REVIEW: ‘Shōgun’ Episode 8 — “Abyss of Life”

The situation is dire for Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) after the events of the last episode. The loss of his son and his forced surrender to Ishido leaves him desperate in Shōgun Episode 8, “Abyss of Life.” His path forward is shrouded in mystery and victory seems unlikely.

Shōgun Episode 8 starts with the tragic funeral of Toranaga’s son Nagakado. The funeral procession is dreary and somber. Toranga’s allies, led by Yabushige, reminisce about their lost comrade. Crucially though, Toranaga is nowhere to be found. This is not the first time he has left his allies in the lurch, but it is shocking given the fact that his son just died.

What this does is provide a chance for Toranaga’s vassals to talk openly about their thoughts on Toranaga’s situation. It is pointed out that Nagakado would not sit by and idly surrender, something several of the gathered men agree to. However, they remain loyal to their lord and will not openly oppose him yet. It is a really interesting scene because we get to see the men wrestle with their loyalty. It won’t be the last time that is tested either.

Toranaga is keeping his men at arm’s length in Shōgun Episode 8. There is a strikingly beautiful shot of him watching the funeral pyre from afar, but otherwise, he is keeping to himself. When he does finally show himself, it is only because the priest Martin Alvito has returned to tell him the church tried but was unable to help him.

This scene starts unraveling one of the most exciting plots of the series. Toranaga has his back up against the wall and no one around him knows how to help. Alvito arrives and conveniently has a solution. If Toranaga can ally with the heir’s mother, Lady Ochiba, he will have the army he needs to defeat Ishido. The way Toranag treats Alvito is dramatically different than his dealings so far. He demands that Alvito not be allowed to speak Japanese and forces Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) to translate.

Toranaga’s change in personality drives home the feeling that he is not himself. He is not one to turn aside wise council, and he certainly does not resort to petty power moves. It takes Alvito, Mariko, and his right-hand man Toda Hiromatsu by surprise. Hiromatsu thinks they should listen to the priest, but Toranga refuses. He sends Alvito to Osaka to report what has happened and is resigned to defeat. It makes sense that he does not want to see any more death of those he cares about, but it is still a shocking choice for a man who has been such a great leader and fighter.

That meeting is what starts to test the faith and loyalty of Hiromatsu. Hiromatsu has been by Toranaga’s side since he was a child, but even that relationship can falter. His doubt is visible on his face and it seems like only a matter of time before he openly defies his friend and Lord.

Loyalty is a key theme throughout Shōgun Episode 8. John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), freed from Toranaga’s service, is used to really drive the point home. He goes to meet back up with his crew and realizes he is a drastically different man than he was when he arrived. He is questioned and insulted by one of his former allies and is left as a man between worlds. There is a particular bombshell dropped here that is vital for Blackthorne’s development and hints that there is more to the story of his arrival in Japan than meets the eye.

Alone and desperate to find his own way, Blackthorne makes his way to Yabushige. He offers to ally with him in defiance of Toranaga but Yabushige refuses. Yabushige’s loyalty has been questioned often throughout the series but here he remains loyal to his lord. Even in the face of death, he refuses to openly defy Toranaga. Blackthorne has planted the seed, though, that loyalty that leads to pointless death is senseless. It is another great performance from Jarvis and shows how Blackthorne has changed from a brash, selfish man to a man dedicated to working with and helping the people he has come to respect.

There is another really great scene in Shōgun Episode 8 between Mariko and her husband Buntaro. Their relationship has been rocky at best, but it seems like Buntaro is making an effort to fix things. A beautifully elaborate tea ceremony ends with him trying to convince her to be by his side as they follow Toranaga to death. The ceremony itself is another nod to how well the series respects the historical and cultural events of 17th-century Japan.

But Mariko is no fool. She has been empowered throughout the series and her role continues to expand. She eviscerates Buntaro, telling him she wants a life he cannot offer. She does not cave and does not back down. Mariko is formidable in her own right and refuses to settle. Her role evolves later on in the episode  and it is clear she is going to be a very important part of what comes next.

All of that is great, but the last 15 minutes of Shōgun Episode 8 are some truly breathtaking television. Toranaga summons his men to sign a pledge to follow his order to surrender. At first, they buy in and Yabushige is the first to sign, but one of his loyal allies decides to openly speak out. This leads to a sequence of events that is as heartbreaking as it is striking. The trajectory that seemed so clear is not completely up in the air going forward.

Shōgun Episode 8 is a strikingly beautiful episode with powerful emotions and incredible tension as Toranaga’s story unfolds. The path forward is unclear, but what is clear is that it is only going to continue to get more intense from here.

Shōgun Episode 8 is available now on FX and Hulu. with new episodes released weekly.