‘Shōgun’ Episode 6 Recap — This One’s for the Girls

Editor’s notice: The under recap incorporates spoilers for Shōgun Episode 6.

As of this week, we have rounded the midway level on FX’s epic historic miniseries Shōgun. While the higher menace of struggle looms, the march towards that inevitable battle is so much slower than we would have initially believed after a very explosive fourth episode — particularly because the Council of Regents has a brand new boss on the town and Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) continues to be attempting to collect reinforcements. Like the installment previous it, “Chapter Six: Ladies of the Willow World” is a extra intimate, character-driven episode that gives context from the previous to supply perception into why sure dividing traces have been drawn within the current.

Prior episodes have solely simply begun to spool out sure narrative threads to reply a few of Shōgun‘s subtlest questions — what precisely is the rationale behind Toranaga and Ochiba no Kata’s (Fumi Nikaidō) intense glances? Have Mariko (Anna Sawai) and Buntaro (Shinnosuke Abe) reached the purpose of no return of their marriage? What, precisely, is occurring between Omi (Hiroto Kanai) and Kiku (Yuka Kouri), and the way will that dynamic be examined by the inclusion of a sure “barbarian” pilot in Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis)? All of the above questions and extra get solutions this week, however the results of those revelations on the unfolding story are but to be decided.

Mariko Is Torn Between Duty and Desire in ‘Shōgun’ Episode 6

This week’s episode brings with it the tough gentle of day — and with that, some sobering realizations in regards to the ripple results that disastrous dinner at Blackthorne’s home might have had. So a lot so, actually, that Buntaro seeks an viewers with Toranaga to apologize for his unseemly habits. Between Buntaro’s deference and Blackthorne and Mariko barely able to sharing a look, you get the sensation that Toranaga is totally choosing up on the uncomfy vibes between all of them — however he does not have time to cope with this relationship drama! He’s acquired a struggle to plan! His suggestion to Buntaro about the way to deal with his marriage is easy — simply break up! — however Buntaro says it isn’t that straightforward, particularly since they have been married for thus a few years. With him, Buntaro says, Mariko has at all times been ice, however he is observed a definite thawing of her character round a sure hatamoto — which appears to place a brand new concept into Toranaga’s head about the way to cope with issues. He tells Buntaro to take a one-week break from the wedding, however he has fully completely different directions in thoughts for Mariko and Blackthorne. Clearly, no matter’s occurring between them cannot be solved by distance, so he is tasking Mariko with organising an evening for the Anjin at a brothel — which she can also be ordered to attend, “in case he talks whereas he pillows.”

This week’s episode not solely clues us into the true extent of Mariko’s dedication to responsibility — even at the price of her personal happiness — however it’s additionally a showcase for Anna Sawai’s capabilities as an actress. By manner of flashbacks to the previous and moments within the current, we’re bombarded with situations the place Mariko needed to merely bow and obey the needs of others, from her marriage to Buntaro to turning her again on a very grisly show of execution at her father’s urging. Sitting throughout from the madam of the Willow World, the perfect brothel in Izu, and having to barter the phrases of Blackthorne’s night time with Kiku, is probably going not very excessive on the checklist of humiliations Mariko has needed to endure — however it is likely to be up there. Still, neither she nor we’re fully ready for what transpires between the three of them by the point they’re alone collectively.

The night time begins straightforwardly sufficient, with Kiku providing a chic tea service as Mariko encourages Blackthorne to reward her for her pouring method — however there is a reasonably large specter that hangs overhead with the belief that Mariko will seemingly have to look at the person she cares about being intimate with another person. It seems, nevertheless, that Kiku, who has at all times been extra perceptive than maybe anybody offers her credit score for, is straight away attuned to the actual motive beneath Blackthorne and Mariko’s bizarre pressure. While Kiku has her personal accountability tonight, an obligation that has basically already been purchased and paid for, that does not imply she’s unwilling to make use of her abilities to let Mariko act as a conduit between them. Shōgun continues to thrillingly wield language and translation, this time in a hypnotic method that propels the second into completely intimate territory. While Mariko beforehand swore that the one phrases from her to Blackthorne can be from others’ lips, she’s put able to share Kiku’s hushed descriptions whereas the courtesan sits out of body behind her.

Is Kiku providing these phrases for Blackthorne’s profit, or Mariko’s? Perhaps it does not matter very a lot ultimately, as a result of when Kiku strikes to take Blackthorne into an adjoining room, Mariko refrains from accompanying them, as if realizing it is a spot she can’t observe them to. The subsequent morning, it is unclear whether or not Blackthorne and Kiku shared any bodily intimacies or whether or not he merely confided within the courtesan, however suffice it to say, there’s one one that is likely to be even unhappier about the entire thing than Mariko.

Kiku Finds Herself in an Unpredictable Situation in ‘Shōgun’ Episode 6

The first time we noticed Kiku this season, she had been known as into the corporate of Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano), in what amounted to a relatively memorable scene that includes an intimate efficiency for the lord’s enjoyment. In the weeks following, she was a quiet presence within the background, enjoying music to accompany an essential assembly whereas actually poised to listen to any variety of delicate discussions. Kiku’s proximity to energy has at all times been intriguing to look at, however her data has solely been used for wrapping sure males round her finger.

In the wake of Yabushige’s departure for Osaka earlier within the season, nevertheless, Kiku’s attentions have been claimed by his nephew Omi, who appears to be largely working beneath the impression that the 2 of them are the recent new energy couple on the town. When Kiku discovers that her companies have been reserved for the night, she largely views it as a possibility to construct her fame — with Toranaga’s assist, she may change into one of the in-demand courtesans round — however Omi is much less thrilled in regards to the considered Kiku pillowing with Blackthorne, particularly given the literal pissing match the 2 of them had at first meet.

