Shōgun Ennawnna

(A review of Shōgun*)
- C. Vanlalawmpuia

*Spoilers Alert

A Chanchinhma Tawifel: Shōgun hi James Clavell in

1970 kuma a lekhabu ziek Shōgun anthawka inchang
ani a, phuokfawm tienami (fiction) anih. Shōgun
(Season 1) hi 27th Feb, 2024 khan tlângzar ani a, hi
season a hin episode 10 a um. Rachel Kondo le
Justin Marks siem niin, Japanṭawng le Sapṭawng
hmanga siem anih. Tulaia dingin hi TV Series hi an
lâr em em a, tuhriea dingin IMDb in 8.8/10 pe in,
Rotten Tomatoes in 99% ratings an pek. Shōgun ti
Japanese thumal hi sipai hotulien (military
commander) tina anih.

A Chanchin Ruongâm: 1600 kuma Japan hmuna

thiltlung niin, Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Council of
Regents haiin an bei tum a doletna tienami anih.
Hilai hin Europe anthawka lawng pakhat hung chu
Japan thlierkara a lênluta, a khaltu ‘Pilot’ tia ko, a
hming John Blackthorne chu a tlangvalpa1 (pakhat
ve) in a hung inchang. Toranaga le Blackthorne hi
Season 1 a an damsuok ve ve.

A Changtuhai:
A fel tieng
● Lord Yoshii Toranaga - Kanto
lalrama khawnbawl lien2,
thilthawtheina hau. Ama ṭhangsaa
(mi pali dang le) ‘Council of

1
Main character
2
Lord
 Regents’ ti hming puta Lal3 aiawa Japan Lalram
roreltu. Minowara pahnam ami niin, pawlitik le
raldo hisap thiemmi anih.
● ‘Pilot’ John Blackthorne - Anjin
(Japantawnga lawng khaltu) tia ko.
Protestant Kristien niin, English mi
Dutch hai lawng khala, Japana
sumdawngna va siem chu (thildang
inthup uma) an thiltum anih.
Sienkhawm Toranaga sipai ha’n an man.
● Toda Mariko - Toranaga marawi
ringum tak el niin, Toranaga in
sapṭawng a thiem naw leiin, ama le
Blackthorne kara ṭawng inlettu’n a
ṭhang. Ama hi Portuguese Catholic
ha’n Catholic Kristien-a an ṭhuoilut4.

Hmel pahni nei

● Kashigi Yabushige - Toranaga
hnuoia thawk niin Izu Lalrama
khawnbawl anih. Game of Thrones-a
3
Emperor
4
convert
 Littlefinger le khan ama hi inangna tamtak annei
ka ti a, pakhat ta dinga rorel zing mani ei ti laiin,
hmel dang neiin, pawisa annawle thilthawtheina
hnawtin a rûkin midang rawng a lo bawl sa pei.
Season 1 tawpnaa ama le ama an that (Seppuku)
pha hiel.

A suol tieng
● Ishido Kazunari - Regent panga laia
pakhat niin, thilthawtheina hau tak el
ani a, Toranaga hektu lien tak, Osaka
Castle hluotu anih. Season 1 a ding
chun Toranaga hmelma lientak ani ti
in la inkhêl naw nih. Season 1 a dam
muolsuo.

Episode tin ennawnna:

