Shōgun Review: 11 Ups & 2 Downs

Through all this political upheaval, bracing action, spots of romance and betrayal, Shōgun's great strength often lies with its characters, each major player more complex than the last. 

Amongst the tangled webs the show weaves, several characters standout amongst the pack: There's Lady Mariko, the drama's most quietly compelling figure, whose past is rife with heartache and whose future is painfully uncertain; Lord Toranaga, whose intentions are elusive to the end; and Blackthorne, the foreigner caught within the bloodshed. 

These three characters dominate proceedings, their scheming and tentative connections forming a large bulk of the show's narrative, but they'd be lost without Lord Yabushige, whose arrogance and goals become more compelling as the series unfolds, and the empathetic priest Father Alvito, a silent witness to the show's horrors. 

There are others, including Lady Ochiba, who loses her family early-on and must find her place without them, but the truth is there are too many enthralling, well-drawn characters to list here. There are few shows this overflowing with strong personalities begging to be unpacked and scrutinised.