Shogun Episode 1 ‘Anjin’, In Japanese ‘Anjin’ means Pilot. Signifying the role of a pilot of the ship. The episode starts with a title card giving us the backstory of the series. Set in 1600, in medieval Japan when the reigning king Taiko died, marking his heir too young to rule.
Back Story:
The five warrior lords are just looking to seek the title which gives them the ultimate power to reign, making them bitter enemies against each other. Japan is in turmoil. For decades, the Portuguese has richly profited from the trade with Japan as they were only the ones to know the route to Japan and had kept it a secret from the rest of Europe. But, which might change now.
We are introduced to John Blackthorne, an English pilot on a ship called, ‘Erasmus’, which is full of English guns and weapons. But they got off course from the route, making the crew suffer from diseases and starving to death.
But as Blackthorne goes to the captain to say that they are close to their destination, Japan. But the captain refuses him and says we don’t have any chance of survival as 4 out of 5 ships are down and the crew is dying as well. After that captain commits suicide.
But Blackthorne was right about his prediction as they touch the shores of Japan very soon. But as they get there several Samurai find them and make Blackthorne and other surviving crew members their captive.
Lord Toranaga Is Called To Osaka:
Meanwhile, Lord Toranaga who is one of the five lords left after the death of Taiko is called to Osaka by the other lords of the council of regents. They accuse Lord Toranaga, that he is working to gain more and more power by expanding his fiefdom (fiefdom is an area or property over which a lord exercises his control). They also point out that he has also held heir’s mother, Lady Ochiba, hostage in his castle.
Toranaga says that he has no such intentions as such and he won’t be the first to break the peace of the kingdom. While adding about Lady Ochiba, that she is his daughter-in-law and just wants a safe surrounding for her as she is pregnant with a child.
But the Council doesn’t believe him and decides that he can’t leave the Osaka castle, till the release of LadyOchiba. While he is insulted by the council, but he still holds his Samurai to do anything against the council.
In another sequence, we get a glimpse that Lord Toranaga has a good relationship with him which he intentionally loses. Meanwhile, he gets a message about the ship that has landed on the shore and he sends his trusted men to investigate the ship.
Blackthorne Gets Called By Yabushige:
Meanwhile, at the shore, Blackthorne and his crew are treated very harshly. But, Blackthorne is soon brought up to Kashigi Yabushige who wants to know why they are here.
But as they speak a foreign language he is given a translator, who is a Portuguese Catholic Priest to translate for Blackthorne. But, the translator doesn’t tell what Blackthrne wants him to say, he accuses him that they are pirates. The reason behind the Portuguese Priest’s intention is that they have told Japanese people that Portuguese is the only country in Europe and Catholics are the only religion there. Regarding this Yabushige tells men to clean Blackthorne and make him presentable. While Blackthorne gets saved, one of his crew is boiled to death by Yabushige.
As Yabushige makes plans to use the ship’s weaponry for himself. But soon the plan gets ruined as Toranaga’s men take the ship and Blackthorne to Osaka to Toranaga.
Blackthorne Gets An Unexpected Friend:
Blackthorne soon meets with Vasco Rodrigues, a Spanish sailor who works for the Portuguese. On a mid-way journey to Osaka, they encountered very difficult storm weather. And in order to get through the storms Rodrigues opens the tied hands of Blackthorne who can help him navigate the ship. They make it through the storm but Rodrigues falls into the sea.
When reaching the shore Blackthorne along with Yabushige and his men go to find Rodrigues, who has been injured and washed to the rock and the only way to reach him is down through the cliff.
As Blackthorne, wants to go to save him, but Yabushige interrupts him and goes himself as he doesn’t want Blackthorne to show any bravery in front of his men.
But Yabushige falls and almost drowns himself as the rope gets cut off. Facing embarrassment he tries to take his life, but as the new rope is sent to them, both get saved.
As they finished their journey and were just about to get to Osaka. Rodriguese confronts Blackthorne who got a book from the ship ‘Erasmus’, which details the plan of the protestants, by which he might blackmail him. Blackthorne tells Rodrigues that he will not die in the savage Japanese land.
But, Rodrigues laughs and tells him that he has no idea about Japan and about the beauty of Osaka which can’t be compared to any dirty European city.
Also Read: Shogun Episode 2 Recap: Will Toranaga Able To Trust Blackthorne?
Ending:
Toranaga asks Moriko, who is the daughter of his friend who was murdered, to translate for Blackthorne as she knows Portuguese. Toranaga is well aware of the resentment that Mariko has as she is forced to convert to Catholicism.
Episode 1 ends with a hint that Blackthorne’s arrival in Osaka could mean something big and might change the tide of current situations in Lord Toranaga’s favor. The final scene ends with Blackthorne kneeling in front of Lord Toranaga and Mariko.
Check out Shogun Episode 1 on FX or Hulu in the US and on Disney+ for the UK and the rest of the world.
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