The Recap: Shōgun – Chapter 5: “Broken to the Fist”
Let’s return to the epic and amazing story that is Shōgun! Blackthorne has found himself in quite the sticky situation and I’m not just talking about his bumping of uglies with Mariko. Things are staring to heat up and Lord Toranaga is closer to war after the actions of his son. What an excellent show…
Look who’s back. Mariko’s husband who totally should be dead by now, Buntaro, is alive and well! What a turn of events, especially after Mariko and Blackthorne did that thang. The last time we saw him he was surrounded by soldiers as he swung his sword violently to take down as many as he could before dying and honorable death. Apparently, he didn’t die, but instead he escaped with the help of some ronin.
Daddy is pissed. Lord Toranaga returns to the knowledge that now they are on the brink of war with the council after the actions of his son. If you remember, the end of episode 4 saw Toranaga’s son lashing out against a samurai sent by the council. Now, not only is Lord Toranaga very unhappy with his son for his decision making, but he’s also using this situation to corner Yabushige into admitting that he is playing both sides. He does so by giving command of the cannon regiment to Yabushige’s nephew, who is the one being blamed for putting the idea into the head of young heir Nagakado.
Anjin isn’t getting a cooking show anytime soon. While hunting, a pheasant is given to Blackthorne as a gift. Given his past and the cooking and cleaning habits of the Brits, he leaves the bird hanging for far too long. It sounds like a very trivial thing but it ends up having very massive implications for everyone living in the house. It’s safe to say he won’t be invited to the Great British Baking Show anytime soon.
Looming war and spies. There is a continuing push towards war for both Toranaga and the council. His actions had made it difficult for them to war with him, but not impossible. All the while, he continues to expect and prepare for the war. At the same time, Yabushige and his nephew Omi are busy searching for a spy that may or may not exist.
Natural Disasters and other problems. Only at a time of this magnitude could a massive earthquake hit and shake the world like it does. When it’s over, the earth has moved but so has the landscape of power. As great as it is, though, it’s nothing compared to the relationships. Buntaro and Mariko have a shaky marriage, to be sure. But it’s made even more shaky by the presences of Blackthorne and he isn’t ready to accept the societal norms that are present in Japan at the time.
Taiko’s mom. Mommy’s back in Osaka and she’s pissed. Her son is too young to be the Taiko but she’s ready and willing to ensure the safety of the position until he can come of age. It seems like she means business.
