in a place like Japan where u have tornado, earthquakes, tsunami, in a this world only thing is cheap is you! And only thing that lasts is land, so this area forces you to really think what matters here? Since everything loses, the only weapon you have is to free yourself from all of your expectations of life , as this episode puts it morako (the translator lady) is focusing to much on her self , she sees herself the center of meaning, on other hand anjin sees how brutal the life there could be.

I loved how the words and being precise matters to them so much as being precise is the true meaning of everything, love , war , words. I see the only order you can have in this world is your preciseiveness !

Culture and tradition!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 5 May 2024]

This show continues to impres me, delivering episodes that always makes me feel different than the episode i had just watched! Every episode is a new experience, as you deeper into the characters and the time period!

This episode gives us a much deeper inside into the culture of Japan at this time, as well as the traditions! We clearly see how different they are from the culture and traditions in England. And how much Blackthorne still struggles to adapt and understand their way of living!

The Dinner scene was great! It was a combination of intensity, humor and drama! The actors really nailed it!

Mariko is also starting to become one of my favorite characters as I realized how much pain and hate she holds back!

The imprisonment through traditions

[moritzherz · 8/10 · 1 April 2024]

This show fascinates me with every episode. The message of each episode is valuable and gives me materia to reflect on.

This one clearly is about traditions and how they affect the people believing in and living according to them. The japanese traditions differ a lot if compared to the european ones.

Honor plays a huge role for example. If a man makes a severe fault, the only way to behold his family honor is seppuku (suicide).

Another example of the traditions is shown in this episode.

When Blackthorne hangs up the bird he received from Toranaga it begins to rot and the japanese villagers think it's a demon. One day the gardener Ueijiro takes it down and gets executed by Blackthornes maid. He doesn't understand and calls it madness, but his maid just followed orders. When Blackthorne hanged it up he said that everybody who touches it will die. He did not meant it literally but the japanese took it serious.

This is just one example of the traditions portrayed in the show and it is quite simple to understand why Blackthorne is furious about them.

To make things worse, Lady Mariko's husband survived and now lives with her in Blackthornes house. The tension between them is visible and it is a miracle they did not try to kill each other yet.

Unfortunately the rivalry between them and Blackthorne's anger about the japanese traditions separates him from Lady Mariko, for now at least. I, of course, am hoping they will find back together quickly.

Around all this there is still the conflict with Lord Ishido and the unclear future of the double-agent Lord Yanushige. And then there is the earthquake at the end of the episode.

Living in europe fortunately I never have experienced catastrophes like this and won't experience them in the future either. This again reminded me of the priceless privilege of living in Europe. Like Lady Mariko once said, life could be over any moment.

When Toranaga gets hit by the earthquake it is Blackthorne who saves him, proving his loyalty once again.

Now 50 percent of the show is out and I enjoyed every single second of it. Even the intro sequence is a goosebumb creator. If they don't do crazy stuff this will be the best show of the year!

Strong scenes but strange story development

[imdb-767-417450 · 20 March 2024]

The scenes that depict the escalating tension between Toda Buntaro and Blackthorne/Miura Anjin are masterfully executed. I even took a brief pause because the intensity was so palpable-it was unsettling in the best way.

Straying from the clichéd portrayal of "uncivilized" societies adopting Western norms, a standout episode subtly contrasts individualism with collectivism. It showcases the beauty of diverging paths: one culture's endeavor to carve its way against the stream, another's wisdom in flowing with it.

Blackthorne's struggle with his (still) captors' complex traditions highlights his "wildnes"/shortsight, impacting not just him but others around him.

The narrative arc not only challenges perspectives but also maintains a gripping tension.

- In contrast: Story development is poor. Why the tension with Buntaro? Just because he does not like Anjin? The gardener has some sentences, no connection built. Also no connection: Appearance of the young "Taikos" mother, which is suddenly a big thing. The spy solution was clever though.

a rollercoaster of an episode

[nerrdrage · 9/10 · 14 April 2024]

What didn't they pack into this episode? Continuing on from the previous (also outstanding) episode, we get more insights into the psychology of Japanese culture. The more Blackthorne learns, the less he understands and accepts it. More developments on his rocky relationship with Mariko.

A surprise guest to Blackthorne's home results in a dinner that starts out with comedy and turns ink-dark. Blackthorne's attempts to bring Western cuisine to Japan result in rejection and worse.

Blackthorne is obviously making progress from one episode to the next learning Japanese but his halting attempts to communicate can wreak havoc in a society as brittle as this.

Just when things seem bleakest, we get a truly out of left field event that gives Blackthorne the chance to once again prove his worth to Toranaga. The episode ends back among the scheming regents of Osaka, where a new and very surprising power player emerges.

Fist breaks the heart.

