Summary
- Next week’s episode will see the bonds deepen between John Blackthorne and Lady Mariko.
- After Lord Toranaga’s resignation, Ishido and his men will be hell-bent on avenging the political betrayal and will leave no stone unturned to do so.
FX’s Shogun brings to life the riveting times of the 1600s feudal Japan. Crafted by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, the show perfectly combines breathtaking combat, political intrigue, and edge-of-your-seat action bound to leave you hooked.
Last week’s episode saw the resignation of Lord Toranaga and threw the plot wide open for political maneuvers and even more intense power struggles ahead. Let’s dive into the predictions of next week’s episode to see how the cat-and-mouse game between Lord Toranaga, Ishido, and Blackthorne will pan out.
1. Episode 4 Synopsis/Speculation
Shogun episode 4 is expected to contain violence unlike any seen in the series so far. The tensions within the ship and in Ishido’s camp will surely reach new peaks as he learns about Lord Toranaga’s resignation. Will he launch a direct attack on the Black Ship? Or will he wait patiently for the right time to strike?
Meanwhile, John Blackthorne and Lady Mariko’s relationship will intensify even further. Amid the bloodbath and shrewd politics, this is a trope added for the audience to feel a sense of detox from all the violence.
We might see a new alliance form between the two that will possibly mature into something more complex and intense.
The newfound alliance between Mariko and Blackthorne will be tested when they are called to train Toranaga’s gun regiment in preparation for the upcoming confrontations with Ishido and his goons.
Next week’s episode will be a killer soup of redemption, revenge, and intense political plotting. What do you think about my predictions? Pen it down in the comment section below.
2. Episode 4 Release Date
Episode 4 of Shogun will be available on March 12, 2024.
2.1. Is the series on a break?
No, Shogun is not on a break and will continue according to schedule.
3. Series Schedule
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 1 | “Anjin” | Jonathan van Tulleken | Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks | February 27, 2024 | 0.764 |
| 2 | “Servants of Two Masters” | Jonathan van Tulleken | Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks | February 27, 2024 | 0.764 |
| 3 | “Tomorrow is Tomorrow” | Charlotte Brändström | Shannon Goss | March 5, 2024 | TBD |
| 4 | “The Eightfold Fence” | Frederick Toye | Emily Yoshida | March 12, 2024 | TBD |
| 5 | “Broken to the Fist” | Frederick Toye | Matt Lambert | March 19, 2024 | TBD |
| 6 | “Ladies of the Willow World” | Hiromi Kamata | Maegan Houang | March 26, 2024 | TBD |
| 7 | “A Stick of Time” | TBA | Matt Lambert | April 2, 2024 | TBD |
| 8 | “The Abyss of Life” | Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour | Shannon Goss | April 9, 2024 | TBD |
| 9 | “Crimson Sky” | TBA | Rachel Kondo & Caillin Puente | April 16, 2024 | TBD |
| 10 | “A Dream of a Dream” | TBA | Maegan Houang & Emily Yoshida | April 23, 2024 | TBD |
4. Where to Watch Shogun
5. Shogun Episode 3 Recap
In this week’s episode of Shogun, Lord Yabushige pens his last will because he expects a sure-shot execution by Lord Toranaga. However, Toranaga spares him and gives him a larger domain. The lord is tasked with transporting Lady Kiri and Blackthorne to a coastal hamlet.
As Yabushige prepares to depart with Blackthorne and Buntaro, Ishido’s forces arrive under the pretense of courtesy. Meanwhile, Toranaga disguises himself and joins the caravan undetected because of a clever ruse by Shizu. However, Toranaga is almost caught red-handed by Ishido’s men in the latter half of the episode.
Elsewhere, we see Captain Ferriera of the Portuguese ship defying orders as he ignores the diplomatic breakdown to set sail with the Black Ship at once.
In the caravan, Buntaro meets his demise, fighting Ishido’s men. Toranaga tries negotiating with the Portuguese vessel and is promised their cooperation. As Toranaga’s group departs on the Black Ship, Blackthorne follows him and reunites with him at the sea. In a twist of fate, Toranaga elevates Blackthorne to a samurai rank because he needs his military expertise.
The episode ends with the news of Toranaga’s resignation reaching the land. This severely disrupts the regent’s plans and leaves them with no means to impeach him.
6. About Shōgun
Shōgun is an upcoming American historical drama television limited series based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell. The novel was previously adapted into a 1980 television miniseries.
The series is set to premiere with its first two episodes on February 27, 2024, on Hulu and FX, with new episodes of the 10-episode series then releasing weekly.
Shōgun follows “the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai; John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance”.
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