Eps. 1: Anjin (Tulleken; Feb, 2024) - A hung inṭan
tîra, English mi lawnga chuong an hung inlang dana
‘pirate movie’ ani el dim? ti ngaina a um a. Ei zuk
en pei chun, Japan thlierkara hi English lawngmihai
hi manin an hung um a, samurai hai thuom le bil ei
en chun, a mawikhai hle’n a series a sukhawi pha.
An ruolpa pakhat chu (Japanha’n an hremna’n)
belpuia an suong hmin a, a hmelhai graphic takin an
hung suk lang anthawk “a series hi inthatna tak tak
deua suklang ani ding anihi tie” ti ngaina a pieng
nghal. Blackthorne a hung inlang khan, a tlangvalpa
ding chu ni ngei a ti ringna a pieng nghala,
sienkhawm mi inlâr taluo (A-lister) aninaw chu a
dangdai ka lo ti deu. A ṭhatna le a ṭhatnawna chu a
um ve ve tho. A hmel le a pumduong hai chu a
‘tlangvalpa’ tia fit hle ni chun ka hmu. Sienkhawm,
Blackthorne hi a um deu zek zuk niin ka hmu
bawka, a ṭawng dân ṭhenkhat hi a ‘cringy’ deu ka tih.
Hihi lai tak hi Reddit a mi pakhatin a hril ve ka hmu.
47 Ronin changtu Keanu Reaves in hang bei zet sien
chu a turu buru awm de aw ka ti thawkkhat. (47
Ronin a hin tuta Toranaga le Yabushige changtuhai
hi an ṭhang veve). Ieng le khaw le, a riruong5
tlangpui chu an fûk hle. Sap le Japanhai intawngna a
zuk inlang hin, colonialism boruok a um ding
anihitie ka lo ti nghal. Kan Khîna: 9/10
5
setting
Eps. 2: Servants of Two Masters (Tulleken; Feb,
2024) - A chung chara ka zuk hril ang deu khin,
colonialism boruok a um lei hin inhawi ka ti hle.
Entirna’n sakhuona (a bik takin Kristienna) intuo
ṭanna hai hi European Colonialism hmangruo pakhat
anih. 1600 laia thiltlung nisien khawm, Portugese
Catholics hai chu Japanṭawng khawm lo thiem tain,
Japan khawpuihaia biekinhai an lo nei dêr tah. A
changtunu ve tho Mariko ngei khawm Kristien
(Catholic) a inletin Kross-ṭhi a awr hmu theiin a um.
Regent pangahai laia pahni chu Kristien (inlet) anni
bawka, hihi Toranaga in (ama ṭhang lova) Regent
palihai kara inhrietthiemnawna piengna dingin (ama
an hêkthlak tum leiin; Toranaga hi Osaka Castle a
khum ‘house arrested’ ani bawk) Blackthorne hi
hmangruo’n a hmangtum ti ei hriet ṭan thei.
Sakhuona annawleh Ringna leia inṭhe (a bikin
Catholic le Protestant hai kara) a um rawp hlak ti hi
eps hin a suklang. Chun, Blackthorne hi ‘mi
buoithlak’ ani dinga an ngai leiin zana a in kâr ama
thattumna hi huoihawt ani a, sienkhawm a hlawtling
nawh. Kan Khîna: 9.5/10
Eps. 3: Tomorrow is Tomorrow (Brändström; Mar,
2024) - Blackthorne hi an thattum ti an lang ta
phingin, Toranaga chun Blackthorne, Mariko le add.
hai chu khawhnawm Ajiro tieng thawnhmang a
tuma. Chulai kara chun, Toranaga chu Osaka
Castle-a a nuom thu nilova khum ani chu, a rukte’n
Blackthornehai hi a lo zui a (bûkte an zawn sûngah),
Ishido le a danghai chun an hriet der nawh. A series
entuhai khawma Toranaga inrellut hi ei zuk hriet el
theinaw leiin ‘element of surprise’ a uma, a suk
hawi. Amiruokchu, an fena lama lambun annih. A
lambuntuhai hi Kristien regent pahni le an rawihai
annih (Blackthorne hi Catholic Kristienhai ta dinga
pawitawk nia an ngai leiin). Hihi lai tak hi a tienami
fe dân a chau deu ka ti a. Khawnbawl lien ni ve si in,
mihriem pakhat (Blackthorne), sakhuonaa pawitawk
an ti, an zuk hnawtthlûr taluo el hi. Entirna’n, hi
Kristien regent pahnihai ngei hin Samurai
thuom-le-bilin ramhnuoia a lo lambun pawla an
ṭhang ve (an rawihai zuk tir el thei kha). Chun,
Mariko pasal Buntaro a zuk damsuok dân vêl le, an
insuolna kha a lem deu. Eps. 1 le 2 directtu Tulleken
in a direct tanaw leia, a scene a chau deu khawm ani
thei. Kan Khîna: 8/10

Eps. 4: The Eightfold Fence (Toye; Mar, 2024) -

Blackthorne chu ditsak takin Toranaga chun chanvo
ṭha a pêk a, chulai zing chun, Yabushige chun a
rukin Toranaga hi a lo inphat ṭan dêr an tah. Ishido a
marawi Jozen chu an laipui kap inchûk (Blackthorne
in European hai indodan an chûktirna fumfe zie) en
dingin zan riek dingin a fiel a (Ishido le Toranaga
kara inrilremlona umlaia ding chun, Ishido
marawipa fiel hi thil awmlo tak anih; Yabushige hin
agenda inthup a lo nei der tah). Hi taka Toranaga
naupa in a pa hrietlova laipuihai kap dinga thu an
suo a, Jozen le a rawihai an kap chek vawngna scene
hi ennuom a um hle! Tienami fedan herdanglam thut
(plot twist) ropui anih. Kan Khina: 10/10

