The 10 Best Quotes In Shogun, Ranked

This article contains spoilers for Shogun Episode 10.

The new hit release from FX, Shogun, quickly became one of the best TV shows of 2024 for its incredible cinematography and tense plot, with its quotes being a big part of its appeal as well. Set in 1600s Japan, Shogun was adapted from the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell and followed the stories of Pilot-Major John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) as he became a Samurai warrior, unaware that he was also a crucial part of Lord Yoshii Toranaga’s (Hiroyuki Sanada) plot. The Shogun cast included Anna Sawai as Lady Toda Mariko, who was praised for her stellar performance.

Although the two shows were frequently compared, Shogun‘s finale proved it wasn’t Game of Thrones and could stand on its own as a groundbreaking TV show. Shogun had plenty of unforgettable moments throughout its 10-episode run, from the intense and suspense-building to the heartwarming yet comical. Because of Shogun‘s well-developed and unique characters, it was no surprise that so many of their lines of dialogue became so quotable. Regardless of the context, Shogun contributed plenty of quotes that have stuck in audiences’ minds ever since.

10

“I Don’t Control The Wind. I Just Study It.”

Toranaga – Episode 10

One of the most emotional moments in the show came during the last episode, as Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) faced the final moments of his life. However, before performing seppuku, he claimed that Toranaga could control the weather and “shape the wind to [his] will.” This final scene between the two was full of tension and suspense, especially because of Toranga’s response.

Because of Mariko and her sacrifices, Toranaga was on top by the end of the season. Rather than giving Yabushige the angry and bitter response he deserved because of the dark scheming and the pain he’d caused throughout the episodes, Toranaga gave the perfect, dramatic response. Toranaga allowed the guilt that Yabushige felt over Mariko’s death to consume him but still held his position on the moral high ground and simply told him, “I don’t control the wind. I just study it.”

9

“Unless I Win.”

Blackthorne – Episode 2

Blackthorne’s comment of “unless I win” was a genuinely hooking moment in Shogun and brilliantly demonstrated the conflict between the two cultures that Shogun would continuously highlight throughout the season. However, this moment also marked the beginning of Toranaga’s evergrowing respect for the English pilot. Although Toranaga was strict on tradition, he could also identify that Blackthorne was an ambitious fighter capable of stopping the Portuguese from taking over their lands.

Toranaga accepted that he and the Japanese were under threat, but he still initially questioned Blackthorne’s claims. The original book explained this interaction better and how Toranaga’s main concern was that Blackthorne was planning to revolt against his masters. However, Toranaga couldn’t help but offer a slight smirk at Blackthorne’s confidence, which was also a sign of things to come throughout Shogun. However, a common complaint amongst readers was that, in the book, the line was “unless we win,” which made Blackthorne seem more like an ally rather than a savior.

8

“Please Slit Your Belly By Sunset Tomorrow.”

Toranaga – Episode 10

Before Yabushige’s suicide, Toranaga confronted him over his involvement in the ambush and Mariko’s death. Toranaga’s ability to hold himself was impeccable in this scene. After Yabushige confessed to being involved and letting the intruders in, Toranaga focused on Yabushige’s punishment for his actions. Following tradition, Toranaga bluntly instructed Yabushige to “please slit [his] belly by sunset tomorrow.” While this was a tense moment in Shogun, it was hard not to find that he asked so politely absurd.

However, rather than begging for his life, Yabushige tries to barter and negotiate with Toranaga over how he died. This response was once again an unintentionally laughable moment, with Yabushige suggesting he be “eaten alive by a school of angry fish” instead. This scene truthfully explained the ins and outs of the culture and how shame was such a powerful tool for Samurai warriors like the two of them.

7

“I Would Sooner Live A Thousand Years Than Die With You Like This.”

Mariko – Episode 8

One of Mariko’s most powerful speeches happened in episode 8 when she faced Buntaro’s (Shin’nosuke Abe) utterly naive suggestions that she join him in death. Although Buntaro tried to be an idyllic spouse by serving Mariko tea, it was shocking that he expected her to perform seppuku along with his death sentence so that they could die together as husband and wife. However, Mariko’s rejection of the idea was not because she feared death but because she wanted to use it as a way to escape him.

Mariko didn’t hesitate to explain this as clearly as possible to Buntaro and told him that he had denied her “a life beyond [his] reach.” However, Buntaro deserved this sharp comment from his wife, not just because of his crimes but also because of how he generally treated Mariko. She wrapped up her tirade by telling Buntaro that she “would sooner live a thousand years than die with [him] like this,” which felt like the final stab to his chest, effectively killing him and their marriage in the process.

6

“Why Tell A Dead Man The Future?”

Toranaga – Episode 10

In the first episode of Shogun, Yabushige asked Omi (Hiroto Kanai), “Why tell a dead man the future?” – a quote that would be hauntingly relevant in episode 10. As Toranaga prepared to kill Yabushige, the two shared a moment that initially seemed full of familiarity and contentment, reflecting on their journey together. However, Lord Toranaga smiled during Shogun’s final Seppuku scene, and this one tiny detail completely transformed the exchange.