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 23 April 2024]

Shogun, a popular show known for its depiction of 17th-century combat, has been criticized for its brutality. The show's portrayal of Ishido's men being obliterated with cannons and their gory remains being loaded into wagons may have been difficult for some viewers. The peasants of Ajiro, who are tasked with cleaning up the remnants of the massacre, are aware of the village's imminent destruction. When a procession of troops arrives in the opening minutes of Shogun Season 1 Episode 5, the audience assumes it is Ishido seeking revenge for the death of Jozen and his loyal vassals. However, the ensuing twist leaves viewers questioning the authenticity of Buntaro's death and the importance of his life. The return to Osaka promises political intrigue as the Heir's mother, Lady Ochiba, is making her way home, and the Council of Regents is ready to impeach him. The show's return to Osaka promises to be a return to its best aspects, with the characters' lives and actions reimagined. The Council must find a replacement for the wayward regent, Buntaro, to secure the five votes needed to commit seppuku. The regents' conflicting loyalties and agendas make the selection process long and tedious. Buntaro's journey of survival took 20 days, and his wife, Mariko, seems less than thrilled by his return. The producers of Shogun kept Buntaro's details off-camera, but the decision to withhold them was strategic for the show's advantage. Mariko's situation is further complicated by Toranaga's expectation that she live under one roof with Buntaro and Blackthorne for her spying/translating duties. The strong likelihood of someone dying a violent death undermines the comedic potential. Toranaga is furious at Nagakado for killing Jozen, which could plunge the country into civil war. After uttering the episode's titular line and making falcon analogies, Toranaga strips Nagakado of his command of the cannon regiment. The show "Shogun" effectively introduces subtextual thematic elements without stealing momentum from its hyper-intricate plot mechanics. The episode "Servants of Two Masters" sets the stage for the entangled loyalties that create tension for Mariko and Nagakado. Toranaga addresses both matters in rapid succession, highlighting Buntaro's fear of the Anjin and his new status as hatamoto. The episode also features people with one foot in two different worlds, as Yabushige tries to convince Toranaga that he is not a double agent who also serves Ishido. Toranaga reveals his support for the plan to provoke Ishido into attacking and praises Omi for his strategy. The show's writers deliver wildly intricate plotting, ensuring the viewer is never at a loss and feels fully swept up in the momentum of the epic saga.

It's still good, but the cracks are getting bigger

[tristanmilesheap · 7/10 · 20 March 2024]

I've been patient with this series but the more it goes on, the less it fulfils its potential. Though, the aesthetic and cinematography continues to excel. Issues:

• A character, that had almost no screentime, is killed for shock factor, then suddenly bought back, in a poorly explained and largely confusing way
• The conflict between him and the Anjin also had no prior development
• Mariko is the epitome of this show's problems. Her entire character is based on a westernised view of honour within feudal Japan. It comes across as r/im14andthisisdeep
• Seppuku is drastically overused as a plot device for shock factor, it has lost all meaning
• The pheasant and gardener sequence was deliberately nonsensical for shock factor
• The sudden emergence of the heir's mother, who seems to outrank Ishido, contrasts everything we have seen in this show
• The major problem, it's still barely clear why these characters fighting or how we got here initially. There's little reason to feel a strong connection to any character except the Anjin.

Inconsistent Brilliance

[yannickroelands · 2/10 · 22 March 2024]

Shõgun immerses viewers in a captivating storyline accompanied by visually stunning scenes, offering a profound exploration of Tokugawa Ieyasu's endeavor to unify Japan. However, the series encounters turbulence in episodes 4-5, causing its initial appeal to wane. The abrupt emergence of moral ambiguity, particularly highlighted in episode 5, fractures the thematic coherence, leaving the audience bewildered. Despite the show's promising premise, its inconsistency proves to be a significant impediment to the overall viewing experience. For those seeking a more consistent portrayal of Japan and its narrative complexities, turning to the novel may provide solace and a deeper understanding.

Broken to the Brain

[Oslo_Jargo · 1/10 · 23 March 2024]

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

*Plot and ending analyzed*

Episode five is more of the same haggard storytelling, which in this case, amounts to more of the same nonsense from all the previous episodes. There is some uninteresting balderdash about a dead chicken pheasant that is "not supposed to be touched". The Englishman was jokingly saying that anyone who touched it would be killed. Turns out, the gardener touched it and was put to death, and the Englishman is wondering why. His empty-headed buffoonery is getting tedious.

Then the husband of the Japanese translator has "miraculously" returned alive. Apparently, he and ten unemployed samurai fought off those hundred soldiers. Okay. Whatever. Well, the writers put him through the sewer in this episode. They made him more unlikeable than Genghis Khan. He can not hold his Japanese liquor against the Englishman, but he still is an expert marksman with a bow and arrow. Okay. Whatever.

They also put out the expected female victim card for the Japanese translator, so that the audience can weep and instantly side with her. Except it was done in a horrible manner, so to an educated viewer, it looks entirely contrived.

More contrivance is included later when the lazy writers throw in an unexpected earthquake. The laughable scene is so utterly inane that you have to see it to believe it. I'm sure they will also include a tsunami in the following episodes.

Overall, the obvious inconsistency of the episode really hampers it.