The title of the Hulu series explains all you need to know. We Were the Lucky Ones is a harrowing and emotional tale about one family’s experience during the Holocaust.

Based on the book of the same name, the series paints the story inspired by Georgia Hunter’s family during World War II. There have been many portrayals of one of the worst atrocities in human history, but the series wants to make viewers understand that even those lucky enough to escape these atrocities had a harrowing experience. The Kurc family depicted in the series were Hunter’s great-grandparents, who were separated when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939.

Throughout 8 episodes, the Kurc family struggles to survive the war and find each other in the aftermath. We Were the Lucky Ones breeds hope about an event that is regrettably more topical than ever. It all culminates in the last episode of the season, which showrunner Erica Lipez told The Hollywood Reporter was a challenge to write.

“The fact that they all survived, and the fact that, over the course of this episode, they find each other — those are some of the most joyful things I’ve ever gotten to write. But also embedded within that is the very real pain of surviving something like that. It comes at a cost.”

We Were the Lucky Ones is a specific tale unlike other series covering the same subject material and begs to be explored further.

We Were the Lucky Ones season 2 fate

Many viewers may wonder what future lies in store for We Were the Lucky Ones. The short season stars young industry professionals Joey King and Logan Lerman as Kurc siblings Halina and Addy, respectively. It would be a no-brainer to throw them together in another season. Unfortunately for fans, that isn’t a likely prospect. We Were the Lucky Ones covers the entirety of the book and was billed as a limited series. Like other shows on the platform, such as Shōgun, the quality of the series doesn’t necessarily mean more is to come. Both series are based on books that have a decisive end, which was already depicted at the end of their first seasons. Unless there is a specific cause to continue the story, this may very well be the end of the emotional show.

Miniseries are also more prevalent during the streaming era. Platforms are more inclined to invest money into a short-lived series that has a projected end date instead of a drawn-out show that might get canceled in the long run. Ending We Were the Lucky Ones at the end of one season means there will be no letdown and give fans a complete story. Viewers can watch all 8 episodes of this story streaming on Hulu.

Anyone reading this article is looking forward to Deadpool & Wolverine; that’s a given. The movie, set for a July 2024 release, will see the two most iconic superheroes from the Fox movie universe make the leap to the MCU, and that’s undoubtedly a fascinating prospect.

However, even the most ardent fans of all things Marvel have probably allowed a particular television series to sneak under their radars. That series is Hit-Monkey, and make no mistake: If you’re looking forward to Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s the kind of series that is right up your street.

So, who or what is Hit-Monkey?

Before you go any further, check out the trailer for Hit-Monkey above. Awesome, right?!

Although he is, admittedly, little-known in mainstream circles, Hit-Monkey is indeed a Marvel property based on a comic book character of the same name. He first appeared in April 2010 as the eponymous character in Hit-Monkey #1 and has been on many weird and wonderful adventures since then.

Inspired by Agent 47 from the Hitman video game franchise, he’s a Japanese macaque who learned his lethal skills by watching an assassin train and imitating him. After witnessing his troop of fellow macaques murdered by another cold-blooded group of killers, he decides to dedicate his life to eliminating assassins under the guise of Hit-Monkey.

Like many other Marvel characters, Hit-Monkey finds his way to New York City. It’ll surprise nobody that such a wacky character crosses paths with the famously funny duo Deadpool and Spider-Man — specifically because Deadpool is on the deadly primate’s hit list, prompting Spidey to reluctantly team up with the Merc with a Mouth to stop him.

The first ten-episode series of Hit-Monkey was released on Hulu in November 2021. Tragically, it went under the radar of Marvel fans.

However, the series did receive critical acclaim for its brilliant animation. Its humor and violent action, strikingly similar to those of the Deadpool movies, were also praised. This is precisely why any fan of those films should check it out.

Rather intriguingly, a second series is scheduled for release on July 15, 2024 — conveniently 11 days before Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26.

