'Shōgun': Toda Mariko's flashbacks hint at what really happened to her father and family
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The action-packed historical drama 'Shōgun' on FX features clashing cultures and power struggles among its characters.
Amidst the squabbles over dominance, a lovely bond blossoms between English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai).
With the exception of her husband Toda Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe), who sacrificed his life to save Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), and her son, Mariko's personal life was not explored in depth until the most recent episode, titled 'The Eightfold Fence'.
However, there was always a sense of mystery behind Mariko's steadfast devotion to Toranaga.
That being said, the most recent chapter of the Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks-created series appeared to shed some insight into Mariko's tragic background, which left her family in ruins.
Toda Mariko gets flashbacks of her painful past in 'Shōgun' Episode 4
One could argue that the show's latest episode laid the groundwork for future catastrophes.
Tucked behind the grit of war is the story of Mariko's traumatic past, which takes a look at her loveless marriage with Buntaro.
As Blackthorne and Mariko continued to discuss their individual experiences, it became clear that their relationship was strengthening. It was at this moment that Mariko shared about her troubled past.
However, nothing tangible was stated, but she did inform Blackthorne that she had suffered a severe injustice that destroyed her family and resulted in the demise of her family home.
Not only that, but she also had flashbacks of her terrified father and her younger self plunging into a blizzard.
What really happened to Toda Mariko's family in 'Shōgun'?
The show, which is based on James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name, was adapted into a miniseries in 1980, allowing us to infer some information about what might have happened to Mariko's family.
According to the 1980 series, Mariko's father killed an honorable daimyō, a high-ranking lord in feudal Japan, which was the ultimate transgression.
His family suffered the consequences of his actions, which ultimately led to their collapse.
Mariko, who was planning to kill herself, was forced to marry Buntaro, which explains her current circumstances.
Mariko's character in the series is apparently a direct basis for the historical figure Hosokawa Gracia. Similar to Mariko, Gracia was forced into marriage following political injustice and played an important role in the formation of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The series premiered with its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on Hulu and FX. The subsequent episodes are scheduled to be released weekly.