In addition to the recently published episode 5 of Shogun—I’m sure you can guess what that means—the trailer for episode 6 has also just been released. As we near the midpoint of the miniseries, everything seems to be on the line. Torunaga is trying to strengthen his force in the east, while Lady Ochiba is trying to get Ishido to lead the army in the west and launch an attack quickly.
Since Lady Ochiba appears to be receiving a lot of screen time in the upcoming episode, let’s dive into the trailer and discuss what we learned. Also, I will share my thoughts and speculations about what could happen next. Alright, then, we can begin. Read on for an explanation of what happens in the trailer for Shogun episode 6.
Spoiler Alert!
Spoilers are in it, just so you know. I love and hate that FX, as usual, just gave us a 25-second sneak peek; it makes me want to watch more, which is the whole idea of a teaser. I think the most essential part about these trailers is that they give you a sense of the tone of the following episode, and it does so adequately.
Shogun: Episode 6 Trailer Breakdown
So, Father Martin Alvito said the statement in the episode 6 trailer. Torunaga must now be considered an ally in our quest. He may have been addressing any number of people, but I’m leaning towards the idea that he’s addressing Kiyama, a council regent.
From the outside looking in, it appears like the council is in chaos, thus Alvito may be telling him to vote with Torunaga, the one he thinks has a better chance of winning. Just a hunch at the moment, but I can see how that could work. Intercut with his words was a photo of Torinaga settling down to address the individuals gathered around him.
Hiramatsu, Nagakado, Yabushigi, Omi, Torabuntaro, Mariko, John Blackthorn, and a plethora of other men affiliated with Torinaga were present here. Several men who aren’t trustworthy for various reasons stood in front of him in this photo, which is what caught my eye. His son Nagakado is overly sentimental and takes matters into his own hands in an attempt to prove himself; Yabushigi has been acting out Toranaga, sighing with Ishido and planning to join the winning side when the time comes; and Omi is plotting something.
Because treason is a major plot point in both the drama and the real-life saga of Ieyasu Tokugawa and Ishida Mutsunari, I find myself wondering what Toda Buntaro was up to and whether his account of surviving the men’s attacks is based on reality.
Would he have been spared his life if he had sworn allegiance to Ishidō and been promised a chance to be a spy for the opposite side? I have an idea that has been brewing since the last episode, so I guess we’ll see what happens with it. It could go against the character’s nature as a fiercely loyal warrior, but for now it’s just a concept.
It appears that John Blackthorne is the sole individual who is wholly devoted to Toronaga. Even though he and his men are being denied the freedom to return to England, he has saved him, laid down his swords for him, and will stand by him. Consequently, seeing that evolve is fascinating.
Additionally, it seems that John Blackthorn has his swords back with him. John may have received a new set of swords from Torunaga, or these may be the ones he gave to Torunaga and then returned. After the earthquake and landslip that killed off some of Torunaga’s soldiers and many locals, I’m going to assume that this conference is taking place at the same time.
They might be thinking about what to do next in light of what has happened. Following this, the film cut to Lady Ochiba making her way to the chamber where the series’ Council of Regents had been convening. Similar to how she appeared to be taking complete control of the conversation with Ishido at the end of the previous episode, she seems to be doing the same thing in this promo clip.
However, in full view of all. You have no clue who you’re up against, she remarked in a striking statement. As she whispered those words into Ishiro’s ear, the camera pans to Sugiyama casting a curious glance in his direction. I can almost see him turning to watch them as they converse. Being the first-born of the five regents, Sugiyama comes from a very affluent family in Japan.
In the most recent episode, though, it became clear that he was trying to stir up trouble among the regents by expressing his disapproval of Ono’s cousin Maeda being named Toranaga’s successor and suggesting that he would like to commit suicide instead. His cough came into sharp focus when he said that, and Ishido grinned like he was having a fit.
Because of this, I am beginning to believe that Sugiyama is about to face some kind of tragedy. Sugiyama resigns from the regents’ council in the novel, but he meets his tragic end at the hands of one of Ishido’s associates.
Which is basically a nomadic samurai. Ishido may have internal conflicts about trusting Sugiyama, and Lady Ochiba may have a role in making those conflicts worse in the show. The following section of the trailer featured a rapid succession of shots, giving the impression that Lady Ochiba was brandishing a sword and destroying her adversary. This would suggest that she is certainly someone to be feared, as her destructive power extends beyond her spoken words.
A woman cannot turn a blind eye to the pain of another, as someone told Mariko in the next scene of the trailer. This could be related to her stronger sense of not wanting to be there, or it could be about her current situation with Toda Buntaro and the torture she endures at his hands.
We learned in the most recent episode that her father’s actions gave her the desire to commit seppuku many years ago. It appeared as though Mariko crossed paths with John Blackthorne in the same scene, going by the lighting and her attire. They were passing each other and he reached out to take her hand, so it appears he’s still trying his luck.
She warned him in the most recent episode that they would have to rely on third parties to communicate with each other. John, however, evidently missed the memo and continues to display his amorous feelings for her. I do question whether and how this affair can continue because this is something that is incredibly risky for them both; if discovered, they could both die.
Torinaga finally got to show us his fearsome side as a leader and warrior in the last segment of the trailer, when he gave a speech to his troops standing before him. He promised that the lives of the fallen would not have been in vain. He spoke with an intensity we haven’t heard from him previously when he said this.
The speech he gave upon his arrival in episode 4 was reminiscent of it. The deaths caused by the earthquake may have prompted this. He might be trying to lift their spirits by assuring them that the fight they’re about to wage is for a bigger purpose—one that will go down in history as a turning point in Japan’s power dynamic.
Thus, he is attempting to demonstrate his leadership abilities and rally support for his cause by making use of their deaths. Unless that is changed, the lives of those they cared about might as well have been wasted. Afterwards, the trailer concluded. The plot summary reads as follows: Lady Ochiba goes back to Osaka to help the regent fight Toranaga faster.
Toranaga challenges Mariko’s allegiance to his cause in Ajiro. So, it seems like the trailer and the synopsis are completely in sync with each other. In order to protect her son from becoming Taiko and to ensure that her own life is not jeopardised, Lady Ochiba wants Toranaga dealt with.
My sole concern is the test that Toranaga plans to administer to Mariko. Is Toranaga the one subjecting the woman to whom she is speaking? On the other hand, does he fear that Mariko’s religious fervour would make her compromise with the Catholics if they form an alliance with Toronaga?
It will be intriguing to watch how it progresses from there, especially because Toronaga doesn’t really care or trust them. That could make him think about Mariko. It feels like we’re making our way up a mountain right now, hopefully to the top where the fight of Sekigahara will take place.
It seems like all the necessary preparations for war are about to commence, and the bloodshed that is certain to ensue, as Lady Ochiba correctly predicted, because the time for politics has over. And with that, I leave you. Explanation of the trailer for Shogun, episode six. Sign up for the newsletter if you’re interested in reading more about Shogun.
So far, I have covered every episode of the series, and I intend to keep doing so. The actual historical people who inspired the characters have also been my focus. Thanks for joining me for another installment, and I’ll see you next time.
