Cinepals - SHOGUN 1x4 "The Eightfold Fence" Reaction & Review!

Episode Date: March 12, 2024

Shōgun, a new and adapted historical drama series, has arrived, depicting war and power in 1600s Japan. Shōgun stars: Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine, 47 Ronin, Bullet Train, Mortal Kombat (2021), & John Wick: Chapter 4), Cosmo Jarvis (Calm with Horses, Lady Macbeth, & Persuasion), Anna Sawai (F9: The Fast Saga, Pachinko, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters & Girl/Haji) & Tadanobu Asano (Thor, Battleship, & Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan)    Join our Patreon www.Patreon.com/JabyKoay for the full length reaction to this show and many others ans subscribe to our YouTube channel for the cutdowns www.youtube.com/@cinepals   SOCIAL MEDIA ~CinePals~ Twitter, Instagram, & TikTok: @TheCinePals   ~Achara Kirk~ Twitter & Instagram: @AcharaKirk

Senna. Pals. We're continuing forward with Shogun, episode four. This one is called the Eightfold Fence. Thanks so much for joining us. Let's get into this. Here we go. Do you see the nephew's face in the back?

He was smiling. Dang. I got to wait seven more days. I know. Every single episode, I'm just like, God damn it. It's so good. So much fun. But, yeah, I'm just really enjoying, you know, as we're learning more about the culture while he's learning it and, you know, just his...

Have you no shock? Like what you just saw? That's so upsetting. Yeah. I mean, whatever. Some death. It was so graphic. Oh, so much.

In nerds. Anyway, go ahead. No, like, okay, fine. Yes, we're getting into the nitty gritty of war. Now a path has been. set and they're going to have to go down this path, right? I get that. That's fine. I know that's going to happen. But the things that I like are, you know, his relationship with Mariko and, like, all of the things that he's learning about the culture and everything and just seeing how he's changing

as he's learning all of this stuff and they're enjoying each other's company. Like, I think it's really sweet. I know this isn't supposed to be like a romance show. No, that's definitely part of it. I like what I like, okay? That's, no, the romance is definitely a part of it. That's very obvious. as from the get-go that that's supposed to happen in the show. What is interesting is the show is not, it doesn't sell itself on violence, right? It's not happening all the time. No.

You're following the dramatic narrative, and along the way, violent things happen, and when they do, it doesn't hold back. It follows the philosophy of violence that I associate with Scorsese. He's like, he doesn't love violence, but when he shows it, he's showing it to you without restraint. The show is not really, like, focused on that.

It's just when it happens, it hits you hard. I mean, for me, it hit me pretty hard. Well, yeah, it's shocking. and graphic, you know, and especially because... It's infrequent. Well, it's infrequent, and also the way the weapons worked in those days. Like, you're being hit by a freaking cannonball. Of course, you're going to explode in that way, I think.

I would imagine. That makes sense to me. It's like a giant lead ball that's just coming at you at velocity, and it's just like, you just get ripped apart. You don't want to be in its path. No. No, no. So, um, that's crazy. Did you see that coming?

Well, I, I didn't know he was going to do all that. I mean, we all knew who's going to do something. I just didn't know to what extent. Yeah. And it's the, the, like, to find out what he did was literally eliminate the entire army of messengers. It's like, whoa. That's an act of war, like they said. I'm like, dude, he just threw them into a huge predicament.

It's like, you were the one that your father trusted. You exacerbated things to an egregious level. It's like, dude. whoa like dang yeah so anyway I liked all the journey you know that we've experienced in this episode it was quite interesting the bond he experienced with um the lady who's you know taking care of his house Fuji yeah Fujissama and uh I like I like the quiet exchanges I love that moment when she takes the gun and you know points it at the samurai yeah that was so bad ass that's pretty cool the the development of the romance in this episode between those characters it's it's like

We can't, I mean, we saw that from almost the first moment, right? Yeah, like, I think we definitely shipped them from the beginning. And now, especially, I'm like, you guys have to get together, please. Yeah. But everything has to be done in such a particular way because of, like, honored respect and, like, you know, saving face and all that stuff. Exactly, exactly. So, I think he's a really good actor. I mean, I never, I never seen him before this show.