However, no matter what transpires between the 2 of them that night time, there could also be no another shocked by Blackthorne as a patron than Kiku herself. As Mariko picks up the Englishman the next morning, he nonetheless appears considerably weary and drained across the eyes — nowhere close to as cheery as he was the morning after being with Mariko — which leads me to suspect there was only a lengthy, late night time with none bodily intimacy by any means. Kiku, nevertheless, graciously extends an invite to Blackthorne to go to once more — which Mariko purposefully does not cross alongside. Watching the trade from a distance, Omi remarks on Blackthorne’s seemingly success, whereas Toranaga’s son Nagakado (Yuki Kura) factors out that each one his father does is “lavish [the Anjin] with presents lately.” These two have been peas in a pod currently, and never the great type — between Nagakado’s recklessness and Omi’s lingering distaste for Blackthorne, it would not be stunning if one or each of them makes a transfer towards him quickly. They’ll should get in line, nevertheless, as a result of there’s another person who has an excellent higher plan she’s attempting to place in place — one which’s been years within the making.

Ochiba Makes Strong Moves With Power in Mind in ‘Shōgun’ Episode 6

There’s been the sense that the return of the late Taikō‘s consort, Ochiba, would end in some very distinct shake-ups inside the Council of Regents, however nobody may have predicted that it will be enjoying out in such a lethal style. Before we get into that, although, there’s extra to unpack about what Ochiba’s arrival in Osaka reveals by way of the present’s more and more tangled internet of relationships — and why it issues that she’s aligned herself not simply towards Toranaga, but in addition, apparently, Mariko.

We’ve already discovered extra about Mariko’s tragic household historical past — as instructed in her personal phrases through final week’s episode — however what crystallizes in heartbreaking type right here is the revelation that she and Ochiba had been shut companions whose fathers discovered themselves on opposing sides. Mariko’s father, Akechi Jinsai, was the vassal to Ochiba’s father and the previous ruler earlier than the Taikō, the nice warlord Kuroda. Of course, we all know what finally transpired between the 2 males, however it’s this aspect of the fracture that casts the whole occasion in a unique gentle. Mariko and Ochiba basically grew up collectively, again when Ochiba was referred to as Ruri, and whereas Mariko was exactly the sort of lady to steal out of her mattress at night time and bear witness to horrors dedicated on the behest of Lord Kuroda, Ochiba made it her personal selection “to look away from what we can’t management.”

Yet Kuroda’s homicide at Jinsai’s palms appears to have modified their relationship in a single day, particularly now that Ochiba stays satisfied that Toranaga had a hand in plotting with Jinsai towards her father — not solely that, she believes Toranaga deliberate the coup himself. That fateful night time additionally pressured Ochiba into the mindset of needing to wield energy from no matter place she will be able to maintain, and this week, she has Lord Ishido (Takehiro Hira), in addition to the remainder of the Council of Regents, held quick in her grip. Essentially, preserving the opposite Regents, in addition to their households, hostage in Osaka Castle is supposed to be a approach to drive them into voting in a brand new member to allow them to proceed with Toranaga’s impeachment, however it additionally looks like the quickest approach to stir up dissent which have been persisting inside this circle for weeks. Even the late Taikō‘s spouse, Daiyoin (Ako), warns Ochiba that she could also be allying with the mistaken individual in Ishido, however Ochiba is both too decided to see to Toranaga’s defeat personally or too bent on her mission of vengeance to contemplate another path.

As the Council prepares to vote in a alternative member in Lord Ito, nevertheless, Lord Sugiyama (Toshi Toda) proves to be the stalemate — particularly since they’re all being threatened with pressured imprisonment. Not solely does he refuse to place forth his vote, however he and his household later try to flee from Osaka Castle by lifeless of night time. This effort fails in a relatively bloody style, with their murders — carried out at Ishido’s private behest — assigned to these pesky bandits that appear to stalk the roads outdoors town. The Council seems all however poised to break down in on itself, now that its numbers have dwindled even additional, however this appears to be precisely what Ochiba might have wished, particularly if it means asserting her son’s authority. Nikaidō is at her most terrifying right here in Ochiba’s remaining episodic scene with Ishido, because the consort relays the agonies she suffered in pursuit of giving the Taikō his one and solely male inheritor. There’s little doubt that she’ll be a formidable antagonist for the rest of the sequence, although to what extent she’ll proceed to carry sway over the Council is one thing we’ll should tune in for.

“A person might go to struggle for a lot of causes,” as Mariko privately points to Toranaga this week — however finally, “a girl is solely at struggle.” Fortunately for Toranaga, his basic, Hiromatsu (Tokuma Nishioka), who initially stayed behind in Osaka to guard Toranaga’s spouse and consort, has managed to flee town to warn him in regards to the tumult enjoying out amongst his enemies. Toranaga, to his profit, acknowledges that he’ll should name on one more ally to battle for his aspect within the type of his brother, but when the Taikō‘s son stays at risk, then “Crimson Sky will probably be.”

Shogun (2024)

Mariko, Kiku, and Ochiba take heart stage in an episode of Shogun that reveals much more interconnectivity between its characters.

Pros

• Anna Sawai continues to show why she’s a tour de drive in Shogun, as Mariko wrestles along with her devotion to responsibility and her want for Blackthorne.
• Fumi Nikaido asserts herself as one of the terrifying antagonists of the sequence along with her efficiency as Ochiba.
• The episode is a incredible showcase for its feminine characters and a reminder of who may actually maintain all the ability on this world.

New episodes of Shōgun premiere every Tuesday on FX and Hulu within the U.S.

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