10 Best Shows Like Shogun

After the dramatic conclusion of FX’s Shogun, there are several alternative shows that can serve as the perfect follow-up. Based on the esteemed historical fiction novel by author James Clavell, Shogun explores the civil conflict leading up to the historical Tokugawa shogunate, as well as the first contact between England and Japan, with a central character based on real-life navigator William Adams. The series has received overwhelming praise for its writing, performances from the Shogun cast, attention to historical detail, and overall production value, which combined for a beautiful series.

Historical fiction shows are enormously expensive, and, therefore, there aren’t too many of them. There especially aren’t many focused on feudal Japan. In general, many of the best samurai movies of all time are from earlier eras of cinema, as it’s a subgenre that hasn’t been explored often in recent years. However, there are several TV shows that feature similar historical elements, are based on historical fiction novels, examine similar themes, or feature some of the same actors.

10

Peaky Blinders

Peaky Blinders Is A Top-Quality Historical Drama With A Brief Appearance From Cosmo Jarvis

For Shogun fans who loved the charm of Cosmo Jarvis’s John Blackthorne, Peaky Blinders is one of the few projects available for now. Cosmo Jarvis has exciting projects coming up, but as of now, he doesn’t have too many acting credits to his name. The acclaim for Shogun will grant him and Anna Sawai some exciting roles over the next few years, but for now, Peaky Blinders is a solid follow-up series.

Peaky Blinders is one of the most well-produced historical dramas ever made and one of the only series in the genre to match Shogun in acting talent and writing quality. Its themes, tone, and setting are vastly different, but in terms of character development and production value, there aren’t many series with the attention to detail that can rival Shogun. Cosmo Jarvis only has a minor role in season 5, but there are plenty of outstanding actors in the show, including recent Academy Award-winner Cillian Murphy.

9

Rome

HBO’s Rome Is A Historical Epic About Monumental Civil Wars In Ancient Roman Times

In terms of a historical fiction series that truly brings to life a classical era, HBO’s Rome is one of the best options. The series similarly intermingles actual historical events with fiction as two made-up Roman soldiers find themselves involved in some of the most pivotal moments in human existence. Shogun explores a critical era of civil wars building toward a massive transition in Japan’s history, while Rome examines key civil wars in Roman history, 1,500 years prior.

Unlike Shogun, the HBO series utilizes the real names of monumental historical figures like Julius Caesar, Octavian, and Mark Antony, examining dramatized versions of their lives and exploits. The cast is rounded out by talented stars like Ray Stevenson, Kerry Condon, and Ciarán Hinds, all of whom bring their A-Game to the drama. Rome is considered one of the best historical TV shows to date, making it a perfect follow-up.

8

Kingdom

Kingdom Is A Politically Focused Historical Drama Set In South Korea, With Horror Elements

Another high-value historical fiction epic set in an Asian country, Kingdom, is set in South Korea shortly after a series of wars with Japanese invaders. The series boasts a fantastic ensemble of South Korean actors, including Bae Doona, who recently appeared in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movies, showing off her martial arts skills. Kingdom is available to stream on Netflix and has two well-reviewed seasons to binge.

The catch with Kingdom that differentiates it from other period dramas is its horror elements. The show crosses between a complex political narrative and the country being ravaged by a zombie plague, creating a unique juxtaposition for historical fiction. Kingdom boasts terrific production value, a fast-paced, exciting narrative, and an excellent creative team at the helm. There aren’t many high-budget historical dramas that examine Eastern cultures, making it one of the few follow-ups.

7

Shogun (1980)

The First Shogun Miniseries From 1980 Featured Toshiro Mifune As Toranaga

James Clavell’s novels have been adapted more than once, including previous miniseries and films. Over 40 years before the recent iteration, Shogun was adapted by Paramount and NBC for a five-part miniseries in 1980, which was well-received for its time. Of course, the ’80s version doesn’t have the same modern visuals and production effects, but it’s fascinating to see the differing interpretations of Clavell’s writing over time.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of the 1980 Shogun series is that Toranaga is played by the legendary Toshiro Mifune. Mifune is an iconic Japanese film star who’s appeared in some of the best and most influential movies ever made, from Seven Samurai to Rashomon to High and Low. He’s the definitive samurai actor in cinema, adding an element of prestige to the Toranaga character. Hiroyuki Sanada is an outstanding actor who deserves more credit, but Toshiro Mifune is unrivaled.

6

Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters

For Fans Of Anna Sawai, Apple TV’s Godzilla Show Is The Next Best Option

Given her astonishing performance as Mariko, Anna Sawai will be one of the biggest stars coming out of Shogun. The 31-year-old actress already has some exciting projects to explore, including Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the Apple TV+ spin-off of Hollywood’s Godzilla franchise, the Monsterverse. While not historical fiction or particularly focused on Japanese culture, Godzilla was originally a Japanese franchise, and the show honors its roots with locations in Tokyo.

