Shogun Was The Best Miniseries I’ve Seen In 5 Years

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Shōgun.

Shōgun is being widely received as one of the best modern limited series in recent memory. Following the epic conclusion of Shōgun titled “A Dream of a Dream” which was released on April 23, 2024, the complete Shōgun series is not available to stream on Hulu or watch on demand through FX. Although Shōgun episode 10 ends without showing the war between Lord Ishido and Lord Toranaga, a conflict that has been brewing throughout the entire series based on the real-life Battle of Sekigahara, the finale was one of the best episodes of the critically acclaimed series.

Shōgun has maintained its near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 99% after debuting with a 100% back in February 2024. There is no sensible opportunity for series creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks to extend Shōgun into future seasons because it is based on a standalone novel written by James Clavell, meaning that the story of Toranaga’s rise to supreme rulership of feudal Japan concludes with the finale. Clavell did write several other books as part of his “Asian” Saga that could be adapted into miniseries as well but are not considered true sequels of Shōgun, his most popular novel.

Shogun Is The Best Miniseries Since 2019’s Chernobyl

Chernobyl was nominated for 19 Emmy Awards

Now that Shōgun has ended, it’s safe to consider it as one of the greatest miniseries ever made and is right up there with the highly-celebrated 2019 miniseries Chernobyl. Chernobyl, which was created by The Last of Us creator and Scriptnotes podcast co-host Craig Mazin, is still considered one of the best modern miniseries ever made, earning a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 97% audience score on the site. Shōgun’s raving reviews have placed it in the same esteemed category of prestige television as Chernobyl, which won a remarkable 10 Emmy Awards and received a staggering 19 nominations.

Both Shōgun and Chernobyl are exceptional in every aspect of their production and development, including stellar performances based on well-developed characters, breathtaking and poignant cinematography, compelling and emotionally relevant musical scores, and above all, outstanding narratives. Based on the success and popularity of Shōgun, it is near-certainty that it will be nominated for Outstanding Limited Series, and potentially many more awards, at the upcoming 76th Primetime Emmy Awards that are set to take place later this year. Several Shōgun actors, such as Anna Sawai, Cosmo Jarvis, and Hiroyuki Sanada, are also poised to be top contenders in acting categories at the Emmys.

What Shogun Did So Well Compared To Other Shows The Past 5 Years

The impactful writing and immersive atmosphere set Shōgun apart

It’s important to note that, despite being based on a celebrated novel, Shōgun was already adapted into a celebrated miniseries in 1980. This provided the framework on which 2024’s Shōgun could build and improve, which allowed it to become an even more refined and polished version of the original 1980 miniseries, which won 3 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited Series. Since Chernobyl was released by HBO back in 2019, there have been very few limited series that have been quite as exceptional as 2024’s Shōgun, although 2021’s Mare of Easttown certainly comes close.

What truly sets Shōgun apart is the depth of its story and the brilliance of its writing, which like Toranaga, is always several steps ahead. The twists that occur in Shōgun are shockingly impactful while also feeling completely earned, which shows how concise and intelligent the craftsmanship of the series is from its talented group of writers. The visual style of Shōgun is also quite unique and immersive with its blurred and often spiraling out-of-focus background met with its moody yet naturalistic atmosphere. The world of Shōgun is very much a character in the series, which elevates it to levels of elite television.

Why Shogun Deserves The Same Love As Chernobyl Did In 2019

Universally beloved series like Shōgun only come around every so often

Chernobyl is remembered as one of the best shows in recent memory, and Shōgun rightfully should be viewed in the same way. Brand new, highly immersive original limited series like Shōgun only come around every so often and quickly solidify their status as instant classics of television upon their release. Now that Shōgun is officially over, it has demonstrated that it was able to carry its intriguing premise over the course of ten great episodes and execute its promise of being an outstanding series. A limited series like Shōgun has not been as universally praised since Chernobyl, which is why it should be a favorite at the upcoming Emmys.