And I think he's handling it really well, carrying it on his back, you know, carrying on his shoulders. Yeah, he's just so fun to watch because he kind of. kind of has a really great balance of being this kind of fish out of water, uncouth, barbarian, like English barbarian guy who like doesn't get the culture and... Who's being domesticated. Yeah, you know, they're like taming him quietly. And I think it's really sweet that he's hanging out with the women and he's learning a lot from them just what they're teaching him about culture and the patience they have for him.

And like just the joy they take in his company as well. I think it's really great for him to be surrounded by the women folk and not just be put in with the men. Like, it's a nice dynamic to watch. There's this interesting way that this show maintains this constant tension throughout. And here, it's just like, it was a rubber band. Like, where do we go from here?

Because I never saw the original, I mean, I don't remember the original Shogun at all. I've never seen it. I don't even know how faithfully the original Shogun followed, you know, the material, the book. And so, I mean, I know I can. just go read it but this is like i have no idea how you continue forward with here and it's just not like all out violence for the rest of the show well i mean i think you know it's gonna take maybe

a little bit of time because news has to travel back then they have to prepare then they have to travel like if your messenger doesn't come back in a in a manner that's in a time that's expected you know something's wrong well yeah but then you know there's like a whole i would imagine like a whole protocol or whatever. Although I'm sure if Lord Toranaga can find out about stuff because he's got spies, I'm pretty sure that news would travel, you know? So what is Lord Toranaga going to do when he finds out what his son did? He's going to be pissed. And what is the consequence? That's what I'm curious about. I have no idea. Can you kill your own son? Like, is that a consequence? Well, there might be an expectation that his son has to take himself out. You know, that's what I'm concerned about.

And it's like the son was doing what he thought was right. Well, it was also, it's under the guise of doing what he thought was right, but also he's a young guy who wants to be taken seriously by his father. He wants to prove himself. Exactly. He has no experience and is being egged on to do the wrong thing. Like initially I was like, oh, this kid is actually pretty smart. Makes sense.

He's Toronaga's son. But then he decides to do something stupid like that. And I'm pretty sure that it was that nephew. Yes, but he's made the same mistake that the guy made in episode one when Toronaga or the guy was offended on Toranooga's behalf. It's like there are politics at play. Exactly, which he doesn't understand. He's just a kid.

And so he doesn't understand the 3D chess that his dad is playing. And meanwhile, oh, yeah, okay, whatever. He's playing Chequos, okay? So what do I know? I can't even play chess. I'm just saying, you're right, you're not wrong in what you're saying. I'm just correcting the phrase. Yeah, it's 3D chess.

Yeah, I like this episode quite a bit. I mean, the show has, you know, been a delight to watch. And his character, what's the name of the main dude? Blackthorn. You know, I made a reference to Game of Thrones because when DeNaris was taken into the company of the Targaryens, not the Targareans. The Dothraki. Thank you. I said it early and I forgot it.

Immediately she was like a slave in the bedroom manner. And I knew, based on his character, I knew that he was more of a gentleman in that respect. And he wasn't going to just take advantage of her or the situation. You know, he cared deeply about his men being honored with what he thought the agreement was. Right. And so he's finding the silver lining and he's finding, you know, he's discovering things about this place that he loves and about himself that he didn't know. And it's pretty cool to see his evolution of things. You know, I'm just very curious what the hell happened to his men.

We haven't seen them yet. There's no sign of life. I know. Or proof of life is the phrase. I'm inclined to believe what Mariko said, which is that they got taken to Edo. So presumably they're safe. Like I can't imagine why Lord Toranaga would, you know, renege on his agreement or not ensure the safety of those men. But even so, it's like, he's shagging this lady while they're in prison.

You know, it's like it can't be a good situation for them. You know what I mean? Not that he's not trying. It's just like, it sucks for them. You know what I mean? That's all I'm saying. This is like, oh, dang. Like, what's going on?

They're just like, what kind of situation are they enduring? So did you forget about us, bro? Yeah. Like, what's happening? So anyway, I enjoyed this. And I hope you guys are as well. And I'm looking forward to next week's episode. Thanks so much.

I'm Jabby Kui. This is Achara Cook. Peace out.