Shogun
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As A Stick of Time opens,Shogunviewers might find themselves wondering if they missed an episode.
All of thats to come, however.
Maybe the one holding the sword will be me.
Thats not exactly a warm farewell.
From that we return to the main action and a not-exactly-warm hello.
In fact, if the pre-meeting chatter is to be believed,everythinghangs in the balance.
And, after a tense opening exchange, everyones relieved when Saeki and Toranaga share a laugh.
When Blackthorne doesnt screw up the meeting, even addressing Nobutatsu in Japanese, things look even better.
This Crimson Sky plan might work after all.
Or at least thats how it seems at first.
But all is not so peaceful behind the scenes.
For now, at least, thats a no-go, much to Blackthornes frustration.
(Of note: Mariko does not translate this request, but Toranaga anticipates it anyway.)
Kikus new gig has repercussions elsewhere, too.
Under cloudy skies, other characters contemplate their situations and their futures.
Watching as Saeki enjoys a soak, Nagakado expresses his desire to see battle, and soon.
Yabushige isnt quite so enthusiastic, however.
Then, as the sun sets, the real action begins.
There is no respect here but Saeki doesnt need to show respect.
This dinner did not go according to plan.
Blackthornes reaction: Maybe he could get his ship back?
But this isnt as single-minded as it seems at first.
For all the heat between them, there are codes she cannot break.
The turn brings disappointments to others, too.
What will Toranagas next move be?
Even those closest to him dont know as they wait for him to return from contemplating it in solitude.
Is it odd, then, that Gin seems to understand his motivations better than his war council?
When Toranaga suggests he has no future ahead of him she, politely but unmistakably, suggests hes bluffing.
Toranaga, she suggests, knew Saeki would pull this nonsense and let his men cross the border anyway.
Plan or no, tensions are, to put it mildly, running high.
Might as well be now, Blackthorne says of their seemingly inevitable confrontation.
But its not now.
Not yet, anyway.
Nonetheless, Mariko gets an earful from her lord after her husband leaves.
This accusation more or less short-circuits Marikos overlapping loyalties and she asks permission to commit seppuku.
Its a tense scene and a beautifully acted one.
Yes, he did cut off his defeated foes head.
But it took a while.
Theres a gap between truth and legend.
Is he reflecting on this death because he knows hes defeated?
Saeki is not gracious in victory.
Tomorrow you have nowhere to go, he says, and nothing left to be.
This confidence looks like it might be short-lived, however.
Its tempting to call Nagakado a failson, butShogunhonestly hasnt provided enough evidence to make that call.
Nagakado was overeager, sure, but he also had potential.
Feudal Gestures
A Stick of Time backloads the action but its no less compelling for this choice.
The tension is thick and Saekis an intriguing new wild card.
In some ways hes the opposite of his half-brother.
Hes true to the samurai code without really adhering to its spirit.
Theres nothing courteous about him.
Its also a rich episode for philosophizing, particularly Fujis scenes.
Though saddened by the memory, Fuji replies, We do what we can when we can.
We can only hope its enough.
