Shogun Episode 3 Review: Toranaga has bag full of tricks

The third episode of Shogun titled Tomorrow Is Tomorrow shows some masterclass cinematography and brief details of war in feudal Japan, as the makers’ attention to detail is immaculate. And there are impressive moments to see the samurai in full armour.

But the 52-minute-long episode seems to get over too quickly.

The episode opens up showing Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) preparing some letter as he believes it is their best will yet, wondering if it’ll be today.

He then goes to Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) who asks if he heard about the attack last night. Apparently, he is summoned to the castle by Toranaga after sensing his role in leaking the information about John Blachthrone.

They start talking about the society of the Amida, and Yabushige tells Toranaga what he knows about the society. Lord Toranaga questions him about what he would pay for his head. And Yabushige unsurprisingly, wants it done if Toranaga has decided to take his life.

Toranaga questions whether he is a reliable friend or whether Lord Ishido has managed to poison his thoughts. After hearing that Yabu admits that he has been offered Toranaga’s seat on the council and insists that it didn’t interest him, but he wants the Suruga Province.

Toranaga agrees to give Yabushige the Suruga Province, as he tells him he can keep his head because the assassin was sent to kill the Anjin, the English pilot.

He is a man of insight and knows very well that killing Yabushige will only add to the bloodshed, and he is keen to use the greedy general as an ally rather than a corpse.

Toranaga who is shown calm in the previous 2 episodes, has made up his plans as he offers Yabushige a chance to redeem himself which later leads to his journey sneaking out of Osaka.

The first scene of John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) in this episode shows him receiving treatment from a doctor while he talks to Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai). He learns that the assassin belonged to a very dangerous sect. But when he gets annoyed when the doctor suggests him to sleep with a woman.  When he refuses, Mariko asks if he’d prefer a male companion.

Here comes Buntaro, Lady Toda Mariko’s husband, asking if the barbarian Blackthorne is behaving himself. He informs about them leaving immediately to Ajiro with members of Toranaga’s clan. Blackthrone later guesses right who is Buntaro and Lady Mariko has a son.

Toda tells his granddaughter that he has been ordered to go with the group to Ajiro. And when Blackthrone insists on meeting Toranaga before they leave, he is denied.

The suspense builds nonstop as the members of Toranaga’s clan are set to leave the castle in Osaka, and we get to know visibly calm Lord Toranaga is full of tricks.

Blackthorne has been told to stay close to the litter or palanquin as he walks with Lady Mariko. There is suspense about how Kiri’s leaving has been planned, who had lost her baby and husband in the first episode.

Lord Ishido arrives with his militia and inquires about Kiri and Blackthorne leaving. Toda has to interrupt at one point and explains that Ishido honours them by paying his respects. After checking on them, Ishido says he’ll have his men escort them to the gallery.

Toronaga’s main wife is accompanying the caravan however, in a jiffy, someone swatches into the palanquin. Blackthorne is surprised as he watches them create a distraction and switch out the carriage passengers. His jaws drop when he finds Lord Toronaga has tricked his enemy into sneaking out of the castle in Osaka if he doesn’t his murder plot has been laid.

She tells him that Toranaga is famous for his trickery and breaks the news that they all will be killed he’s found and they will be too. But as they reached the gate, they were informed that all travellers in the troop would be verified according to Ishido’s orders.

Blackthorne senses the gravity and interrupts to prevent them from finding Toranaga’s presence in the palanquin. He manages to keep them busy until they are allowed to pass.

Lady Mariko and Blackthorne are getting close as they keep talking as they walk. Mariko admits that her husband Toda Hirokatsu although his friends call him Buntaro, is and that she has a child. Blackthrone also tells her about her children and wife.

It’s not long after getting into the woods, they end up getting attacked and Toranaga’s presence is revealed.

They make their way to the tier and Blackthorne runs into a crew of the ship as he knows them so he says hello to the captain. They see the Portuguese black ship sitting at the dock,

As they manage to leave, only one man gets left behind, Mariko’s husband, Toda Hirokatsu aka Buntaro to face more of Ishido’s men.

Blackthorne argues they should go back to save him, but Yabu refuses. They leave the shore watching Toda Hirokatsu standing. Toranaga yells at him before he turns around to fight. And we are left to assume him getting killed. Ishido has learned that Toranaga was with them all along and Yabu has betrayed them. 

As they pass by, Blackthorne points out the fishing boats nearby to Mariko.

Blackthorne and Toranaga realize they’re stuck. Blackthrone recommends approaching the black ship to seek a safe passage into the waters. It’s a detailed scene of how Vasco Rodriguez (Nestor Carbonell) and the others on the black ship learn about Blackthorne and Toranaga requests an escort through the harbour from the pirates on on fishing boats. 

Toranaga offers them money and a chance to build a Christian church in Edo, in exchange for safe passage but the captain wants more than that. He discloses Blackthorne’s identity and hands his diaries.

Blackthorne proves his skills when he is left behind on the small boat. Blackthorne manages to get through the fishing boats. It is Vasco who allows Blackthorne’s ship to pass denying orders.

The episode ends showing Toronaga learning to dive into the sea from Blackthrone who has been offered to train a regiment in foreign tactics.

It is impossible to tell what is about to happen till we get to see the next episode…