Shogun
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From the first episode,Shogunhas warned us it would break our hearts.
The series takes place in a beautiful but cruel world.
Anna Sawais performance as Mariko has offered ample warning, too.
Her eyes have always suggested what she tries to keep hidden behind the eightfold fence.
Its also the best of the series so far.
God, he tells her, has saved her for a purpose.
Her hand shakes as she holds the cross shell wear to the end.
I hate this fucking city, he says while looking at the Osaka skyline.
He has no idea just how much whats about to happen will deepen that hate.
Osaka is not a happy place.
Its a fig leaf waiting for the right person to rip it away.
Hes a pretty good sailor, and hes well trained.
This does not go well (even though Blackthorne bows as properly as he can).
Ishidos response He has others almost makes her abandon her peaceful pose.
She then talks to Ochiba, her childhood friend and Ishidos new fiancee.
Would she choose the first line?
Mariko doesnt hesitate: While the snow remains veiled in the haze of cold evening, a leafless branch.
Does this have any meaning for the moment at hand?
It seems like it might.
Mariko then segues into the reason shes there.
Sure, Toranaga will be there soon, but nonetheless, shell be going, thank you very much.
And theres no reason that should be a problem for anyone unless Ishido is saying shes notallowedto leave.
This does not go over well.
Skirting responsibility, Ishido hands it over to his Regents.
Furthermore, she doesnt like Ishidos tone of voice.
Shes a samurai from a great and old family (unlike Ishido, it goes without saying).
After shes told to await a meeting of the Regents, she exits.
But this is not over.
Hes also not stupid, sensing that her actions might be part of Toranagas larger plan.
(Also, hes not crazy about her poetry.)
She asks only one thing of him: Stay out of it.
The chorus of disapproval continues with a visit from Marikos teenage son Ryuji (Yuua Yamanaka).
That Kiyama has promised him hell be betrothed to Kiyamas granddaughter certainly influences his opinion.
Like any other teenager, he finds his mom embarrassing, but on a much grander scale.
Tired of hearing about his familys soiled history, he tells her she risks losing him as a son.
Shes refused permission to leave.
She doesnt prevail, but not without putting up a fight.
After she admits defeat, she vows to take her own life in shame that evening.
Marikos faith complicates matters.
As a samurai, she sees this as an obligation.
As a Christian, she views it as a mortal sin.
But Ochiba recognizes another possibility: This is Marikos vengeance.
She may die, but not without disgracing Ishido and those around him and inciting revolt in the process.
As they leave, Blackthorne makes one last plea: Live for him.
Mariko offers no response, at least not with words.
As the ceremony approaches, Mariko makes a last confession while those around her consider their options.
Blackthorne acts out by slashing a flaw into a karesansui garden.
Mariko will be allowed to leave.
Although Ishido hates this, theres little he can do about it.
Its a happy ending to a dramatic day.
This is what they do.
Theyll blast bring up the door if they have to.
And, with that literally explosive moment, the episode ends.
Remember,Shogunwarned us from the start it would break our hearts.
Shes a samurai and a Christian.
Her death resolves those contradictions, but this makes it no less a tragedy.
Clavells novel contains a lot of information about shinobi, a.k.a.
ninjas, underground figures with long traditions of their own.
Though Mariko is the focus, this is also a pivotal episode for Yabushige.
Its another case of the series telling us what to expect early on.
Heres a deceitful, sadistic character.
Can we be surprised when he turns on his allies out of self-interest?
And yet even Yabushige seems not to anticipate the consequences of the favor he performs for Ishido.
But theres some dark foreshadowing here too.
Its a strong episode for wordless acting, too, as others react to Marikos choices.
Watch Ochiba as Mariko talks and Blackthorne and Ryuji as she fights.
