With Shōgun, a series full of violence and intrigue has appeared. Therefore, it’s not surprising that it is often compared to Game of Thrones. However, according to the director, there are two better comparisons.
What is Shōgun about? The series is set in feudal Japan, during a civil war, and tells the story of John Blackthorne.
He is the captain of a Dutch ship that runs aground in Japan. There he meets Lord Yoshii Toranaga and becomes entangled in a political intrigue.
Due to the historical setting, violence, and intrigue in the story, the comparison between Shōgun and the HBO hit series Game of Thrones has already been drawn frequently before release.
However, Shōgun director Jonathan van Tulleken stated in Today by BBC that there are two better comparisons for the series. (via Deadline)
Here you can see an English trailer for Shōgun:
“It is really a character piece and it is about this intrigue,” Jonathan van Tulleken said in the broadcast.
“This is a dangerous world where violence can come from nowhere, but the real danger lies in the machinations. A conversation can be just as dangerous as anything else. A better comparison [than Game of Thrones] would be Succession or House of Cards.”
Thus, he categorizes the series even more as a political drama and emphasizes the involvement of the Shōgun protagonist in the power games of the players.
The director further spoke about how they wanted to avoid the “Western gaze” on the story and how they went about it:
“This is done hand in hand with the Japanese, because it is a story about two cultures that meet and see each other,” he explained.
Jonathan van Tulleken then added: “We are far beyond [the Western gaze] in terms of the sophistication of the audience and the stories we want to tell. What we really want to tell is a story about political intrigue, captivity, and entanglement.”
If you are always on the lookout for new good movies and series, then check here with our colleagues at Filmstarts: The February highlights from the FILMSTARTS editorial team: These are the best movies and series we watched last month
Where can you watch Shōgun? You can stream the series on Disney+ since February 27, 2024. The first two episodes are currently available there.
Every Tuesday, a new episode will be added weekly. The miniseries will contain a total of 10 episodes.
If you are fans of Game of Thrones, you can find a list of similar series here for you.
