REVIEW: ‘Shōgun’ Episode 10 — “A Dream of a Dream”

Everyone is still reeling after the shocking death of Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai). Shōgun Episode 10, “A Dream of a Dream,” deals with the aftermath and brings the series to a close. It has been a whirlwind adventure with constant twists and turns that are finally being wrapped up.

Mariko’s death may have caught viewers off guard, but it had an immeasurable impact on the entire world of Shōgun. After a bizarre flash-forward scene with an old and dying John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), Shōgun Episode 10 goes straight into the grieving aftermath of her death. Blackthorne has always found a way to survive in any situation, but here he is genuinely shell-shocked.

He isn’t the only one. Lord Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano), who agreed to help Lord Ishido Kazunari (Takehiro Hira) in exchange for his life, holds himself responsible for what happened. His situation is a not-so-subtle look at how playing both sides can go terribly wrong. He chose to look out for himself, and now it got someone killed who was very dear to Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Blackthorne. Yabushige is filled with regret, begging for forgiveness, but it might be too late for the self-centered opportunist.

They aren’t the only ones shaken by this gruesome death. Ishido has a meeting with the Council of Regents to discuss the next course of action. It is clear that the other regents suspect Ishido of staging the attack, but they still will not openly oppose him. Once they learn Toranaga has left Edo and is hiding out to prepare for war, they all reluctantly agree to join this inevitable fight on Ishido’s side.

Everyone from the regents to Yabushige understands that open war with Toranaga is risky at best. They have all seen his strength before and know not to discount him. It shows how blinded by ambition Ishido is that he refuses to acknowledge any warning signs. That pride and ambition is what could very likely lead to his downfall, and Shōgun Episode 10 does a great job of making it feel authentic and earned. If Ishido fails, no one will question why.

Blackthorne is finally freed to return to Toranaga, and we are given a great scene with him and Father Martin. Blackthorne is distraught by Mariko’s death and can speak his fears and pain out loud. His character development throughout the series allows him to be open with his emotions in a powerful way. These two men despised each other for the entire series so far, so seeing them have an emotionally resonant conversation that ends in Blackthorne being given help to leave Osaka was much appreciated.

Mariko was the glue that held so many people together. Now, without her, everything is starting to unravel in Shōgun Episode 10. Toranaga’s allies are gathering together for a final war, but they are not doing it out of anger or fear. Blackthorne and Toranaga, specifically, are heartbroken at her death and are doing only what they feel is right. They recognize the meaning of her sacrifice and its importance, but now they have to win for it not to be in vain.

Much of Shōgun Episode 10 is spent slowly building up to the climax. We know war is coming, but there needs to be a reason for it to matter. Taking those slower moments to really let the emotional weight sink in is what makes it all mean so much more for viewers. Seeing people beg to avoid the fight, struggling to stay away from death, makes it carry more weight when they get to the final confrontation.

Amidst the slow burn, however, is a slew of menacing twists and turns. The music shifts from somber to dissonant as the events unfolding on screen match it. Death and destruction are revealed, and Toranaga establishes himself as the clear front-runner in this war just by how he carries himself. An earlier scene where he has tears in his eyes gives way to a ruthless leader determined to win at any cost. He is a man fighting for what he believes in without losing his humanity, but that does not mean he will let his enemies walk all over him

As the finale battle seemingly approaches, Toranaga and Blackthorne come face to face once again. It is a powerful scene between two powerful men who must make difficult decisions. The relationship between the two is tested. But testing relationships is the theme of Shōgun Episode 10. Difficult decisions have to be made in the face of oncoming war.

The way Shōgun Episode 10 wraps up might feel like a letdown for anyone expecting an epic climax. But that is not what the series has really been building towards. The huge battle between opposing armies never comes, but that is never what the fight was about. The focus was always on internal, personal conflict. It was about people confronting their demons as well as the political machinations of their foes. By giving the series a political and personal finale, Shōgun Episode 10 lives up to the expectations it was always setting.

Shōgun Episode 10 is a fitting finale full of emotional twists and turns that bring the series to a close perfectly. Stellar performances and brilliant pacing make this one of the better series finales in recent memory.

Shōgun Episode 10 is available now on FX and Hulu.