The FX restricted collection Shogun ended on April 23, and followers of the ten-episode drama are clamoring for a second go-round; nevertheless, that’s not more likely to occur, based on showrunner Justin Marks and author Rachel Kondo.
It’s because the collection was primarily based on the novel of the identical title by the late James Clavell, who didn’t write a sequel. Set in Seventeenth-century feudal Japan, it tells the story of shipwrecked English navigator John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) who spends the remainder of his days within the nation. Blackthorne’s character was primarily based on the real-life William Adams who, in 1600, grew to become the primary Englishman to achieve Japan and have become a key advisor to the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Regardless of Clavell’s different works having minor ties to Shogun (The Asian Saga), the novel concludes the story of Blackthorne and his relationships with the principle gamers. That mentioned, producer and co-star, Hiroyuki Sanada (John Wick 4, Mortal Kombat, Westworld) who performs the highly effective busho Yoshii Toranaga, feels that whereas there’s a historical past throughout the ebook, and “actual historical past fashions,” a second entry or associated collection “depends upon the viewers’s response,” which as we all know has been very optimistic.
Nevertheless, Marks and Kondo are uncertain whether or not there will probably be a season two, and from what we gleaned from the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, it doesn’t appear doubtless.
“I believe if we had a narrative – if we may discover a story – we might be open to it,” mentioned Marks. “However I don’t assume that anybody ever desires to be out over their skis and not using a roadmap and all the things. And it’s additionally nearly, do folks need extra of it?
“However it’s additionally about, not even topping the ebook, however, how do you even equal the roadmap that Clavell laid out? And I don’t know if it’s potential. I don’t know if Clavell may have performed it both. That’s in all probability why he moved on to different books too, proper? He knew what he had performed. It’s a troublesome one.”
So far as Clavell’s The Asian Saga is anxious, a collection primarily based on the novels could be “laborious” because of being “everywhere for good motive.” One of many books, Tai-Pan, takes place within the early interval of Hong Kong as an illustration, and is “fully totally different” from Shogun.
“[Clavell’s] conjuring new vivid characters that stand 75,000 ft tall unexpectedly, and I believe whenever you take a look at Shogun, that’s a part of what Clavell did,” Marks added. “We got these characters who have been actually so colourful and accessible, it’s a tough magic to conjure as a novelist and as a author.
“The Asian Saga goes everywhere for good motive. So it’s laborious. You’re not truly constructing off that very same language in the identical method.”
We agree with Marks. A follow-up to Shogun could be a “laborious magic to conjure.” In our opinion, it doesn’t want one. The ending was excellent and aligned with how the novel and its story ended – what extra must be added? Certain, there may be loads of fodder for extra tales to be advised, particularly if centered across the secondary characters. Certain, Shogun isn’t a three-part epic like The Lord of the Rings (4 for those who embrace The Hobbit), with facet novels, an appendix, and so on. stuffed with sufficient characters and lore to base many a collection on. Sure, Shogun is predicated on the real-life Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of many Nice Unifiers who ushered within the Edo interval and was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate that might rule Japan for 260 years.
So sure, there are many tales to inform, however not relating to the one between Blackthorne and Toranaga. The top of the novel and the collection conclude that story and that’s the way it wants to remain. Generally, it’s finest to depart a narrative untangled and respect the narrative lest it diminish the influence of a satisfying finish.
You’ll be able to watch Shogun on Hulu.
