Shogun
Warning : SPOILERS lie ahead for Shogun episode 9 , " Crimson Sky " !
Summary
Mariko ’s journey has reached an excited end inShogunepisode 9 . Based on the James Clavell novel of the same name , the FX historic epic has followed the story of English sailor John Blackthorne being shipwreck in Japan and possess to determine of their cultures ; daimyo Lord Toranaga , whose efforts to retain his power have put him on the possible path to war with other kin group in the country ; and Lady Mariko , a faithful ally to Toranaga who is tasked with comprise Blackthorne into Toranaga ’s plans and take in to Japanese customs .
Shogunepisode 9 , entitled " Crimson Sky " , brought Blackthorne and Mariko ’s journey to a headspring as they surrendered to Ishido in Osaka on Toranaga ’s behalf , while also looking to return the daimyo ’s family to him . After fail to win over Ishido to let them leave , Mariko machinate to pull seppuku , something she has long been hoping for to scarper the encumbrance of her family ’s dishonorable past tense . Though she ’s ab initio stopped from doing so , Mariko later sacrifices herself to protect Blackthorne , Yabushige , and Toranaga ’s consorts from Ishido ’s shinobi army .
The casting of FX ’s Shogun brings the character from James Clavell ’s bestselling novel , some of which are based on real historic figure , to life .
While Mariko ’s desire for death has been one of the cardinal character point throughoutShogun , oft request permission from Toranaga but being refused in gild to continue his programme , her ultimate sacrifice served as a skillful full - closure electric arc for her . By sacrificing herself to protect those she cares about , it actually allowed Mariko to find some semblance of significance in her life , even if it was through last . With her beinga key figure in both Toranagaand Blackthorne ’s lives , though , the finale is sure to see her end solution in an emotional radioactive dust for both .
Screen Rantinterviewed Anna Sawai to discussShogunepisode 9 , the meaning behind Mariko ’s decease , how her fictional character feel about Blackthorne ill-use up to be her second in commit seppuku , how Toranaga will respond to her death , and what she knows aboutMonarch : Legacy of Monstersseason 2 .
Mariko’s Fate InShogunEpisode 9 Was “Bittersweet” For Sawai
Heading into installment 9 , Sawai looked back on herShogunjourney as a " very semisweet " one , feeling like the episode ’s premiere had her experience like " I was finally really resign her " , despite having already seen the show forrader of time . She also feels that following the show with audience has kick in her a " newfangled perspective " on Mariko ’s arc , as well as the entire show :
Anna Sawai : Oh , how does it sense ? I do n’t know . I find like I was very excited and at the same time feeling very bittersweet about the instalment that just come out , episode 9 , because I have intercourse that it would feel like I was in the end really release her . But it ’s funny , because I had seen the whole thing , and I knew that it was going to be great , but then , with every instalment being release and living it with the hearing , I find like I ’m getting a newfangled perspective as well . I do n’t know , perchance I ’m finally go out her from afar . So , it ’s been a very exciting journey .
With her being such a primal figure in Toranaga ’s plans , Mariko ’s death is sure to come as slightly of a blow for her daimyo heading into the coda . Sawai , though , thinks that the lord at long last expect her to not make it out of Osaka animated after cede herself there :
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Anna Sawai : I do n’t know if he expects her to be go , actually , I really do n’t get it on . Maybe there ’s a part of him that was like , " If all goes bad , she may die . " But , he ’s get wind everything , he ’s gone through every scenario , and so I do n’t think it would storm him too much . I think that , yeah , he ’ll stay on his plan .
Anjin Stepping Up As Mariko’s Second Was Both A “Devastation” & “Shock” For The Character
Though Mariko had been hop for death for much of the show , Ishido came in and stopped Mariko from place seppuku by giving her the permission to leave , resulting in the character crumbling to the ground in exasperation . Rather than feeling " disappointed " , though , Sawai thinks her character is relieved in that she can follow through with Toranaga ’s architectural plan :
Anna Sawai : Yeah , I do n’t call back that she was disappoint that he descend back , because he came to give her the license . Because , if she did , then she can go back to her Lord , and her Lord will now instruct what ’s going to occur . It ’s more so , if she was caught , then she would n’t be able-bodied to do anything about it . The point was she ’s either leave being liberate with permission and proving that he ca n’t take them hostage , or ego - sacrifice and making a program line about it .