Hopefully, given Deadpool’s switch to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ryan Reynolds’ character will appear in Hit-Monkey going forward. If their interactions in the comic books are anything to go by, that would be wildly entertaining in an animated series. Although, given the series was initially pitched to Marvel as a movie, there’s just as much of a chance Hit-Monkey could appear in live-action first.

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Shogun episode 9, “Crimson Sky”

Today’s penultimate episode of Shogun was packed to the rafters with intense character moments and surprise plot twists, so we’re giving you a breakdown of everything that happened to John Blackthorne and Lady Mariko.

With Toranaga-sama’s party reaching Castle Osaka, we finally learned the truth about Mariko’s secret mission. The interpreter challenged Lord Ishido’s incarceration of nobility by announcing that she’s leaving Castle Osaka tomorrow on Toranaga’s orders. Ishido says she can’t do so without a formal review, but Mariko insists she must obey as her liege lord commands.

The next day, Mariko and her guard face down Ishido’s men and kill a band of bushi before reinforcements arrive. While Ishido’s men don’t hurt Mariko, she announces her will to perform seppuku (ritualistic suicide) at sunset tomorrow. As this will disgrace Castle Osaka and all the samurai in it, it leaves Ishido with no choice but to give the party permission to leave.

Ishido doesn’t give up on trying to stop Toranaga’s subterfuge and the final moments of “Crimson Sky” end on a grim note, leaving the fate of Mariko somewhat ambiguous.

Did Mariko die on Shogun?

While Ishido stopped Mariko from performing seppuku at the last moment, that did not hold him from scheming further. At nightfall, Ishido tasks Yabushige with killing the samurai guarding Toranaga’s compound, telling him it’s the only way of getting back in his good graces. Yabushige then opens the way for a band of shinobi (ninja assassins) and allows them to infiltrate the castle.

Mariko and Blackthorne are woken up from a night of intimate passion when three of the shinobi attack their quarters. Mariko kills one, while Blackthorne dispatches the other two with his pistol. The two then regroup with the survivors and try to make their way out of the castle. Despite fighting their way through several more shinobi, Mariko and John are trapped in a storehouse, whereupon they hear their assailants trying to light a fuse.

Understanding that the shinobi are trying to blow up the door, Blackthorne tries to barricade it with a cupboard, but Lady Mariko decides to sacrifice herself in an act of defiance. In her final moments, Mariko steps up to the door and shields the rest of the group with her body. As John begs her to get away, the door explodes inward and the episode comes to a close.

It’s safe to presume that Lady Mariko is dead. And the next time we see John Blackthorne in the Shogun finale, he too will be out for Ishido’s blood.

Shōgun was probably the last television series likely to grip pop culture in the wake of a million streaming series. Nevertheless, the historical epic has become must-see TV in 2024.

The FX/Hulu series is based on the book that equally fascinated Western society in 1975. Written by James Clavell, the novel was a work of historical fiction that took inspiration from real-life figures of the era. After English navigator John Blackthorne finds land in feudal Japan, he is immediately taken prisoner. He and his crew are starved from the journey and discover that this culture is vastly different from their own.

Because of his naval experience, Blackthorne falls into the service of Lord Toranaga, who is in the middle of a civil war over the regency of Japan. Toranaga entrusts interpretation between the two in the hands of Lady Mariko, a Christian convert who becomes tempted by Blackthorne. FX’s Shōgun is the second time the series has been adapted but has been lauded for its handling of Japanese culture. The story is told through the perspective of its Japanese characters and heavily subtitled to indicate that. Gripping and immersive, the series has only been advertised with one season, making many fans curious about the future of the series.

Will Shōgun have more than one season?

Shōgun is the exact type of series that fans have been thirsting for — a nuanced tale of complex characters that doesn’t necessitate watching a decade’s worth of franchises. But while greenlighting a second season of the 10-episode series might seem like an easy decision, it is unlikely to come to pass. Co-showrunner Justin Marks has steered the Shōgun ship with his wife, Rachel Kondo, and confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that the series was always a one-and-done. 

