Summary
The Emmy-nominated FX seriesShōgunis not only an incredible series, but a massive improvement overMarco Polo, Netflix’s historical epic from 10 years ago. Although the series trace vastly different historical moments in their respective settings,bothShōgunandMarco Poloare large-scale dramas that pit ambitious men against ech other— one an outsider and one entrenched in the ongoing upheaval. With a staggering 25 Emmy nominations under its belt, the Japanese-languageShōgunhas made TV history. However, the series made its mark before the awards season as, arguably, the year’s most talked-about show.
AlthoughShōgunis loosely inspired by a true story,the historical fiction epic centers on the cunning Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a powerful daimyo with many political rivals; John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a bold English maritime pilot who becomes stranded in Japan; and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a determined woman who must prove herself — and her allegiances — as she serves as the translator between Toranaga and Blackthorne. BetweenShōgun’s incredible cast of charactersand rich period-piece world-building, it’s easily one of TV’s most compelling historical epics, reiterating what Netflix’sMarco Polocould’ve been.
Marco Polo (2014)
LikeShōgun, Netflix’sMarco Polois a big-budget historical epic. However, despite some powerhouse performances from screen legends like Joan Chen (The Last Emperor,Twin Peaks),Marco Poloonly gestures at being true prestige television. The show’s first outing was universally panned, saddlingMarco Polowith a dismal 33% aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fortunately, the historical drama turned the tides in its sophomore season, which still boasts a 100% fresh rating. Given the series' massive budget and uneven output,Netflix canceled its HBO imitation, suffering a reported $200 million lossin the wake ofMarco Poloseason 2.
…the core premise ofMarco Polois that an outsider — in this case, a white Venetian merchant — plants himself in another country’s political sphere.
Looking back, it’s almost as ifMarco Polografted some of the most troubling dynamics of author James Clavell’sShōgunonto a different setting. Starring Lorenzo Richelmy as the title character, Netflix’s old-fashioned epic is loosely inspired by the true events of Marco Polo’s time in the court of Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong), the Mongol Empire’s Khagan and Yuan dynasty founder. LikeShōgun, the corepremise ofMarco Polois that an outsider — in this case, a white Venetian merchant — plants himself in another country’s political sphere, only to clash with an equally ambitious leader.
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Compared toMarco Polo,Shōgun’s impressive Rotten Tomatoes score— a 99% from critics and an equally impressive 92% from audiences — speaks for itself in many ways. In fact,Shōgun, whichMetal Gear Solidcreator Hideo Kojimadubbed “Game of Thrones set in 17th century Japan,” gets high marks for its ambitious scope, keen attention to period-piece detail and authenticity, and largely powerful performances. WhileFX’s adaptation does a much better job of centering its Japanese characters, it can’t completely escape the Eurocentrism of its source material, thoughShōgunis certainly more self-aware than other historical dramas.
FX’sShōgunseason 1 is streaming on Hulu, while both seasons ofMarco Poloare streaming on Netflix.
Shogun
Shōgun, released in 2024, is set in Japan during 1600 at the onset of a significant civil war. It follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga as he battles political adversaries on the Council of Regents, while a European ship mysteriously appears in a nearby fishing village, complicating the tides of power.
