‘Shōgun’s Finale Makes Its Most Surprising Move With Blackthorne

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the ending of Shōgun.

The big picture

• In the
  Shogun
  In the end, Blackthorne learns hard lessons in Japan about perseverance and letting go.
• Mariko's sacrifice changes the course of history and shapes Blackthorne's destiny.
• Shogun
  reveals that the true hero of the story is Mariko, not Blackthorne.

When we first meet John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) in FX Shogun, is an English pilot of the ship Erasmus, tasked with creating a route to the Pacific Islands and disrupting Portuguese trade in Asia. However, when he reaches the shores of Japan, he soon realizes that his ambitions and arrogance may have led him to bite off more than he could chew. He must think quickly to save his life, leading him down an increasingly complicated path who intertwines his fate with that of Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai).

As a political conflict develops, and despite the unfavorable position he finds himself in, John Blackthorne persists in pursuing his original goal in Japan for most of the show, taking every opportunity to regain what he has lost and , hopefully, get what he came for. . However, as he learns about the local customs and the people he now encounters, he undergoes an irrevocable transformation. The young and selfish sailor who first set out to sea in search of his destiny finally finds it, but he must lose all he had before, and all he gained after reaching the coast of Ajiro, before he could do so. Shogun Episode 10 finds Blackthorne struggling with the pain of this loss and finally learning to let it go.

'Shogun's ending gives us a glimpse of Blackthorne's future, or does it?

ShogunThe end of the episode quickly attracts the viewers. After Mariko's devastating death in episode 9, we get a glimpse into Blackthorne's distant future, where her two grandsons presumably regard her sword as the dangerous foreign object that it is. while lying sick and dying in a bed in England. A samurai helmet is on display and a Japanese painting can be seen hanging behind the sword. Old Blackthorne holds Mariko's rosary, his expression heavy with sorrow as the older boy asks, “Did a wildling really give it to you?”

After so many misadventures, near-death experiences, and finally losing the woman he loved, it wouldn't be surprising to see Blackthorne follow this path. We glimpse a future where he has returned to England, but clings to reminders of his time in Japan. Back to the present day, a grieving Joan returns to the city where it all began, only to find the Erasmus burned to ashes and sunk to the bottom of Ajiro harbor. With bridges burned between her former crewmates, Mariko lost, and her only means of getting back to England destroyed, Blackthorne is completely missing.

The final blow comes when Blackthorne realizes that Ajiro's people have been tortured and persecuted while Toranaga's men search for the culprit behind the burning of the ship. Even after meeting with Toranaga to plead for Ajiro's people on their behalf, informing him that Mariko negotiated a deal with the Church to ensure their survival in exchange for the ship's destruction, Mr. of war rejects Blackthorne's plea, claiming that he cannot tolerate disloyalty. in his domain. After failing to provoke Toranaga into taking his life by confessing his ever-present ulterior motives, we see Blackthorne haunted by the vision of the future we saw earlier in the episode. His expression of disgust indicates his rejection of this future and the life he would lead, as he declares his intention to commit seppuku.

Blackthorne must lose everything to find peace in 'Shōgun'

When Blackthorne attempts to commit seppuku as a protest against Ajiro's punishment, his character arc reaches its climax. The lessons he learned from Mariko about honor and purpose during their months together weigh heavily on him, and for the first time since his journey began, decides to undertake an act that he considers truly honorable and selfless, choosing a death that he considers significant. In the final episode of FX's Shōgun: The Official Podcast, actor Cosmo Jarvis discussed this scene, saying that while there is a “Western bias” to Blackthorne's seppuku, he recognizes the importance of the act itself and is committed to it. Realizing that, just like gardener Uejirou's death by the pheasant in episode 5, he is responsible for the fate of Ajiro's people, and now actively tries to accept that responsibility.

In James Clavell's ShogunBlackthorne's seppuku attempt occurs significantly earlier in the story's timeline, which would have placed the event closer to episode 4, as noted by the creator. Rachel Kondo. However, this moment would not have been consistent with the portrayal of Blackthorne as shown in the show. Throughout the narrative, Blackthorne has shown a stubborn persistence in sticking to his plans despite facing numerous obstacles. Only after losing the people and bonds I loved he becomes truly free to forge a new path for himself. Later in the episode, we witness the Anjin once again performing a noble act by helping his last remaining friend, Fuji (Moeka Hoshi), to scatter the ashes of her deceased husband and son at sea. In a symbolic gesture, he frees Mariko's rosary, making visions of her future unattainable and solidifying her determination to leave the past behind and embrace a new beginning in Japan.

“Shōgun” was never about Blackthorne

We are brought into the world of Shogun through Blackthorne's point of view; however, the show is quick to avoid the “white savior” trope masterfully introducing the characters who would finally have the fate of this story in their hands. Like Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) sitting on a cliff with Toranaga in episode 10, preparing for his own seppuku, we learn that Toranaga was behind the destruction of the Erasmus all the time. Not only was this an act done to save his life from the Church's reprisals, but it was also designed as a test for Blackthorne to prove himself and to ensure that he would remain in Japan.

More importantly, Toranaga reveals that his Crimson Sky strategy had already been completed before the battle even began, because he was always supposed to send Mariko to Osaka and make sure the Council of Regents was set on fire in Ishido (Takehiro Hira). Toranaga knew Mariko's power and that she would get the job done, making her a key player in getting the win. In short, Shogun it's Mariko's story, rather than Blackthorne'sand about how one woman's sacrifice not only saved an entire nation but also won the war.

The 10 episodes of Shogun are available to stream on Hulu in the US

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