“We took the story to the end of the book and put a period at the end of that sentence. We love how the book ends; it was one of the reasons why we both knew we wanted to do it — and we ended in exactly that place.”

The first season covers the entirety of the book and is a complete story. Marks admits that it is unfortunate, considering all the time and energy that has gone into completing such an endeavor. 

“I just hope someone else — maybe a friend — needs a production primer on feudal Japan at some point, so I can be like, ‘Here you go, use this book. That will save you 11 months.’”

It wouldn’t be hard to find a way to make that happen. Though Shōgun is a complete book, Clavell has authored several books in the era of feudal Japan. If FX wanted to, it could make a long-running series with a lot of material to draw from. If this ever comes to pass, fans will have to wait some time to find out. Until then, viewers can watch new episodes of Shōgun streaming on Tuesdays on Hulu.

FX’s immersive drama Shōgun has created a firestorm of attention. From its historical accuracy to its grounding performances, the historical series has become the show to watch in 2024.

But the miniseries didn’t happen in a vacuum: Shōgun started with James Clavell’s book of historical fiction of the same name. After taking inspiration from one of his daughter’s textbooks, Clavell decided to write a factual book about an Englishman who became a samurai when his ship is wrecked on the coast of Japan. The author took real-life figures and changed details to make one of the most celebrated works of historical fiction of the time.

Clavell benefited from a string of historical books that we can only hope will be optioned by FX at some point, but even if the limited run of Shōgun is the end, fans can still go back to see the adaptation that started it all. Following the success of Roots, big network adaptations became a highly coveted prospect. NBC decided to take a swing at it and in 1980, adapted Clavell’s book for the first time.

Is Shōgun 1980 on streaming?

The original Shōgun series premiered in 1980 with a slightly different take than the modern interpretation. Starring Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, the series lacked the subtitled content of the newest version. Chamberlain’s Blackthorne is the unequivocal lead as he struggles through unfamiliar waters.

For those curious enough to watch this version, it will not be as easy as opening your myriad of streaming subscriptions. As with many vintage properties, Shōgun is not readily available on streaming apps. At the present time, the most direct route to watching the story will be purchasing a physical copy. That’s right, physical media is still an asset, no matter what Netflix might tell you. Order Shōgun on DVD wherever you get your physical media and continue to watch every twist and turn of the current series, streaming on Hulu.

FX’s historical series, Shōgun, has reached peak popularity due to its gripping storylines. Each episode invites even more surprises for shipwrecked sailor, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis).

While at first, he is just a stranger in a strange land, Blackthorne finds a connection with the feudal lord, Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanda), and the Christian interpreter, Mariko (Anna Sawai). As much as the shores of home beckon him, Blackthorne is equally enamored with Mariko and the alienness of her culture. Based on the work of historical fiction by James Clavell, Blackthorne and the rest of the characters are taken from real-life figures who all are involved with the political game of who will become the next Shōgun. But as immersive as this new series is, it does not have a long shelf-life. There are a finite number of episodes before the series comes to a close.

How many episodes are in Shōgun season 1?

All good things must come to an end, and that includes the best series of 2024. Like many dramas on streaming platforms, Shōgun has a short episode order. The story of Lord Toranaga’s fight to preserve his life and the life of his people will conclude after 10 episodes as the events of the show span the entirety of Clavell’s book of the same name.

The thoroughly researched tome covers the significant moments of Toranaga’s rise to power, as his real-life counterpart did in feudal Japan. But even while Clavell has other books to his name, Shōgun will likely run its course after one season. Creators and married couple Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks intimated to The Hollywood Reporter that the series will only cover the events of the first book because it is a fully complete series.

So what does that mean for the characters in the series? Blackthorne’s real-life figure famously became a samurai in his own right, meaning the navigator still has a long way to go in the series. At the time of this writing, Blackthorne has slowly been ingratiated into Japanese culture with little to show for it. He has fallen for Mariko and found a place at Toranaga’s side, but still has not learned how to use the samurai swords he was bequeathed. If Blackthorne is to become a formidable feature that he was in history, he has to learn much more.

