One of the best Shōgun scenes is enough to convince me seasons 2 and 3 of the FX series will be great despite no longer having the book to adapt. The announcement that Shōgun will return for seasons 2 and 3 was very surprising considering that the show was originally described as a limited series. Although James Clavell’s Asia Saga includes other books, none of them follow the Shōgun characters. In other words, Shōgun season 2 will have to be an original story.

Shōgun episode 10 was a virtually perfect conclusion to the first season, even though it had no battles. The finale revealed the true nature of Lord Toranaga’s plan, a twist that those familiar with the book were already expecting. While Shōgun returning for two more seasons can be worrying considering it was supposed to be a limited series, there is a moment from the first season that proves the show has all the tools it needs to tell great stories that were not in the novel.

Fuji & Blackthorne’s Boat Scene Was Not In The Shōgun Book

Shōgun’s finale’s best scene was created for the show

The scene with Fuji and Blackthorne on a boat in Shōgun episode 10 was not in James Clavell’s Shōgun novel. Although FX’s Shōgun series followed the book quickly closely and honored the source material, the series did make some important changes to it. This includes Fuji’s role in the story, the amount of screen time given to the character, and her interactions with John Blackthorne. Fuji is a more layered character in FX’s Shōgun, whose first episode included the seppuku of Fuji’s husband and infant child. Shōgun’s finale brought Fuji’s story full circle in a fantastic scene.

“The fact that one of the best scenes in Shōgun season 1 did not come from the book makes me confident that seasons 2 and 3 will be great (…)”

The moment between Blackthorne and Fuji in the finale was one of my favorite scenes in Shōgun if not my favorite. Blackthorne had recently lost Mariko, while Fuji was still grieving the loss of her family. Brought together by fate and sorrow, both Fuji and Blackthorne needed to come to terms with their losses before they could move on with their lives. Fuji and the Anjin helped each other in the most difficult moments of their lives, a fitting conclusion for a unique friendship that was forged throughout the show.

Shōgun’s Seasons 2 & 3 Will Have To Be An Original Story

Shōgun already covered most of the novel it’s based on

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon.

The fact that one of the best scenes in Shōgun season 1 did not come from the book makes me confident that seasons 2 and 3 will be great, even though they did not necessarily need to happen. Shōgun would have worked as a limited series, not just because it already covered the book in its entirety but also because it had a very satisfying ending. There is a bittersweetness to Shōgun episode 10 that a second season could ruin, especially if it revisits John Blackthorne and his complicated relationship with Lord Toranaga.

That said, the quality of the writing, acting, and other aspects of Shōgun’s production makes it difficult not to be excited about season 2.Shōgun season 1 was one of the best series in years and proved that it was much more than just a “new Game of Thrones.” Although much of Shōgun’s success comes from the quality of its source material – Clavell’s Shōgun is an all-time classic of its genre after all – what the show accomplished cannot be taken for granted. I would’ve been fine with Shōgun ending after 10 episodes, but I’m curious to see what season 2 will deliver.

Shōgun Has Proven It Can Go Beyond The Original Novel

Shōgun’s seasons 2 and 3 can be as good as the first one

Scenes like Fuji and Blackthorne’s conversation on the boat prove that Shōgun can go beyond the original novel and still be great. There are plenty of examples of adaptations that saw a major drop in quality after they went beyond their respective source materials, including Game of Thrones. However, I believe the situation is quite different for Shōgun. Firstly, while Shōgun is a fiction story, most of the characters and events portrayed in the series are loosely based on real-life historical figures. For example, Lord Toranaga is based on Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Character
Actor
Real-Life Inspiration

Yoshii Toranaga
Hiroyuki Sanada
Tokugawa Ieyasu

John Blackthorne
Cosmo Jarvis
William Adams

Toda Mariko
Anna Sawai
Hosokawa Gracia

Kashigi Yabushige
Tadanobu Asano
Honda Masanobu

Kashigi Omi
Hiroto Kanai
Honda Masazumi

Ishido Kazunari
Takehiro Hira
Ishida Mitsunari

Ochiba-no-kata
Fumi Nikaido
Yodo-dono

In that sense, Shōgun’s seasons 2 and 3 technically have something to be based on. The show can continue to use real history to craft fictional stories about its characters, either with a direct follow-up to season 1 or with time jumps. Either way, there is no reason to believe there will be a massive drop in Shōgun’s quality just because it no longer has the book to follow. There is a major difference between writing original scenes and crafting an entirely new story, but I’m confident Shōgun will succeed in its massive challenge.