So , yeah , I do n’t think there was any disappointment when he come back . I recollect , if anything , it was like a celebration that she made a change within Ishido . [ For her ritual killing , ] I think that she ’s always lived with this intent to serve her Lord . It ’s not about her and what she desire to do , it ’s about accepting her fate . And at the final stage of sequence 8 , he find out that Hiromatsu also sacrifice his life in parliamentary procedure to have Toranaga - sama keep go with his order of business . Agenda sound really bad . [ Laughs ] So , once we see her incur resolution in that vista , I guess she ’s just going forrard with conviction and clarity , and she recognise exactly what she needs to do .
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And if that means taking her own life , she ’s still doing it for a greater campaign . It ’s a much more meaningful way to populate than live a retentive life doing nothing . So , I do n’t conceive she is cute about it , I think that she ’s very happy that she ’s found kind of the result . And the way that I approached episode 9 was the same , I felt really invest and good about her journeying .
Anjin choosing to pace in and be her second in seppuku after her initial choice refuse could be seen as just as much of a treason of his desire to keep her alive and build a kinship as much as honoring her traditions . Sawai even feel that her character would be torn on how she feels about this selection , though ultimately determine it as a " huge gesture " :
Anna Sawai : I think that she experience devastation and shock when Kiyama is not there to second her , because that intend that she will die an unloyal Catholic . But by having Blackthorne step up , she is able-bodied to still be faithful to her religion , and also be a loyal samurai dying for her Lord . And so I guess she sees it as a very huge gesture that he is unforced to take her over his faith , and it ’s a very extra moment , because she knows the suffering that he ’s go to have to go through because of this routine .
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And I guess that it ’s a very romantic way to just show up , because in maybe a duad scenes before that , he asks her to survive , " Continue living for me , " but then he chooses to second her , even though it ’s the out-and-out opposite word of what he want . And I cogitate that mayhap , how she ’s always telling him , " We live , and we kick the bucket , we control nothing beyond that . "
For most of the show , Blackthorne is sample to moderate his fate . He ’s going , and he ’s rebelling and all that , but possibly in that scene , that finicky prospect , she go steady him eventually accepting what is . It ’s not what he wants , but he ’s accepting of it , so I reckon that that is the moment where she realizes how he ’s change .
Sawai Was Just As Surprised ByMonarch: Legacy of Monsters' Season 2 News
Prior to garner eclat inShogun , Sawai became a breakout principal with her lead role inApple TV+‘sMonarch : Legacy of Monsters , a tv set spinoff of Legendary ’s Monsterverse dealership . With strong reviews and ratings for the streamer , time of year 2 was finally confirm three month after its time of year 1 finale , and for Sawai , it was just as much of a happy surprise as it was for interview :
Anna Sawai : I ca n’t enjoin you anything , because I actually do n’t know what ’s decease on . [ Laughs ] I literally get the call that it ’s going to be regenerate , and have heard nothing . And just earlier , they were like , " Oh , but you ’re move to be part of it , right ? " And I was like , " I recall so , because they did update me , as well . " So , I really do n’t know . But I think , and I hope , that we ’re give out to be frivol away it soon , because if we do n’t dart it soon , that means everyone ’s fail to be hold back for 2 - 3 age until the 2d time of year comes out . So , I believe it might be the next thing I do . mayhap .
AboutShogun
FX ’s Shōgun , an original version of James Clavell ’s bestselling novel , is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a C - defining civil war . Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as “ Lord Yoshii Toranaga ” who is fighting for his life as his enemy on the Council of Regents unite against him .
mark out our otherShōguninterviews here :
The first nine episodes of Shogun are uncommitted to well out on Hulu .
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Cast
Shōgun , let go in 2024 , is pose in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant polite warfare . It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents , while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby sportfishing small town , complicating the tides of power .
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