And there is the little detail of Toranaga becoming the very thing he has refused to be. It has been a long time since the military power of the Shōgun has ruled Japan. Toranaga does not believe in wielding such power but of course, that means he must. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and the fact that Toranaga is careful of this power means he is responsible enough to wield it. All this and more must come to pass with only 4 more episodes to air. Viewers can catch the rest of the season as it airs every Tuesday on Hulu.

Good news for fans craving another season of The Bear – Hulu and Disney Plus are serving up another season soon. Amidst all the disruption in TV production, there are many uncertainties over what a third season of the critically acclaimed drama series will look like. To whet your appetite, here’s what we know so far.

The Bear season 3 release window

According to Variety, season 3 of The Bear is eyeing a June 2024 release date, placing it nicely among the seasons 1 and 2 release dates in June 2022 and June 2023, respectively. Judging by the previous two seasons, season 3 will most likely drop all their episodes at once.

Filming began for the third season of The Bear in Feb. 2024, a month after a deal was struck with the Writers and Actors’ Guilds, after months of strikes beginning in May of last year.

The Bear season 3 cast

For now, it seems that every main cast member is returning for season 3. This includes, but is not limited to, Jeremy Allen White (Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto), Ayo Edebiri (Sydney Adamu), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richard “Richie/Cousin” Jerimovich), Lionel Boyce (Marcus Brooks), and Liza Colón-Zayas (Tina Marrero) as the main kitchen crew. Edwin Lee Gibson (Ebraheim) and Corey Hendrix (Gary “Sweeps” Woods) are billed as recurring cast members, but this may change in season 3.

Helping out the staff at the Beef restaurant in Chicago will likely include Abby Elliott (Natalie “Sugar” Rose Berzatto), Matty Matheson (Neil Fak), Oliver Platt (Jimmy “Cicero/Uncle” Kalinowski), and Molly Gordon (Claire).

Any changes to the main cast, such as actors being promoted from series regular to main character, or new characters being introduced, are seemingly under wraps for now, with no new casting announcements, as of March 2024.

However, Will Poulter, who guest starred in season 2 as Luca, the friendly chef Marcus met and trained with in Copenhagen, has been recently spotted working at a real-life restaurant, as he had previously done in preparation for his character. Fans are convinced that this sighting is a sure sign that Luca is returning for the upcoming season.

If call-backs are a frequent theme in the new season, there’s every chance Olivia Colman, Bob Odenkirk, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Sarah Paulson could return to do more guest star appearances.

The Bear season 3 news

While season 3 is still in its early stages of production, we know a few tidbits about the next season of The Bear. According to Chris Storer, the creator and main director of the series, Ayo Edebiri will direct a few episodes of season 3. This will be the actress’ first time directing, with Ayo being “an important set of fresh eyes”, as Storer told Esquire. Previously, the series had actor and comedian Ramy Youssef guest direct season 2 episode 4, “Honeydew.”

Although not confirmed by FX, The Bear is apparently filming a third and fourth season back-to-back, according to numerous entertainment outlets. According to these reports, the decision to film both seasons came from Edebiri and White’s commitments to other projects, and a fifth season is currently in consideration.

Hulu comedy-drama series The Bear is the most acclaimed show on television right now, having recently taken home an outstanding ten Primetime Emmy Awards at the first of two 2024 ceremonies back in January – the first year of eligibility.

The Bear follows prestigious chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), as he swaps Michelin stars for meltdowns as he attempts to save his late brother’s failing restaurant business from closing its doors for good. The series aired its second season late last year, just missing the cut for being delayed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes that took place over much of 2023, having finished final re-writes and re-shoots before production was shut down.

A third season was confirmed shortly after the success of the second series, with filming of the upcoming episodes starting on Feb. 26. Online, rumors have been rampant about a third and potential fourth season being filmed back to back. However, there has been confusion about a fourth season being confirmed in the first place, leaving fans with the question of season three potentially being the show’s last.

