Shogun Episode 2 Review: Lord Toronaga is buying time using Anjin as he is confined in Osaka

Shogun, the much anticipated FX series, a lavish adaptation of the classic samurai novel is gearing its momentum…

Episode 2 titled “Servants of Two Lords” title begins with a flashback revealing in-depth the bond between Yoshii Toranaga and the erstwhile Taiko. And reveals the backdrop of feudal Japan’s power struggle between the five lords which was hinted at in the first episode.

Taiko is close to Toronga and on his deathbed a year ago, issued the decree that a political stalemate ensue until Yaechiyo, his son, turned sixteen. He made the five Regents share political power though he was wary of inner scheming for power struggle. Taiko regrets that he couldn’t conquer Korea at his peak strength, otherwise, he would have gifted Japan to Toranaga.

The Taiko on his death bed, requests Toranaga to watch over Yaechiyo as his life would be in danger once the tussle to acquire power kicks off. Sensing the gravity, Taiko has ordered the formation of a Council of Regents, including Ishido, Kiyama, Ohno, Sugiyama, and Toranaga.

Reading Alert: Be warned that this review contains SPOILERS for Shugan Episode 2.

Read Shogun Episode 1 Review: The audience gets a taste of period drama based on power struggle and cultural clash

John aka Anjin is shown currently living in Toranaga’s castle in Osaka, and it emerges that he is only alive because Ishido has commanded Yabushige to secretly set him free. Initially, it is established that Toranaga saw Blackthorne as a tool to delay his death while being confined in the castle in Osaka by Ishido.

That explains the title of the story that John Blackthorne is indirectly serving two masters, although he is currently much closer to Toranaga than Ishido. Both Ishido and Toranaga have sensed the value of having John Blackthorne closer to them. John Blackthorne after landing in Japan has become an important pawn in this political game.

The power struggle among Toranaga, Ishido, and the Christian lords, is gradually growing intense in feudal Japan. Though the story is fictional, it implacably portrays the historical facts.

Well if you haven’t read the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, Google can be helpful in case someone wants to search for the historical facts related to Shugan.

Okay now getting back to the episode, John is brought to Toranaga’s court where Martin Alvita, the Portuguese translator called Tsuji in Japanese, shortly arrives to assist the Regent. It is established that Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko, is assigned to be Blackthorne’s translator and a sort of right-hand to Toranaga for her political witt.

However, before that, Martin Alvita had been instructed by Father Dell’Acqua, the leader of the Christian faction (called “Society of Jesus”), to protect their mission. He also mentions that John’s private diaries talk about the Portuguese’s secret base in Macao, which the Regents do not know about.

Martin Alvita, the Portuguese tsuji turns out to be Lady Mariko’s teacher who warns her about the dangers of trusting the captive English pilot. But Lady Mariko performs her duty well without any prejudice. It seems soon she will fall for John Blackthrone.

The first detailed meeting is a stylishly put-together montage of Toranaga and John’s conversation, Anjin explains that he is from England and still maintains the garb of being a merchant, who is authorized by the Dutch Marquis to trade freely in the open seas.

John fearlessly lays out the religious conflicts between the Protestants and Catholics, and the war between England and Portugal. leaving Toranaga impressed by his sincerity and feisty personality. However, before they can proceed further, Ishido arrives at the court.

As the story progresses, we get to know a clear picture of how the Portuguese had been operating in Japan under the disguise of a Catholic mission. The plan of  Kiyama and Ohno, the Christian Regents, is revealed, who owe their fidelity to the Portuguese.

The meeting of the three villain lords decides that before they can vote in unison against Toranaga, the Regents will demand that John be executed.

Meanwhile confined in prison, clueless John meets Father Domingo, a fellow Protestant who came to Japan almost three decades ago. Father sheds light on the ongoing power tussle, and the trade arrangements and also tells John about Toranaga’s bloodline of the Minowara, who carried a “divine mandate” to rule as “Shogun.”

It is shown that Ishida visits Yabushige outside the castle, and they have a detailed conversation keeping in view the growing Catholic influence and where their power will stand once Toranaga is removed. Here is when Yabushige comes up with a plot to save John as Ishida reveals that he has already signed John’s execution order.

John saved with a trick is again brought before Lord Toranaga, who summons his trusted aids to listen to him. Here Lady Mariko translates for John as he pleads his case before Lord Toranaga. John puts up his views endorsing that his Protestant Queen is not Japan’s enemy. They share a common enemy in the form of the Portuguese.

John begins to divulge all the secrets from his diaries in front of Toronaga. He draws a world map to explain the other countries the Jesuits had not told the Japanese about, including England. John breaks the news to Lord Toronaga that Portugal’s empire considered Japan to belong to them.

Lord Toranaga is not aware of other Portuguese bases in the region, let alone that they employed disgraced samurai and were smuggling firearms. Portugal was acting as the middleman between China and Japan through Macau, expanding the already powerful maritime trade established in Africa and South America to East Asia. While Japan was never colonized by Portugal like other countries were,

Hearing from John that Japan “belonged” to another country followed by the discovery of other Portuguese bases in the region, has put Toranaga on a red alert.

Lord Toranaga after getting details from Anjin, announces that he will be staying in the West Palace.

Shortly after getting all this information from the captive English pilot, Lord Toranaga refused to sign a permit that would authorize one of Portugal’s biggest commercial ships to leave Japan.

After the permit’s refusal, it was confirmed to the Portuguese priests and the Christian lords how dangerous John Blackthorne would be if he remained close to Toranaga. Lord Kiyama hired an assassin to kill John Blackthorne. They plan to kill him overnight knowing where he is staying.

As night falls, the Lord of Kanto switches places with his guest. No sooner an assassin, who is a female servant, enters Toranaga’s room, hoping to find the English navigator.

Toranaga had deliberately put the bait by publically announcing that John was going to stay in the West Palace, as he was dead sure that the information would leak from his court. And he was proved right! He not only managed to protect his guests but also confirmed that there was a spy among them.

The assassin attacks Lord Toranaga in his chambers, but it is later revealed that the assassin was there for John Blackthorne.  Toranaga tactfully kills the assassin but not before John tries to intervene and save his life.

Interesting buildup, we wish there were more than one episode arriving weekly. Directed by Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo, season 1 comprises 10 episodes in total.