Eps. 5: Broken to the Fist (Toye; Mar, 2024) -

Mariko le Blackthorne kara (a rûk tea inhmangaina -
Mariko hi pasal neilai zing nisien khawm) vel
suklang ani a. Mariko pasal Buntaroin a lo hriet lawi
ta si, Blackthorne a ina zu (saké) dawnin, insêl
inhalna ropui a tlung ṭepa, Mariko chun a
chanchinghnung (lungsiet umtak) hrilna a nei bawk.
Insuol tivel ber bur a umnawa chu a changtuhai
chanchinhnung hrietna’n ei hmanga, (harsataka)
hmangaina kithum (love triangle) um hriettheina le
an kara boruok umna suklang a nih. Toranaga sipai
hai nikhat thilthu a landslide leia tamtak an zuk
borup nawk thung hi chu, a tienami fedan a suk chau
deu ka ti nawk. Toranaga sipaihai hi an hrat hle
chun, indona tlungin Toranaga hrat a ta, a TV series
a tawp el ding vêngtu ang deuin ka hmu. Kan Khîna
- 8.5/10

Eps. 6: Ladies of the Willow World (Kamata; Mar,

2024) - a tîr hin ‘filler’ (an chanchinhnung
suklangna) a um a, Mariko naupanglai nun tlawmte
suklang anih. Blackthorne chu landslide anthawka
Toranaga a sanhim lei tiin nina insang le ram pek
anih. Regent dang pathum (Ishido le Toranaga
ṭhanglo) hai chu Toranaga an hêk theina ding tiin
Osaka Castle-a khum lui a (anni bula chu Taiko6pa
thlatu ding an thattum lei ti suonlam an pek). Regent
pangahai umlo chun inhekthlakna (impeachment) hi
fethleng pui thei ani naw a, hihi leia Toranaga kha a
series bultienga an lo khumlui hrim kha a nih.
Sienkhawm, thil indiklo (entirna’n a ruka
Blackthorne an thattum tihai dam) thaw si in,
Toranaga hêkthlak dinga Regent panga um kher kher
dinga an intei-hei sawt taluo hin, Regenthai
thilthawtheina a suk chau ni awmin a suk lang. An
theida hle ani anle a rûka thattumna sin am ani,
annawleh pawlitik inthuktak hmanga Regent
pangana inbuk nawk khawm thei a tih. Sienkhawm,
regent danghai hi an pau zo nawh ti dim, a san hau
deu deua inlangin vote dam an thlak nuom naw hin,
a tienami inperdan (dynamics) a suk nep met ka tih.
Hi eps. a hin regent pakhat chu a rûkin Osaka Castle
anthawkin an rel dawk. Amiruokchu, lampuia
lambunin that a nih. Hi thiltlung lei hin Toranaga
chun ‘Taiko thlatu dingpa sanhimna ding’ tiin

6
Japan Rengpa (hi series a hin chu, a tîra boral)
‘Crimson Sky’ (Osaka Castle beiletna dinga indo
tektik) sukhring dingin a puong. Kan Khîna: 8.5/10

Eps. 7: A Stick of Time (Fukunaga; Apr 2024) -

‘Filler’ ang bawkin Toranaga naupang laia raldo
thiem mi anni ti chu suklang ani a, Sipai an tamtak
nawk lei chun, Crimson Sky-a dingin Toranaga
unaupa Saeki chu fiel anih. Saeki hin an fielna chu
pawmin, a zana zu an dawn tlang. Hilai tak hin Saeki
chun Ishido ha’n Regent pangana nina (Toranaga
thlaktu ding) an pek thu chu puongin, Toranaga le a
rawihai tlan suok theina ding awm popo chu Saeki a
sipai han an lo ting ta ti chu hrietsuok anih. Hi hi
plot twist ropui tak ani nawk. Hieng ani si ta lei hin,
a marawi haiin khap hai sien khawm, Toranaga chun
in surrender el dingin thuthlukna a siem. Toranaga a
naupa chun, hi thil hi a ngai theinaw leiin, a rûkin
Saeki chu a that tum a, sienkhawm hlawsamin, ama
a thi lem dai. Kan Khîna: 9/10