Will there be a fourth season of ‘The Bear’?

According to the entertainment reporter Deadline, The Bear was “quietly” renewed for a fourth season, and they will indeed be filmed back to back, as revealed by sources speaking to the outlet. The term “quietly” was used by Deadline to explain that a fourth season has not been formally announced to the public by FX, the network that produces the series, and a rep declined to comment on the rumor when contacted by the site.

Other major film and TV industry outlets, such as Variety, have echoed Deadline’s claim, meaning its report is most likely accurate, and the sources are credible. Deadline also stated through the same sources that back-to-back filming was most likely due to lead actors Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri’s busy schedules for other projects, but a fifth season had not by any means been ruled out.

Last month, it was reported that The Bear season 3 was eyeing a June release date this year, keeping the series in line with June 2022 and June 2023 release dates for seasons 1 and 2, respectively. If previous seasons are anything to go by, season 3 should follow suit by dropping all its episodes at once on Hulu. It should be noted that filming is still underway for season 3, so this release date may be subject to change, should any delays occur.

Season 1 of Hulu’s Black Cake is predicated on one very simple concept. What if everything you knew about your mother was a lie?

Okay, maybe not so simple. But it does invite an interesting question. How much do we know about our own family? This query is what estranged siblings Benny (Adrienne Warren) and Byron (Ashley Thomas) find themselves asking when they reunite for their mother’s funeral. In a series of voice messages, their mother reveals that her identity as Eleanor is an invention.

Throughout 8 episodes, flashbacks reveal her real name is Covey, and she has kept secrets all her life. After coming of age in the Caribbean, her father’s gambling debts force him to give Covey (Mia Isaac) away to Little Man Henry (Anthony Mark Barrow) in marriage to repay the debt. On the night of their wedding, Henry dies from poison, and Covey finds a way to escape her circumstances. But was Covey the one to murder her captor?

The mystery is explored throughout the season as Benny and Byron learn more about their mother than they ever knew. By the end of the story, viewers find out the truth, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the series is over.

Will Hulu make Black Cake season 2?

Many adaptations are a one-and-done sort of deal. Adapted from Charmaine Wilkerson’s best-selling novel, the first season covered the events of the book. The final episode reveals that it wasn’t Covey who murdered Little Man Henry, but her best friend, Bunny (Lashay Anderson). The plan was at first to get Little Man Henry so drunk he couldn’t consummate the marriage, but when he didn’t feel the effects of the alcohol, Bunny resorted to poison to protect her friend. This conclusion effectively wraps up the main questions, though showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar told The Wrap, there could be more in store.

“That doesn’t mean that the story’s over. It’s just that particular storyline is made very clear by the end of the first season. When I pitched it, I pitched three seasons. There of course could be more or less. It depends if people watch the show.”

Cerar went on to explain that with the benefit of adaptation, there are many ways to differ from the book. In particular, Black Cake utilizes different perspectives not made clear in the source material. The showrunner was particularly interested in Mabel (Sonita Henry), the daughter Covey gave up for adoption. Through Benny and Byron’s investigation into their mother’s life, they find a sister they never knew they had. Mabel’s story isn’t nearly as focused in the first crop of episodes and could be a point of interest if season 2 materializes.

But on that note, the future of Black Cake is still up in the air. Hulu has not yet clarified if the series will be continued on the streaming platform. Those with a Hulu subscription will have to wait for news and, until then, sustain themselves on the first 8 episodes of the season.

In FX’s Shōgun, the historically epic series has done a remarkable job of demonstrating a stranger in a strange land. The series throws John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) out of his element at every possible turn.

In episode 4, “The Eightfold Fence,” the English navigator finally starts accepting that he may not make it home any time soon. Upon his return to Izu, he learns that Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) has taken control of his vessel and his men. He will remain in the village for at least six months while he trains the samurai in battle tactics. For his trouble, Toranaga gives him a house, as well as an official consort, Fuji (Moeka Hoshi), to make him more acceptable. This reality is hard to accept, but with Mariko’s (Anna Sawai) tutelage, he becomes more agreeable.

