Shogun On Hulu Is Now The Show Everyone Needs To Stream
With so many different streaming options these days, it can be tough to really stand out from the crowd. Similarly, it can sometimes be tough to even know what to watch. Where should you put your time, energy, and eyeballs? Well, there is a series on Hulu now that’s making the case to be one of the best out there, with Shogun winning a crazy number of Emmy Awards and setting a pretty impressive record on that front.
Shogun’s Emmy Haul
Shogun took home 18 Emmy Awards out of its 25 nominations. You read those numbers correctly. And before you think we must be talking about some cumulative look at multiple seasons of the show, that’s not the case. This is just for the series’ first season on streaming. The award gathering is record-setting and it’s hard to imagine it being topped anytime soon.
An Incredible First Season
Not only was Shogun the most awarded single season in television history, but it did it right out of the gate on Hulu. Maybe it speaks to the lack of other quality television shows up for the award this year.
There’s a possible case for that. But it does little to take away from Shogun’s acclaim. Oh, and to just pile on the accolades, the series became the non-English language show to be nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. So it’s record-setting all around here.
Based On The Novel
Shogun is an adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name. The story is set in 1600s Japan and sets the story around the dynamic between two main characters. The first is Major John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), who is shipwrecked in Japan and is forced to adjust to the culture.
Then, there is Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a feudal lord who is at odds with other powerful forces in the region. And there is Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), the woman between these two, who has a fierce loyalty to Toranaga but also acts as a translator for Blackthorne.
Based On Real Events?
The Shogun story centers on these two figures and their relationship, as well as how they navigate the cultural transformations that come about as a result of their paths crossing. The story itself pulls loosely from actual historical events of the time, specifically the life of William Adams, an English sailor who ended up becoming a samurai.
In addition to Outstanding Drama Series, Shogun’s other Emmy Awards included Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Sanada), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Sawaii), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Frederick E.O. Toye), and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, among many, many others.
Previously A Miniseries
Shogun had previously been made into a miniseries in 1980, which gained a solid U.S. viewership but took heat in Japan because of missing elements of cultural and historical accuracy. There have been no such issues with Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks’ version. The show creators have received high marks for their faithfulness to Japanese culture.
Shogun is available for streaming on Hulu, and a second season has not yet been confirmed.
