It isn’t easy to imagine what Shōgun season 2 (and 3) will look like with little more source material to draw from, and now, the series’ future feels extra mystifying. Long before its February 2024 premiere, Shōgun was touted as a limited series that would adapt the entirety of James Clavell’s eponymous 1975 novel. Clavell’s Shōgun is part of a six-volume collection known as the Asian Saga – though the books within are only loosely connected, furthering the assumption that since the FX Shōgun series covered the majority of its source novel, it would end after season 1.

That said, the Shōgun series emerged as a critical hit and captivated general audiences, becoming FX’s most-watched TV show of all time. As such, renewal for Shōgun seasons 2 and 3 was warranted and quick to happen, even in the wake of FX needing original material to extend the historical epic’s story. Co-creators, executive producers, and writers Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo of Shōgun season 1 will return as part of the creative team to aid in the series’ new direction. However, amid a recent Shōgun series development, it may be more challenging than initially imagined.

Anna Sawai’s Emmy Nomination Is A Reminder Of How Great Lady Mariko Was

Shōgun’s Sawai Is Nominated For Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

The prestigious nod is a testament to Sawai’s excellent performance and influence within the series as Shōgun’s Toda Mariko, making it even harder to imagine the historical epic’s future seasons without her.

Barely three months after Shōgun’s season 1 finale, the series has made waves as the Emmy season’s most-nominated drama program with 25 nominations overall. Among Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and so many more, Shōgun pulled an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination for Japanese actress Anna Sawai. The prestigious nod is a testament to Sawai’s excellent performance and influence within the series as Shōgun’s Toda Mariko, making it even harder to imagine the historical epic’s future seasons without her.

Before meeting her shocking demise in Shōgun episode 9, Lady Mariko grew to become one of Shōgun’s most impactful characters. She not only served as lead character Lord Yoshii Toranaga’s trusted liaison in his long game toward overthrowing the Council of Regents and leading Japan into a new era as shōgun, but she proved compelling in her own right. While juggling dark personal struggles of worth and purpose, Lady Mariko held strong in unwavering poise, fierce loyalty, and strong convictions throughout Shōgun’s political maelstrom. As a distinct highlight of the series, her absence in Shōgun‘s future cast will be palpable.

What Will Shōgun Season 2 Look Like Without Sawai’s Mariko?

Toranaga’s Rise Will Continue

Not much is known about Shōgun’s season 2 story except that actor Hiroyuki Sanada has signed on to reprise his role as Lord Toranaga. With this knowledge, it’s probable that Shōgun season 2 will continue to chart Toranaga’s rise to and subsequent reign as Japan’s shōgun. FX’s Shōgun may not have much more material to extract from Clavell’s source novel, but it can pull season 2’s premise from the real-life events and the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s shogunate from which the book, and thus the series, is inspired.

Season 2 also has the opportunity to expand on where other big Shōgun characters ended up, like John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the European navigator who became stranded in Japan after destruction befell his ship Erasmus during Shōgun’s season finale. Shōgun has yet to confirm Jarvis and other Shōgun cast members for its next season, but it would serve the series well to continue their stories under Lord Toranaga’s rule. Unfortunately, this will mean depicting life after Lady Mariko’s death, leaving fans of the character to hope that her legacy will live on in the future of the series.

Potential Returning Characters
Actor

Pilot-Major John Blackthorne
Cosmo Jarvis

Ishido Kazunari
Takehiro Hira

Ochiba-no-kata
Fumi Nikaido

How Lady Mariko Can Return In Shōgun Season 2

Lady Mariko Can Live On In Memory

Although she is dead, it would be hard for Shōgun season 2 to ignore Lady Mariko’s influence on its evolving story (that is, if season 2 picks up where season 1 left off). For Toranaga, Lady Mariko was a trusted confidant and an essential translator and even laid down her life for his cause. For Blackthorne, she was a cultural guide and romantic partner, helping him to navigate a foreign country and its customs. In some way, shape, or form, Lady Mariko touched the lives of every major player in the Shōgun series, including adversaries Ishido Kazunari and Ochiba-no-kata.

If Shōgun season 2 was inclined to make it happen, Lady Mariko could live on in their memories, appearing in flashbacks or dream sequences that reiterate her influence on the series’ characters and the events that transpired. She would be a welcome site, considering that Lady Mariko’s actions led her to become a fan-favorite character. Anna Sawai’s Emmy nomination and possible win for her Shōgun role certainly ups the anticipation to see more of the actress – what better way to do so than with small but mighty season 2 appearances?