One of the hardest lessons he learns is the difference in cuisine. While dining with Mariko and Fuji, he insists on trying a specific dish. Mariko warns him that he may not be ready to be that adventurous, but relents when Blackthorne doesn’t take no for an answer. Though the dish is not specified by name in the episode, it is quite famous in Japan.

Blackthorne eats natto in Shōgun

After all his blustering, Blackthorne tries the Japanese dish with mixed results. He describes it as the consistency of cheese, essentially proving Mariko right that the dish wasn’t for him. Though the scene is played for laughs, this cuisine called natto is highly popular in the country.

The practice of eating natto stretches back so far that it is unclear when it was first discovered, but many guess it has been around for at least 1,000 years. What we do know for sure is that the creation of the dish involves combining cooked soybeans with rice straw. Placing the beans inside that straw lets the natto bacteria produce, which in turn results in a sticky and stringy consistency.

The taste is distinctive, as Blackthorne noted in Shōgun, but it can be an addition to many dishes, most common at breakfast. Natto is often enjoyed on top of rice, added to soup, and even a welcome sushi ingredient. In addition to being extremely versatile, it also has numerous nutritional benefits. The bacteria found in natto adds to the nutrition already found in soybeans. It helps with cholesterol and calcium and has positive effects on gut health. Eating natto was not just accepted in feudal Japan, but is still popular to this day. 

Gladiator. Kingdom of Heaven. Silence. Many stories on screen have given audiences a close look at eras that have long since past. Shōgun, however, holds itself to a higher standard.

As entertaining as Ridley Scott’s forays into historical events are, it is no secret that the director doesn’t make historical accuracy a high priority. While Gladiator features real Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a thing of fiction. And there is nothing derogatory about that. Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese, and other historical-minded filmmakers make great films with immense rewatch value. But there is something to be said for showing a time period with the utmost detail.

Taking place in feudal Japan, FX epic Shōgun demonstrates a flavor that has not quite been portrayed in mainstream Hollywood before. The show is based on James Clavell’s book of the same name and focuses on essential subjects such as bushidō and daimyo. Though Shōgun has been adapted before — and the era was featured in Martin Scorsese’s Silence — there is something different about this series. It has the time and the resources to show a side of feudal Japan in great detail.

Is Shōgun historically accurate?

The complexities of Shōgunate Japan are evident within the first moments of the series. In an opening title card, the Shōgun describes a time when war was commonplace in Japan. Lands were ruled by feudal lords who used samurai to defend their territories.

After the death of the Emperor, his son was too young to rule as heir. In anticipation of this, the Emperor appointed a Council of Regents before he died. Naturally, this led to infighting and attempts to impeach one of the most powerful, Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada). This all comes to a head when an Englishman gets shipwrecked on the coast of Japan with a vessel full of weapons. Political intrigue ensues.

To be clear, the Shōgun book invents characters such as Toranaga, Mariko (Anna Sawai), and John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). However, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t exist. These characters are fictionalized versions of the real people embroiled in this historical conflict. There was a navigator who, after being shipwrecked in Japan, eventually became a samurai in his own right.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Toranaga is inspired by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who eventually becomes Shōgun. Though Jesuit priests try to convince him that Blackthorne — whose real-life inspiration was named William Adams — is a pirate, Toranaga trusts his instincts, and keeps him in his service. Toranaga’s political rival, Ishido (Takehiro Hira), is also based on fact. His real-life counterpart was Ishida Mitsunari, who struggled to keep Iyeasu from rising to the highest power of the land. The romantic relationship between interpreter Mariko and Blackthorne is also a thing of fiction. But Shōgun is accurate where it counts.

