Shogun
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A Dream of a Dream is now streaming on Hulu.
From that perspective, it was a bit of a fake-out.
Marikos mission effectively ended Ishidos claim to power.
Challenged and undermined, hes become a dead warlord walking.
He just doesnt recognize it right away.
Similarly, there are two ways of looking at A Dream of a Dream.
(It is calledShogun.
Blackthorne has become old and frail but also, based on his surroundings, quite wealthy.
He lives in a fine English house surrounded by mementos of his time in Japan.
And, indeed, he seems barely present.
But hes with it enough to hold a precious reminder of the past: Marikos cross.
Coupled with his grandsons question, this appears to send Blackthornes mind back to the past.
Its not a happy memory.
Blackthorne is recalling if what were watching isreallyhim flashing back the night of Marikos explosive death.
From there, the story returns to Toranaga, who remained a distant figure in the previous episode.
This is, however, what he wanted.
Yet as sad as the method of achieving it might make him, Toranaga has gotten what he wanted.
Its clear even before she speaks that Ochiba is no longer onboard.
And without her, it will all fall apart.
(The bad-omen earthquake doesnt help Ishidos case, but its already superfluous.)
But if Ishido is hoping to have a man inside his enemys camp, Yabushiges no longer that man.
This is his Lady Macbeth moment, and the guilt that haunts him will follow wherever he goes.
Blackthorne too has to make his way to Izu, though he doesnt expect hell make it there alive.
Hes not right, but hes not exactly wrong, either.
As he boards, Martin tells him he promised Mariko hed spare Blackthornes life.
Only later will Blackthorne understand the full scope of the deal thats kept him safe.
Toranaga wastes no time once Yabushige is brought before him.
Yabushige confesses and receives a sentence of death.
Its Fuji who next seeks out Blackthorne.
The relationship between the barbarian and his consort has quietly been one of the most compelling of the series.
Blackthornes connections to Toranaga, Mariko, and Yabushige have all been intense in different ways.
She is not, as planned, going to take her life.
Instead, shes going to start a new life as a nun.
Blackthorne does not want this, but he also really has no say in the matter.
Her service to Toranaga, and thus Blackthorne, is complete.
She can now do what she wants with her life.
But that doesnt mean she has let go of all her attachments.
Hearing this, Blackthorne asks for a meeting with Toranaga.
The next day, Toranaga grants Blackthornes request with Muraji acting as translator.
When Toranaga asks about Blackthornes war against his Catholic enemies, he replies, I dont need it anymore.
He is, in many respects, a changed man.
Nevertheless, Toranaga refuses Blackthornes request and, in response, Blackthorne offers to take his own life.
No, he demands to take his own life as the one whos truly been disloyal to Toranaga.
When he arrived, he planned to use Toranaga and take advantage of the Japanese.
And if thats not clear enough, he declares himself an enemy before preparing to perform seppuku in earnest.
And he almost does until Toranaga stays his hand (and not gently).
Each has attempted to use the other, but that time is over.
Toranaga and Yabushige, too, have come to an understanding.
All thats well and good, but what is Toranagas plan?
Yabushigehasto know, even if hes about to die.
There will be a battle, but not much of one.
Of this, Yabushige says, Its what you always wanted, isnt it?
Youre no better than us in your secret heart.
But hes not entirely sure, and he asks Toranaga to tell him as a dying wish.
And with that, weve reached the end of this tale, or quite near it.
But what of the scenes that opened the episode showing the aged Blackthorne in England?
Look to the title, A Dream of a Dream, for a possible answer.
A final scene with Fuji puts the matter to rest.
He encourages her to put the remains of her family to rest in the sea.
As with Toranaga last week, Marikos shadow looms over this episode in spite of her absence.
Blackthorne does little to hide his heartbreak, even though he doesnt talk about her extensively.
This exchange with Fuji is an exception in part because theyve both now experienced the unthinkable.
Barbarian and consort no longer, theyre something like equals here, friends even.
Blackthornes not the only one to feel it, though.
Blackthornes hurt cuts even deeper, though he ends the series learning to move on.
But then he never expected any of this.
How does it feel to shape the wind to your will?
I dont control the wind, he replies.
I only study it.
Maybe that insult was closer to the truth than Mariko knew.
His time in Japan has not been what hes used to.
It shouldnt work, but Asano keeps Yabushige charismatic in spite of himself.
About that: The series great unanswered question is whether Toranaga wanted to be Shogun or not.
Was all of this part of his plan?
Did he study the wind that well?
Do motives even matter?
Yabushige will never know, and neither will we.
