Fuji and John Blackthorne’s emotional boat scene in Shōgun episode 10 was a highlight of the finale and one of the best moments of the entire show.
Fuji and John Blackthorne’s final scene in Shōgun episode 10 was the perfect conclusion to their character arcs and highlighted the only thing the Anjin succeeded in doing. The Shōgun finale confirmed FX’s adaptation of the James Clavell novel as one of the best limited series of recent years, satisfyingly wrapping up the stories of all the characters without the need for a major battle or too much exposition. Shōgun episode 10 was as subtle as the rest of the show, leading to emotional sequences like the one with Fuji and Blackthorne on the boat.
While it seemed like Shōgun episode 10 was going to have a lot of action and depict Toranaga’s win against Ishido on the battlefield, the finale went for a far more introspective approach. Similarly to the original novel, Shōgun ended with audiences learning that Lord Toranaga’s goal was indeed to become shōgun the whole time. John Blackthorne will never leave Japan, and Lady Mariko’s death was a sacrifice Toranaga was counting on. Despite the bittersweetness of the finale, one scene can be considered a somewhat “happy” ending for Fuji and Blackthorne.
Breaking Down Fuji & John Blackthorne’s Boat Scene In Shōgun’s Finale
Fuji and John Blackthorne grieved together in a beautiful scene
One of the best scenes not only of Shōgun’s finale but of the show as a whole, Fuji and Blackthorne’s conversation on the boat saw grief bring them together. While Fuji and the Anjin had been friends since the latter was made hatamoto, episode 10 made their bond even stronger due to their shared grief. Fuji had been mourning the death of her husband and infant child since the beginning of the show, whereas Blackthorne had just lost Mariko. Fuji was about to leave, but Blackthorne asked her to join him first for a ritual she was not familiar with.
Fuji had been carrying the ashes of her husband and child, stating she could not let go of it. The Anjin decided to present her with the concept of tossing the ashes into the sea, which, according to his beliefs, would make sure her family would live on forever. Every time Fuji looks at the sea, she will be reminded of her husband and son. Blackthorne also had to accept letting something go – Mariko’s cross. Shōgun’s finale opens with Blackthorne’s dream of growing old with Mariko’s cross by his side, but in reality, he lets it go into the sea.
Interestingly, the scene with Blackthorne and Fuji on the boat does not happen in the book. Fuji’s character arc was quite different from the source material, yet the changes were all positive. Even though they could barely understand each other without a translator, there was a strong connection between Blackthorne and Fuji that made their final scene perfect. The Anjin would still have one more scene on the shore before the credits rolled, but the moment in which he lets Mariko’s cross go was the true conclusion to his character arc.
There was also a major parallel between the boat scene and Shōgun’s first episode, during which Fuji had to kill her son as part of her husband’s seppuku ritual. When Mariko went to Fuji in episode 1 to assist her during such a tragic moment, the former told the latter to complete the seppuku ritual herself instead of letting the guards do it. “Let your hands be the last to hold him” is what Mariko told Fuji. In Shōgun episode 10, Fuji told Blackthorne to let his hands “be the last to hold her.”
Without Blackthorne, Fuji might have never found the peace she did in episode 10.
Blackthorne’s Ashes Ceremony With Fuji Proved He Accomplished Something While In Japan
Blackthorne helped Fuji move on while forever remembering the family she lost
John Blackthorne started the show hoping to wage war against his enemies and use his time on Japan to reduce the Portuguese’s influence in the region amidst the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Europe. He would then become close to Mariko and Toranaga, leading to his time as hatamoto of an extremely powerful lord who was at war against the rest of the Council of Regents. By the end of the show, however, Blackthorne had realized that his war was too small compared to the lives that were being lost.
Character
Actor
Real-Life Inspiration
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
The only thing Blackthorne wanted at the end of the series was to return home and grow old, which is made clear by his dream of the future shown at the beginning of episode 10. However, he will never leave Japan, and nothing he tried to do during the events of the show worked. It can be argued that Blackthorne’s only accomplishment in Japan other than serving as a distraction for Toranaga’s enemies was to create important bonds, particularly with Mariko and Fuji. Without Blackthorne, Fuji might have never found the peace she did in episode 10.
Why Fuji Decided To Become A Nun In Shōgun Episode 10
Fuji lost everything in episode 1
Following the death of her family in Shōgun episode 1, Fuji was ready to take her life. However, she was given an order by Toranaga – to become the Anjin’s consort. Fuji honored her duty, crafting a strong friendship with Mariko and Blackthorne in the process. While she will forever grieve the loss of her family, Fuji went back on her decision to take her own life by the time her mission with the Anjin was completed. Instead, she will become a nun and be given a new name as she rebuilds her life with a new purpose.