As Yabushige realized Toranaga had secretly wanted to become Shogun, he asked his Lord to tell him his plans and how he executed each step that eventually led them to the cliff face. Instead of responding, Toranaga echoed Yabushige’s words from the first episode and simply replied, “Why tell a dead man the future?” This comment explained everything that Yabushige needed to know, and understanding that he’d been deceived for years and betrayed by Omi, he embraced his fate and stabbed himself without hesitation.

5

“You, Sir, Are A Silly Little Man! And Your Hair Looks Like The Tail Of A Pony!”

Blackthorne – Episode 3

Blackthorne telling the guard at the checkpoint, “You, sir, are a silly little man! And your hair looks like the tail of a pony!” was one of the funniest scenes in Shogun overall, which happened in the episode “Tomorrow Is Tomorrow.” Although Blackthorne’s outburst was just a cover so that the guard didn’t discover Toranaga, it was still brilliant and hysterical to see him spurt out a flurry of random insults that the crowd around them were unlikely to understand.

Even when the guard slammed Blackthorne to the ground, he continued to rant and rave. Despite Mariko’s repeated attempts to get Ishido’s (Takehiro Hira) soldiers to understand that Blackthorne didn’t “understand [their] customs,” this didn’t stop the English pilot from screeching at the top of his lungs and rambling at the guards. Although this was a generally comedic moment, it also proved Blackthorne’s dedication to Toranaga and how he put himself in danger to keep the other man hidden from Ishido.

4

“You’d Walk Into A Sword Just To Prove The Blade Is Sharp?”

Blackthorne – Episode 9

In the build-up to Mariko’s horrifying death in episode 9, Blackthorne brilliantly phrased her unusual actions in one question: “You’d walk into a sword just to prove the blade is sharp?” In “Crimson Sky,” Mariko stood up to Ishido and, in a clever ploy, demanded that she and Toranaga’s wives be released, forcing him to either let them go or admit that he was the actual aggressor, not Toranaga. She took this opportunity to reconfirm her dedication to Toranaga and told Ishido that she was “no peasant to be trodden on.”

Blackthorne was shocked by how Mariko spoke to Ishido, yet her words also gained his utmost respect. Naturally, Blackthorne was baffled at how confident and sure of herself Mariko was, so his question was both out of amazement and concern, especially as he knew the repercussions she might face were catastrophic. Blackthorne found Mariko impressive in multiple moments throughout Shogun, but no more than in this interaction.

3

“Why Is It Always That The People Who Are So Eager To Go Into Battle Are The Ones Who Have Never Been In It?”

Toranaga – Episode 7

Despite Shogun not airing any major fight scenes, one of the show’s most impactful quotes commented on the act of war: “Why is it always that the people who are so eager to go into battle are the ones who have never been in it?” However, this comment from Toranaga also beautifully demonstrated how relevant it was to both 1600s Japan and the modern day. Throughout the show, there was a massive focus on the political elements of war and how, behind all of the blood, death, and heartbreak, every action made resulted from a conversation behind closed doors.

Shogun episode 10 ended without showing the war, but that didn’t matter. Shogun‘s true motivation was Toranaga’s plotting and the role Mariko played within it, and the entire point of the show was to help audiences better understand the social components of the game of war. Even though Toranaga was the one heading into battle, his remark was truthful and showed that war should be the last resort in a conflict. It was also a tremendous backhanded response to those who felt they knew what they were fighting for when, in reality, they didn’t have a clue.

2

“If You Seek Individual Freedom, You’ll Never Be Free From Yourself.”

Mariko – Episode 5

Mariko’s profound and moving remark to Blackthorne, “If you seek individual freedom, you’ll never be free from yourself,” was an incredible reflection on his character and society overall. Although it wasn’t his place to comment, Blackthorne confronted Mariko and claimed that she seemed trapped in her own life because of the traditions of Japanese society. He advised her that she deserved to have her freedom and release herself from invisible cultural structures, but Mariko had a different response than he expected to hear.

Even though Mariko’s sense of duty and honor followed the strict traditions of her culture, with this one line of dialogue, she proved that those qualities about her didn’t necessarily make her trapped. Mariko’s remark was also an interesting comment on Blackthorne’s frustrations with injustice and his attempts to avoid it rather than face it head-on. Although Mariko met a gruesome end later on in Shogun, this line showed that what she considered “freedom” was very different from what Blackthorne believed, yet she still achieved it.

1

“Crimson F*cking Horsesh*t.”

Blackthorne – Episode 7

Blackthorne’s brilliantly funny dialogue throughout Shogun was one of the best parts of the show, despite all of the heartache, bloodshed, and drama. In “A Stick of Time,” Toranaga announced that “Crimson Sky was a mistake,” which left his allies resentful in a somewhat uneasy moment in Shogun. Blackthorne took this seriously and spoke in Japanese, warning everyone that they would die under Toranaga’s service, yet couldn’t resist adding a little quip at the end in English: “Crimson f*cking horses*t.”

Even in scenarios that required a solemn tone and a straight face, Blackthorne loved to contribute a sarcastic and, often unintentionally, funny remark to the situation. Some other great examples of this were when Omi tried to take his pistols, so the pilot called him a “milk dribbling f*ck smear” and then later referred to him as a “sniveling little sh*t rag.” Although Shogun will become remembered for its stunning visuals and sensational storyline, Blackthorne’s creative insults will forever be a recognizable part of the show.