Recent updates regarding Shogun season 2 perpetuate a worrying trend regarding limited TV series. The FX drama, based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell, was a critically acclaimed success. Hiroyuki Sanada led the Shogun cast as the mastermind Lord Yoshii Toranaga and also produced the historical drama. Recent news has revealed that FX plans to continue Shogun with a second and third season, with Sanada set to return as star and producer. This has been a surprising announcement, given that the novel doesn’t have any direct sequels, raising concerns about the project.

Shogun season 1 was undoubtedly masterful television, and the creative team behind it deserves a significant amount of trust. However, the Shogun ending was praised for its masterful delivery of Clavell’s story and thematic exploration, making a continuation without the author’s material an enormously risky choice. While not a miniseries, Game of Thrones is the prime example of how a show’s quality can suffer when drastically shifting from direct book adaptation to original screenwriting. It will be interesting to see how the season forms, especially without characters like Mariko.

Shogun’s Season 2 Renewal Continues A Trend Of Limited Series Returning For More Seasons

Shows Like Big Little Lies, The White Lotus, & Beef Also Began As Limited Series

Shogun isn’t the first TV series to begin as a limited series and then later get renewed for more seasons. In 2017, Big Little Lies was a tremendous success for HBO, adapted from the book by Liane Moriarty. Following the first season’s popularity and award acclaim, it was renewed for a second season. Even though they brought Meryl Streep onto the season 2 cast, it didn’t pan out, tarnishing what would’ve been one of HBO’s best miniseries. On a more successful note, The White Lotus was also intended to be a miniseries before transforming into an anthology.

Netflix’s Beef was the latest show to continue this trend, turning from miniseries to anthology after its first season. Even though season 2 looks promising with an exciting cast, the issue is that a limited series should be treated as a different medium. When a viewer begins watching a limited series, the idea is to enjoy a long-form but insular story that exists between film and multi-season television in duration. If a limited series can suddenly become season 1 of a larger TV show after the fact, it betrays the expectations audiences have when viewing it.

What Is Going On With “Limited Series” That Don’t End After 1 Season?

Streaming Services Want To Replicate Success When They Have It

Similar to film studios that want to extend a story with a sequel following a commercial hit, streaming services want customers to return to their site for popular titles. A second season of a TV series that’s already proven successful is a safer and ultimately more worthwhile expense for a network like FX or a streaming service like Netflix than exploring a new project. With that in mind, the studio might not care about the source material or the show already having a proper ending, but the surprising aspect is that show creators keep jumping on board to return.

the surprising aspect is that show creators keep jumping on board to return.

Prior to Shogun’s ending, showrunner Justin Marks spoke to THR regarding extending the series beyond the book, saying, “We love how the book ends; it was one of the reasons why we both knew we wanted to do it — and we ended in exactly that place.” Just two months after the interview, Marks and co-creator Rachel Kondo are on board to return. While there are directions the story could take, it’s strange to see creators changing their minds about the material, especially after such an astounding success.

Shows Like Shogun Don’t Need A Second Season (Regardless Of Good They Were)

Shogun Is Based On A Book And Has Already Fulfilled Its Source Material

While extending a series like The White Lotus or Beef as an anthology makes a certain amount of sense, Shogun does not need more seasons by any means. There are several reasons Shogun season 2 is a bad idea, with the main point being that it worked so excellently as a miniseries. The source material has been used up, the characters’ arcs have been completed, and Shogun accomplishes its thematic and artistic purpose in one season.

There’s a fine line when discussing such matters, as it’s not helpful to be overtly cynical about sequels or second seasons. While there are examples of shows receiving more seasons and going downhill, there are also plenty of examples where success was not only repeated but added upon. However, artistic integrity also matters, especially when adapting another writer’s work. James Clavell’s Shogun is considered a masterwork of historical fiction books, and the Shogun TV series owes a degree of respect to that material, which season 2 risks damaging.