Shōgun Review: 11 Ups & 2 Downs

Although every actor gives a staggering performance in Shōgun, its co-leads Anna Sawai and Cosmo Jarvis who steal the spotlight whenever they're around. 

Jarvis in particular shines from the first frame, playing the stranded Blackthorne as a desperate, unshakable opportunist who, for all his lude remarks and bigotry, you can't help but like. There's something sad behind Jarvis's eyes, hinting at a deeper humanity, and he's often very funny (if darkly so at times). 

Anna Sawai, meanwhile, plays Lady Mariko with the greatest care of any cast member. A performance of movement rather than words, Sawai's work is meticulous and subtle, portraying power but also a deep, lurking desire for more. The more you learn about her, the more you notice how Sawai portrays the subtly of grief. 

Separately, these two steadily shine, but Shōgun becomes something extra special when they're brought together in one of the show's most surprisingly tender plotlines. No spoilers here, of course, but rest assured these two will bowl you over as Mariko and Blackthorne's fates become more and more entwined by war and circumstance.