Eps. 8: The Abyss of Life (Kuffour; Apr 2024) -

Toranaga chu an surrender (tum) thleng a, a naupa a
sûn hun ding (an dân hrim angin) ni 49 pek anih.
Hilai hin a rawihai chun Taiko thlatu ding pa nu
Ochiba le inthuruol puia, Ishido pei thlak dingin
thurawn a dawnga. Chuong lai zing chun, Ishido
chun Ochiba chu an inlaichinna sukhratna dingin
innei dingin a fiel. Blackthorne chu Toranaga
anthawkin inthlasuok ani taa, zalen takin a um tah.
Buntaro chun a nuhmei chu, Toranago in surrender
(tum) kalna’n mani insukhlumpui7 dingin a fiel a,
Mariko chun a rin. Toranaga khawnbawl laia upa
pawl le a ringzo tak pawl Hiromatsu chun Toranaga
in surrender (tum) chu a kalna’n ama le ama an that
(seppuku). A khawhnungin, Toranaga chun Mariko
bula Hiromatsu inthat nasan hi, an hmelmahai hriet
hawia, ‘Toranaga an surrender tak tak tah’ ti ang
inentirna ding ani tiin a hril. Yabushige chu a mizie
pangai ang hrimin, (zalen tah) Blackthorne le
sumdawngna chikhat a neipui (Toranaga kal
zawngin; Toranaga hin a marawi hai in surrender
dinga an suoi kei seng ding a ti hnung, Yabushige
khawma a lo kei hnunga thildang a lo buoipui ani
7
A double suicide
leiin) a lo. Mariko chu Toranaga hrietpuiin Osaka a
pan. Hi eps. ei en chun, a series a an hril rawp
‘pointless deaths’ umzie bova thi hmu thei ding an
um nak. Entirna’n Hiromatsu seppuku thaw dam hi
lungnat a umin, Toranaga hi a lulul khawpel ti chawr
chawr nuom a um. A ṭhen chun Toranaga hi a
hlawkna ding chau a ngaituo khawm ti nuom an tih
(season tawpa Yabushige in Toranaga a hril khum
ang hrimin). Ieng le khaw le, a film siemtuhai
siemthiem leia hieng ngaituona hi a enthlatuhaiin ei
nei thei ani a, Toranaga chu a changtutak pa ani lei
chun a fel vawng ding ti a um chuong nawh. A eps.
hi lungkak pum takin a en an hawi hle. Kan Khîna:
9/10

Eps. 9: Crimson Sky (Toye; Apr, 2024) - Mariko,

Blackthorne le Yabushige hai chu Osaka Castle
hmuna Ishido hmabula Toranaga aiaw’n an van
surrender a. Sienkhawm, Toranaga infuina ang chun
Mariko chun, Osaka Castle sunga Toranaga a
sunghai la chambanghai chu Osaka Castle anthawk
Ishido phalna la lovin a ṭhuoisuok tum. Nasatakin fe
thleng tum sien khawm, kawtkhar vengtuhai chun an
dang hne leiin, Mariko chun a mawphurna hlen zo lo
anga inngaiin jijai (Nuhmeihai Seppuku) thawa mani
inthat a tum a. An that hma char chun, Ishido chun
suok theina lekha (permit) chu ama ngeiin a va thak
leiin, Mariko chu an sukhlum tanawh. A zinga suok
dinga an inrêl ta, zan nuhnung tak ding an rem lai
chun, suomhmangha’n (Ishido marawihai nidinga
ring; Yabushige khawm an rawl) Mariko chu a zalna
hmuna an va that tuma, an tlanhmang hmana,
storeroom sunga an inkal khum. Hi kawt hi hawng
tumin, suomhmanghai chun bomb an kam chu, a
kawtkhar zawna ngirin Mariko chu ama le ama a va
thi chil. Mariko thidan hi a ho ang rengin a pamhmai
ka tih. Plot twist infuk lova ka ngai. Kan Khîna:
8.5/10

