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Shogun Season 1 Finale: Fans hail Lord Toranaga's 'unforgettable' strategic brilliance, call it a 'masterpiece'

Shogun's finale surprised audiences with a strategic triumph by Lord Toranaga, avoiding a full-scale war

OSAKA, JAPAN: For nine captivating weeks, FX's 'Shogun' has transported viewers to the heart of feudal Japan. Every episode unraveled the intricate tapestry of Japanese culture amid a simmering power struggle.

Adapted from James Clavell's acclaimed novel, 'Shogun' unfolds during a pivotal period in Japanese history, a time marked by intense power struggles.

With Episode 10, the show's finale arrives, concluding on a surprisingly subdued note. Forget the expected blood-soaked battles; this ending takes a different path. Viewers anticipated a climatic war to erupt, swords clashing and chaos reigning.

Instead, the final episode opens with a subtle shift - a glimpse into the future. Two young boys marvel at a sword displayed by their aged grandfather, a man viewers recognize as a much older John Blackthorne. This recurring scene throughout the episode leaves us pondering. 

What happenend in 'Shogun' finale Episode 10?

Episode 10, 'A Dream of a Dream' of Shogun wraps up the season with a surprising turn of events. John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) is devastated by Mariko's (Anna Sawai) death, as are others. Her highborn status and Christian faith sway key allies from Lord Ishido (Takehiro Hira).

He's forced to delay war, release hostages, and forfeit the 'official' cause for battle due to Ochiba's (Fumi Nikaido) secret alliance with Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada). Mariko's sacrifice proves to be strategically significant.

Toranaga secretly negotiated with the Catholic lords, allowing their church to remain, and safeguarding Blackthorne's life in return for the destruction of his ship.

However, the grand war scene was absent. Instead, Toranaga's true plan unfolds during Yabushige's (Tadanobu Asano) seppuku. Ishido's allies abandon him while Toranaga's forces unite, and the war concludes before it even commences – all owing to Toranaga's masterful planning.

While fans anticipated a bloody finale, in reality, it turned out to be peaceful, sparking a wave of admiration for the entire season of 'Shogun' and for Hiroyuki Sanada in particular.

Fans applaud Yoshii Toranaga's bloodless victory in the 'Shogun' finale

Many fans are applauding 'Shogun' for its brilliant and strategic conclusion. While some viewers expressed shock about Lord Yoshii Toranaga knowingly sending Mariko to be assassinated, many praised Toranaga's masterful strategy for avoiding the war.

Social media is abuzz with praise for the mastermind behind it all - Toranaga. Posts and comments highlight admiration for his calculated approach. The finale seems to have resonated with fans who appreciate a character achieving victory through brilliant maneuvering rather than brute force.

One viewer who appreciated the quiet finale, emphasizing strategy over bloodshed, paid respect to Toranaga's character, saying, "An unexpectedly somber finale full of quiet, poignant scenes of people talking. thought it was going to be bombastic and bloody but from the start toranaga’s goal was to prevent a large war, and he did exactly that. i really can’t be mad about that, tbh. #SHOGUN #ShogunFX"

Another fan wrote, "I hated maybe half the season of shogun but they got me back on board with the finale. In Toranaga we trust!"

One fan praised Toranaga, expressing anticipation for a Season 2, saying, "Toranaga is really that dude who's always thinking 10 moves ahead. Honestly, the finale felt a bit underwhelming and left me wanting more, and knowing there will be no 2nd season just adds to that feeling. Still a solid ending to a great limited series. 8.5/10"

Fans are impressed by everything from the visuals to the acting, calling it a masterpiece, "Standing ovation for the #Shogun finale. Just incredible stuff across the board. Beautifully shot, amazingly acted, memorable scene after memorable scene, continuous chills for that entire hour. Cast Cosmo Jarvis in everything. Hiroyuki Sanada is a treasure. Emmys for everyone."

On the other hand, a fan suggests that Toranaga's monologue at the end of Shogun's finale served as a sneak peek into a potential Season 2 storyline, "Toranaga’s monologue at the end of the finale is basically “if we did do a second season, this is what it would be like."

Another added: "What a finale and what a scene #Shogun That Yabushige and Toranaga conversation was the standout of the finale That look of admiration from Yabushige to Toranaga when he realised that everything that had happened was all part of his plan Just fantastic."

One admirer raved about the season finale of Shogun, best-written shows they've ever seen, "Just watch the season finale of shogūn and yeah this is one of the best written shows that I have ever seen, love that i didnt know how this would end just to be surprise by how smart is Toranaga is, really great character. #ShogunFX."

Another viewer followed with praise, "Just watched the #SHOGUN finale… A 10 week unforgettable experience! Beautifully shot, incredibly written and a new benchmark for TV has just been made Hiroyuki Sanada’s #Toranaga, just schooled everyone in the art of war!"

One fan praised the Shogun finale, particularly Hiroyuki Sanada's performance as Toranaga, calling it award-worthy, "The #Shogun finale was perfect! Hiroyuki Sanada was captivating as Yoshii Toranaga. Such a great and complex character that I loved I loved every second he was on screen. I'm so happy he brought this to life. Extraordinary performance. I hope he gets all the awards for #ShogunFX."

Another wrote: "Standing Ovation. #Shogun was a phenomenal 10 episode Miniseries. Great acting and storytelling that kept you engaged from start to finish. I said it before and I'll say it again. This is the BEST show of 2024. #ShogunFX"

Fans adored the emotional weight and the unexpected twist in The 'Shogun'. While a full-blown battle was anticipated, Toranaga's maneuvers achieved victory without bloodshed.

This unconventional yet effective ending left viewers impressed and eager to see what his future holds – a future left tantalizingly unexplored. 

'Shogun' Trailer

'Shogun' Episode 10 is available for streaming on Hulu