The breakout success of Shogun season 1 makes a follow-up seem incredibly likely, but however tempting a sequel might seem, it would ultimately be a disaster for the story’s legacy. Based on the celebrated novel by James Clavell, Shogun won critical and popular adulation for its powerful evocation of 17th-century Japan, memorable characters, and gripping narrative. In many cases, such characteristics would make a sequel a natural next step. However, some of Shogun‘s most important qualities mean that, in this instance, a season 2 would tarnish rather than enhance the story.
Based on the true story of English sailor William Adams, Shogun initially follows the mariner John Blackthorne as he and his crew find themselves shipwrecked in Japan before the nation was widely known to Europeans. However, while Blackthorn’s story is important, the real drama comes from the complex political conflict that’s dividing the nation, between rivals Yoshii Toranaga – who adopts Blackthorne into his entourage – and a syndicate of noblemen, led by the conniving Ishido. Season 1 ends with fascinating implications for Blackthorne and Toranaga’s future. Yet, despite some ambiguity, Shogun‘s dramatic ending is far more effective without a second season.
After fervent speculation by the fanbase, Shogun season 2 seems closer than ever, following the announcement that Hiroyuki Sanada has signed a deal to return as Toranaga. On one level, Shogun season 2 is a natural next step for a show that has proved popular with millions around the world. The show broke multiple viewership records for FX, becoming the most-streamed series in Canada and the US, according to the viewership aggregator JustSee. Meanwhile, The Wrap reported:
This performance highlights how the show enjoyed incredible popularity, putting it on a par with many major series from rival streaming services. Beyond audience enjoyment, the show also received rave reviews from critics. At the time of writing, Shogun holds a near-perfect 99% positive rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with the critical consensus declaring it “visually sumptuous and enriched with cultural verisimilitude“. With such universal adulation, it’s unsurprising that many observers are advocating for a follow-up.
Shogun‘s popularity makes it easy to understand why viewers would want to return to the show’s immersive world. Combined with the fact that Blackthorne’s future in Japan remains tantalizingly open-ended, it’s clear that a follow-up would appeal to many eager fans. However, tempting as the possibility is, such an approach would fundamentally misunderstand what made Shogun season 1 such a success in the first place.
Unlike some, more straightforward dramas, Shogun is not a series that relies on answering every question it raises. In fact, its power comes from avoiding giving easy answers to every question, instead leaving key details open to interpretation. The narrative thrives in ambiguity and shades of gray. From Toranaga’s true motives to Blackthorne’s shifting loyalty, the series resonates because it prefers to show rather than tell its story to the audience. The result is not only more cryptic, but also more memorable and realistic. Real history rarely conforms to a concise, easily digestible narrative, so neither should Shogun.
There’s also the practical matter of where Shogun season 1 left the story. Although Toranaga’s rise was not shown traditionally, his victory and path to power was all but confirmed in his final exchange with Yabushige. Since his triumph has already been established, there seems little point in retelling what happens next. Additionally, the deaths of key characters like Mariko leave Shogun season 2 with an almost impossible void to fill, with whoever comes in to replace them almost doomed to failure from the outset.
Continuing Shogun‘s story in a second season would undoubtedly undermine the original’s deliberately opaque approach to the material. That said, however, there are plenty of obvious tangents a follow-up could pursue. The closing moments of Shogun season 1, for instance, reshaped the relationship between Blackthorne and Buntaro, for example, with both men suffering following Mariko’s death. A second season can explore the changing dynamics between the two combustible characters, set against the shifting politics of the new shogunate.
The most obvious story for Shogun season 2, however, concerns Yoshii Toranaga himself. If the show sticks to the series’ true story inspiration, a follow-up can better explain how the shogunate functions, as well as the obvious political upheaval that would follow the establishment of a form of military dictatorship. Shogun season 2 could also include real-life events from the early years of the Tokugawa shogunate, such as the siege of Osaka in 1614. With plenty of fascinating real history to draw upon, Shogun season 2 can be an entertaining sequel – even if it ultimately undermines the purpose of the original.
Sources: The Wrap, Rotten Tomatoes