Eps. 10: A Dream of a Dream (Toye; Apr, 2024) -

Mariko chu phum ani taa, Council of Regents (Saeki
ṭhang ta) chun Toranaga chu indo an puong khum
thei tah. Blackthorne a lawng chu suksiet in a um ti
hmusuok ani a, bawl thar dingin hma a lak
(Blackthorne in Catholic hai kalzawnga thil a thaw
leia, Portuguese Catholic le Mariko hai suksiet
nidingin a ring). Yabushige chu Mariko thinaa
kuthnung a nei nia hriet ani leiin, Ajiro thlierkar a
tlung chun, Toranaga rawihan an man nghal.
Yabushige chu Seppuku thawa mani le mani inthat
dinga a chungthu rel a nih. Toranaga chun
Blackthorne kuoma a lawng chu ama (Toranaga)
suksiet ani ti a puong a, Blackthorne in Japan a
maksan a nuom naw leia a suksiet a lo nih. Chun,
Mariko thina leia Ochiba in a rukte’n Toranaga le
thuthlukna a siempui thu a hril bawk. Blackthorne
chu a lawng bawl ṭhat dingin Toranaga chun a hril a,
ralkang anthawka an lawng bawlṭhat mêk chu thlîrin,
a series (season 1) chu a tâwp.
A khaikhawmna dingin, a tâwp tienga a tienami
fedan hung inpuongsuokna (plot resolution) hi an
chin deu nuk ka ti a, annawle a tawngkam hai sui
chet chet chun a thu fedan hriet theiin a um.
Toranaga hi mivar tak ani? Annawle ama ta dinga
hring taluo? Plan ṭhatak nei ani chun, ama ta dinga
mi ringum tak tak, Hiromatsu, Mariko, le a naupa
meu ṭhangsa in, ‘pointless deaths’ in an boral tawl.
Annawle a chunga tarlang ta ang khin, Hiromatsu
thina’n an hmelmahai hriet hawia Toranaga an
surrender tak tak ti a pek hin a thina hi a ‘justify’
ani? Mariko thina leia Ochiba in Toranaga an
zawmpui hi Toranaga induong hrim ani am? Ti
zawnahai hi thlirtu tamtakin annei ka ring.
“Blackthorne hi a pawimaw lei ani nawh, ama bo
hin ka banner khawm hring a tih, anachu a mi suk
nuia, ka hmelmahai lungril pethmangtu dingin a ṭha
bawk” tia Toranaga in Blackthorne chungchang a
hrilna hi ama mimal inhnikna suk tluongna dinga
‘hmangruoa’ a hmang mei mei ning a ti? ti zawna a
um. Blackthorne ṭawngkam haw in, a thil insuolpui
hi kawk a um naw (pointless) tia (Toranaga in) a hril
pek laia “Ka hrat anle chau” (Unless I win) a ti bawk
kha Yabushige bula a hril pek. Comic Book
Resources (CBR) chun hienghin a hril:
Toranaga is a sketchy, flawed and selfish character of
his own making, Mariko and Blackthorne are pure
and genuinely want what's best for the land.
Screen Rant chun hieng ang hin a ti bawk:
 Shōgun’s bittersweet finale highlighted how complex
of a character Yoshii Toranaga was.
Chun, Yabushige in sepukku a thaw tawma Toranaga
an biekpuina hin thiltamtak a hril:
Hi (Shōgun; sipai hotuhrat) hi i thil nuom tak
zing a lo ni maw? Keini nek khawma i lo ṭha bik
chi naw hi tie, i sungrila chu. (52-53 mins)
Film critic ṭhenkhathai hril dan chun, tukhawma
Toranaga’n Shōgun nia, hrattaka sipai rorelna hnuoia
Japana ralmuongna siem chu Toranaga thiltum lien
(rûk) ani ti an hrietnaw an tih (Yabushige le a tawpa
an inbieknaa hin hriet a ni chau; Yabushige hi a thi
ding tho ani leia Toranaga hin a hril anih). Hihi
hriettheia a umdan chu, a taka tlung ngei Tokugawa
Ieyasu chanchin anthawka Shōgun hi zieksawng nia
hriet ani a. A chunga a fedan tarlang ang char khi, a
tak takpaa a lo tlung (the Battle of Sekigahara).
Ochiba kha Mariko khan nasatakin Toranaga
ṭhangkawppui dingin a lo va nawr a, Mariko hung
thi ta pei le, Ochiba in a poem a tiemna scene hai
thlir pei chun, (a lungril a tawkin) Toranaga tieng
kawp lem dingin lungril a siem ta anih. Taiko thlatu
le a sipai hai chu Toranaga tieng an ṭhang ta lei chun,
Ishido chu indona hmun tlunghmaa hne ani tah.
Toranaga chu hrata ngai ani tah (hieng zawnga thlîr
chun Mariko thina kha umzie nei tak ani nawk si).
Kan Khîna: 8.5/10

Shōgun (Season 1) a nawlpuia kan khîna: 8.5/10

Dated: 23rd, May, 2024.