Monarch is another recent series with Anna Sawai in a leading role, where she co-stars with Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, and Kiersey Clemons. It’s one of the best modern Godzilla projects, balancing compelling human characters with a decent portion of big monster time. Like with Shogun, Anna Sawai is a standout in the show, even when paired with a legendary film actor like Kurt Russell.

5

Black Sails

Black Sails Is A Historical Drama About The Golden Age Of Pirates

There’s a minor aspect of Shogun that could appeal to historical fiction fans: the seafaring backstory of John Blackthorne or William Adams. The 17th-century era of high-seas navigation, pirating, and naval warfare is fascinating and is best depicted by movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Master and Commander. As for television, there’s only one option that really stands out.

Black Sails is a Starz historical fiction drama about the Golden Age of pirates in the 1700s. It serves as a loose prequel to the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel Treasure Island, featuring mythical and historical pirates like Long John Silver, Captain Flint, and Blackbeard. The production value is top-notch, and the cast is mostly solid. The only area in which Black Sails struggles to compete with Shogun is its writing, as the pirate series has its cheesier side. However, the show improves as it goes on.

4

Tokyo Vice

Tokyo Vice Sees An American Journalist Take On Crime & Corruption In ’90s Tokyo

As Shogun’s first season ran, the Max original Tokyo Vice was releasing its season 2 episodes weekly to far less attention despite receiving unanimous praise from critics. Tokyo Vice isn’t a sprawling historical epic like Shogun, but it explores similar themes and character archetypes and embraces Japanese culture. The series follows an American reporter in Tokyo in the late ’90s who hopes to unearth the city’s deep-rooted corruption and organized crime.

Ansel Elgort plays Jake Adelstein, a journalist who fills a similar role to Blackthorne as a fish out of water in a new culture. While Adelstein differs in that he’s there by choice, he still experiences the struggles and setbacks of being an outsider. Veteran Japanese actor Ken Watanabe plays Katagiri, a lawful detective unbroken by the city’s corruption. The two form an unlikely partnership against crime. For an American series with a talented cast that embraces Japanese culture, Tokyo Vice is the next best option.

3

Marco Polo

Marco Polo Is A High-Budget Historical Epic About A Venetian Explorer In China

One of the earliest Netflix originals, which had a massive budget of $200 million, was Marco Polo, a series that was unfortunately canceled after two seasons. The series follows Venetian explorer Marco Polo in his travels to China in the late 13th century, where he’d rise to become a member of Kublai Khan’s court. The latter is played by Benedict Wong, who plays Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marco Polo is made on a top-notch budget and has some talented actors, but overall, it’s a downgrade in quality from Shogun. It’s worth checking out for historical fiction fans, particularly those who are fans of the era, but it’s not as well-written of a story as the new FX show. Much of its appeal comes from its impressive visual aesthetic, with the budget clearly showing in beautiful, scenic shots. It’s also more action-packed than Shogun, with bigger battles and more martial arts.

2

Game Of Thrones

Shogun Takes Visual & Narrative Inspiration From HBO’s Game Of Thrones

Throughout Shogun, the FX series was constantly compared to Game of Thrones, and there are significant reasons for this. There are obvious comparisons: both shows are grand, high-production value epics about warfare that are beautifully shot on an immense scale and budget. But it’s clear that Shogun draws inspiration from Game of Thrones on a micro-level, following very similar beats in the way dialogue scenes are paced.

Of course, both series are based on novels, with George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones being released decades after James Clavell published Shogun. As a history buff, it’s possible that Martin drew inspiration from the Shogun novel in crafting a detailed, multi-factional political epic in fiction. As for their television adaptations, Game of Thrones likely laid the foundation for a series like Shogun to exist and for it to receive the budget it did.

1

The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom Is A 5 Season-Long Historical Epic With High-Production Value

Decades after James Clavell wrote his Asian Saga and Shogun, British author Bernard Cornwell wrote the beloved historical fiction series The Last Kingdom. The series was adapted by Netflix for a five-season epic with a sequel movie to cap things off. As a long-term, riveting historical fiction drama, The Last Kingdom is one of the best options available, as it far surpasses many similar shows in length with 46 episodes.

The Netflix series doesn’t maintain the same consistently excellent quality as Shogun. The Last Kingdom’s length means it has its lulls, with the narrative occasionally growing repetitive. However, it covers a lot of ground in a fascinating period and has many enjoyable characters, making it a well-worth binge for historical fiction lovers. After Shogun, The Last Kingdom is the safest bet for a riveting period drama.