John-Blackthorne-from-Shogun-1980-and-Toda-Mariko-from-Shogun-2024The outstanding FX/Hulu series Shōgun has been nominated for an impressive 25 nominations at the upcoming 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards. While Shōgun was originally intended to be a 10-part limited series based on the celebrated novel of the same name by James Clavell, the overwhelming success and popularity of the series inspired FX, Hulu, and creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo to expand the story in further seasons. Shōgun earned a near-perfect 99% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and is poised to have a big night at the Emmys, which will take place on September 15, 2024.

Shōgun was previously adapted into a limited series back in 1980 starring Richard Chamberlain and Toshirô Mifune. Like the 2024 critically acclaimed series, 1980’s Shōgun received outstanding reviews and was widely considered one of the best series of the year in which it was released. 1980’s Shōgun went on to win a total of 3 Emmys in 1981 after receiving an impressive 14 nominations, including Outstanding Costume Design for a Series, Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences, and Outstanding Limited Series. More than four decades later, Shōgun leads with a remarkable 25 nominations for its first season alone.

Hiroyuki Sanada’s Emmy Nomination Is A Consequence Of Shogun Focusing On Toranaga

Toranaga is the mastermind at work in the series

Lord Toranaga in his warrior suit in Shogun finale
Hiroyuki Sanada as Toranaga stood by a tree in Shogun Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Shogun episode 2 Lord Toranaga surrounded by his council in Shogun episode 10 Toranaga talks to Yabushige in Shogun episode 10 Hiroyuki Sanada wielding a sword as Toranaga in Shogun episode 10Lord Toranaga in his warrior suit in Shogun finale Hiroyuki Sanada as Toranaga stood by a tree in Shogun Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga in Shogun episode 2
Lord Toranaga surrounded by his council in Shogun episode 10 Toranaga talks to Yabushige in Shogun episode 10 Hiroyuki Sanada wielding a sword as Toranaga in Shogun episode 10

Shōgun primarily focuses on Lord Toranaga (Tokugawa Ieyasu) and John Blackthorne (William Adams), who are based on real-life historical figures in 1600 feudal Japan. The modern-day series focuses more intently on Toranaga’s titular character while the older series was more centered on Chamberlain’s leading performance as the Anjin. As a result, Sanada was nominated for the Best Actor in a Drama Series Emmy while Cosmo Jarvis, who gave a brilliant performance as John Blackthorne, was not. Their co-star Anna Sawai was also nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series while Tadanobu Asano and Takehiro Hira received supporting nominations.

There’s little doubt that Sanada deserves the Emmy nomination and that the series as a whole deserves all of the praise and acclaim it has received. It is unquestionably one of the best series of 2024 and could very well be the best. Shōgun is arguably a clear favorite in many of the categories it is nominated in and is expected to be a top contender in acting and visual/technical categories. While Sanada’s Lord Toranaga is not very emotional or expressive, the expert subtly of the actor’s performance is what truly makes it worthy of an Emmy.

FX’s Shogun Tells The Story From A Different Perspective Than The 1980 Miniseries

Chamberlain was the main attraction in the original Shogun

Toshiro Mifune in Shogun (1980)

The recent version of Shōgun places much more of its focus on Lord Toranaga than the original series did, which instead is more interested in Chamberlain’s performance and character as Blackthorne. 1980’s Shōgun was the very first American television production to be filmed entirely in Japan, which was groundbreaking in and of itself. Because of the social context and standards of Westernized entertainment of the time period, 1980’s Shōgun leaned more heavily into Chamberlain’s character as a reliable narrator and access point for American audiences. A series like 2024’s Shōgun would likely not have satisfied audiences of the time.

Shōgun is one of eight nominations for Outstanding Drama Series at the 2024 Emmys, joining a competitive category that also includes Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Morning Show, Fallout, Slow Horses, The Crown, 3 Body Problem, and The Gilded Age. Sanada will go up against Idris Elba (Hijack, Apple TV+), Donald Glover (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Prime Video), Walton Goggins (Fallout, Prime Video), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses, Apple TV+), Dominic West (The Crown, Netflix). Out of its 25 nominations, Sawai’s Best Actress – Drama Series seems likely, as well as those in writing, production design, and costume design categories.

Cosmo Jarvis’ John Blackthorne Also Shined In Shogun

Jarvis could earn a nomination for season 2

Lord Toranaga stops Blackthorne from comitting seppuku in Shogun episode 10

There’s certainly a case for Cosmo Jarvis deserving an Emmy nomination for his role as John Blackthorne. His character is essentially one of three core protagonists along with Toranaga and Sawai’s Toda Mariko, so he is most definitely a lead actor. He may have had the most screen time out of anyone in the series. Since there are only six slots available for the pool of Best Actor nominees, it would have been surprising if two of them were designated to Shōgun alone, despite how good it is. With Sawai ultimately out of the leading role for Shōgun season 2, it could open the door for Jarvis to receive a nomination in the future.