Shogun
| Fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Shogun |
| Abbreviation(s): | |
| Creator: | James Clavell |
| Date(s): | 1980 |
| Medium: | television mini-series |
| Country of Origin: | US |
| External Links: | IMDB |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Shogun is a five part/nine hour mini-series, which also had a theatrical release in a much-reduced format, was based on the epic novel of life in early seventeenth century Japan by author James Clavell. The hero, John Blackthorne (Richard Chamberlain), is an English navigator whose vessel is wrecked off Japanese shores; he and his crew are taken prisoner, but Blackthorne refuses to accept his fate and gradually begins to understand and respect the Japanese people. In the end he comes to the notice of the Shogun, Toranaga (Toshiro Mifune) and becomes valuable to him, eventually earning himself the title of samurai and the post of Admiral in Toranaga's navy.
Blackthorne, however, makes enemies as well as friends in Japan; chief among these are representatives of the Catholic Church (being English, he is automatically considered a heretic). Amongst these one of the most enigmatic is Father Martin Alvito, a Portuguese priest played by Damien Thomas, who nevertheless becomes an uncomfortable ally.
Zines
- The Eightfold Fence, a Blackthorne/Alvito slash novel