While the production changed some details, the realities of feudal Japan are as close as can realistically be portrayed on screen. Instead of the story being told primarily from the perspective of the white Englishman, Shōgun takes care to put Japan at the forefront. The characters not only speak Japanese, but Japanese of the time period. Anna Sawai, who portrays Mariko, revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that their language was more comparable to Old English than to modern vernacular. These little details are significant to the production. They also employed the use of gesture experts on set. These experts explained in a featurette that gestures were just as significant as costume or dialogue. Movement tells a story as much as anything else, and these aspects were included with the utmost accuracy.

The series also shows the role of women, which was true for the times. Noblewomen, such as Mariko, would be trained in the art of the samurai in case of an ambush. Mariko trains with a spear, valued because of its length. The New York Times confirmed this authenticity, stating that most aspects — from wardrobe, to how objects were held — were considered. More aggressive visuals, such as the women painting their teeth black, do not appear, but that is an exception and not a rule. Shōgun is made for entertainment purposes, so some details have been fabricated. But the spirit of the time is there, as Sanada, who in addition to portraying Lord Toranaga is one of the series’ producers, told the outlet.

“As a Japanese [person], I wanted to see something more real at the time, to be honest.”

In the words of the showrunner, Justin Marks, their goal of achieving spiritual accuracy was upheld. Episodes of Shōgun are available to stream on Hulu.

We all know basic concepts such as samurai and honor. However, FX’s new historical drama sends viewers on a deep dive into the specifics of feudalist Japan.

Shōgun is adapted from James Clavell’s highly regarded historical novel. Published in 1975, the tome brought Eastern culture into the mainstream. Set at the turn of the century in 1600s Japan, the story revolves around three characters whose lives are changed when a Dutch ship hits the shores of Japan. While the characters are fictionalized, everything is based on highly researched facts.

John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the Englishman who piloted the ship, is inspired by a real-life figure who became a samurai after similar circumstances. He meets Mariko (Anna Sawai), an interpreter for a feudal lord named Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), who is looking for any way to retain his position. The series takes great pains to portray life as it truly was at the time and gives context for terms such as feudalism and bushidō. These concepts have fallen out of fashion in modern society but are integral to understanding Shōgun.

What is bushidō?

Like any system of government, Shōgun has a hierarchy of power. At the top is the titular military leader. The Shōgun technically answered to the Emperor, but in these times, the latter was more of a figurehead. Constant war made the Shōgun an essential power where the military was paramount. Below him, lords called the daimyo ran the feudal states. And to keep everything in order, they employed the services of the samurai.

Samurai would maintain control of territories or fiefs, as well as protect the peasants who worked the land. This system worked together in part due to the philosophy known as bushidō. Also called “The Warrior Way,” samurai adhered to bushidō as a primary set of principles focusing on loyalty.

While other feudalist societies, such as the ones in Europe, rewarded knights with income, the samurai had other motivating factors, such as duty to their lords. They protected the lords’ lands without having ownership of it themselves. Their salary typically consisted of rice instead of tangible money. In a society where personal honor was of the highest order, the warrior class held themselves to a certain standard. This code of conduct ensured peasants were protected, even though they lived humbly.

Bushidō also affected the samurai mindset in battle. In addition to loyalty, the term also developed as fearlessness in battle. In a modern context, bushidō was a surprising concept for Westerners during World War II. The cultural differences in fighting techniques took aback American forces in particular. Japanese fighters would attack head-on, with no fear of death. This also contextualized the practice of kamikaze missions that Japanese pilots took on.

But first and foremost, bushidō means loyalty to your lord. This loyalty is so paramount that it supersedes loyalty to your own family. Samurai swear fealty to the daimyo above all else. This is demonstrated viscerally in the first episode of Shōgun after one of Toranaga’s men speaks out of turn in front of the Council of Regents. He is so duty-bound to Toranaga that in penance, he demonstrates the ritual act of seppuku, even taking the life of his infant son as well. These practices were not only common but accepted in feudal Japan. Shōgun does not shy away from demonstrating these concepts. The series is highly informative and respectful of historical practices.