Shogun Reimagined: 1980 vs 2024

In Japanese history, shoguns were originally military commanders appointed by the emperor to defend the empire from rebels and other threats. However, their influence grew rapidly and eventually eclipsed the emperor himself. This continued for the next 700 years until the last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, abdicated the throne and power was returned to the emperor. These complex dynamics are captured in both the 1980s show and 2024 reboot, where both shows open with John Blackthorne, an English navigator, and his crew being shipwrecked off the coast of Japan. What starts as an initial story of survival quickly turns into a narrative filled with political intrigue between the Japanese leaders and their shifting alliances. As Blackthorne becomes entangled in Lord Toranaga’s ambitions to become shogun, his role transitions from an outsider to a participant in Japan’s future. Therefore, both the 1980s show and the 2024 reboot retell the story of Japan’s transformation through the lens of ambition, tradition, and the collision of East and West.

Perspectives and Experiences

The 1980s show is shot in Japan and is mostly centered on Blackthorne’s perspective. The Japanese characters are filtered through Blackthorne’s limited understanding, and the dialogue is mostly in English, reinforcing the Western-centric perspective throughout the show. Characters such as Lord Toranaga and Lady Mariko have reduced emotional complexities and are overshadowed based on their roles in Blackthorne’s journey. One example of this is when Blackthorne is brought before Lord Toranaga and Mariko and a priest translates for him. One would think that this scene would have tension, but it feels more like an expositional conversation. The story may be groundbreaking for its time and introduced many Westerners to Japanese culture, but the mostly Western perspective overshadowed its nuance and complexity. Therefore, even though the 1980s version succeeded in its atmosphere, it fell short on the Japanese experience.

The 2024 version fixes this issue by adding the Japanese perspective through English subtitles for Japanese dialogue, placing increased weight on the Japanese characters and relationships and a greater perspective on the culture. Additionally, in the show, Blackthorne refers to Japan as “Portugal’s secret empire in the East”, highlighting the Portuguese involvement in both the Japanese and the English words. This tension is especially portrayed when Blackthorne is brought before Lord Toranaga and Mariko, and a Portuguese priest translates for him. Due to his previous betrayal with a Portuguese priest when he was standing before Lord Yabushige, he distrusts the priest and calls him his enemy. However, after the priest reassures him that he will tell the truth, the conversation continues until Ishido interrupts and Toranaga sends Blackthorne to prison for safekeeping. Therefore, the 2024 version allows the audience to see all sides of the Shogun saga, restoring a sense of authenticity and respect to a culture that was long filtered through foreign eyes. 

Tone, Lighting, and Music

The 1980s version has bright lighting and action-oriented music, framing the show as a grand, exotic epic with a tone of adventure and optimism. The result is a more theatrical atmosphere through dramatic visuals and sweeping soundscapes. Each important event in the series, whether it occurs before or during a battle, or an interaction between one or multiple characters, has its own unique soundtrack. However, even though these features lure the audience in, this comes at the expense of emotional depth and undercuts the severity of the political stakes. The 2024 version, on the other hand, has a grittier and darker tone that is grounded in realism through shadowy, natural lighting and a minimalistic score. Additionally, the lighting is also darker and more muted. This shifts the focus from a stylized setting to character development and morality, creating a more immersive, slow-burn experience that reflects the harsh realities of feudal Japan and the psychological toll of navigating its rigid social structure. As a result, the viewing experience of both shows feels immersive, emotionally resonant, and deeply reflective of the brutal, uncertain worlds their characters inhabit. The stark tonal contrast between the two adaptations highlights the evolution of television storytelling—from spectacle-driven drama to more intimate, character-focused narratives.

Blackthorne’s Character

Blackthorne was portrayed as a rugged character in both versions of Shogun, but the presentation differs between the two adaptations. In the 1980s version, there are some lighthearted moments that show his charisma with the Japanese people, such as when he tries sake with the maids, get drunk, and performs a funny dance. While he is dancing, Toranaga walks in with his staff and joins in. Another example of this is when the guards stop Toranaga and his staff when they are leaving Osaka and search them, and Blackthorne distracts them by doing another dance. Even though the guards are annoyed at first, he eventually succeeds and can carry Mariko to the other side, allowing the crew to march on to the shock of the guards. Therefore, the 1980s version of Blackthorne is adventurous and good-hearted, and the show portrays his journey in the Japanese land through a positive lens.

The 2024 show’s version of Blackthorne shows him as brash and has mostly negative interactions with the Japanese characters. The first scene (the maids with the sake) is not featured in the 2024 version, and the second scene (leaving Osaka with Toranaga’s staff) is portrayed in a much ruder light. He fights with the guards, causing tension, until the head guard tells the others that Ishido has summoned them. Even though he apologizes to Lady Fuji in the fourth episode for his rude behavior, there are still moments when that brashness arises, such as when he keeps asking Lord Toranaga for his men and his ship,  reminding him of the deal that they made and criticizing the honors he has granted. However, as time passes by, he becomes more appreciative of the gifts he has been given and eventually decides to stay in Japan after meeting his men and seeing how much they have changed. Therefore, the 2024 version of Blackthorne shines a greater light on character transformation, starting from a rude, brash person to someone who is more comfortable in the Japanese world.

Reception

Critically, the 1980 miniseries was a major success, winning several Emmy Awards and earning praise for its production design, performances, and ambition. Bleeding Cool highlights the character chemistry, citing the pool of actors from Eastern and Western cultures including Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, and John Rhys-Davies. Due to being filmed in Japan with movie-grade sound stages, the practical effects were unheard of at the time with big ships and excellent wardrobes. Drunk TV compares the show to the “innocence” of 1980s television, mentioning that the audience never forgot the peasant getting his head lopped off and Blackthorne getting pissed on by Omi, portraying them as “two firsts” for American television. Through the series, all the actors steal the show, portraying political intrigue, drama, romance, and adventure in an ambitious light to attract audiences. Therefore, at the time, this 1980s series left a lasting cultural impact, shaping how Western audiences viewed samurai, Japanese tradition, and historical drama.

For the 2024 reboot, critics have highlighted its authentic casting, linguistic integrity, cinematic quality, and nuanced storytelling. It has been praised for subverting the “white savior” narrative by decentralizing Blackthorne’s role and giving equal space to the internal politics and cultural tensions of Japan. This shift was emphasized by Shogun’s producers, Justin Marks and Rachel Condo, in the New York Times, even though the main point of the story still stands. Additionally, the craftsmanship of the show is inspired by classic Japanese samurai films, which were influenced in turn by Hollywood swashbucklers and westerns. This cinematography is an asset to the show’s storytelling, giving it  a timeless, reverent quality while infusing it with modern, cinematic techniques. Just like the 1980s version, the actors stole the show with their performances and technical direction. The Guardian describes it as a lavish, demanding drama that should be approached with care and focus, while going big on the gore. The bilingual mode of the show is also an asset, as a solely English version would have dented the power and intellect of the story. I personally enjoyed that aspect of the show, as it allowed me to see the interaction between the Western and the Japanese worlds. Therefore, the 2024 reboot is hailed as a bold, respectful, and emotionally resonant retelling—one that elevates the source material and brings new relevance to a timeless story.

Conclusion

Both versions of Shogun adapt the same core narrative, yet they reflect very different eras of storytelling and cultural awareness. The 1980s miniseries, though a trailblazer in its time, centers on spectacle, exoticism, and a distinct Western perspective, introducing many viewers to the fascinating world of feudal Japan but with reduced complexities. The 2024 adaptation, however, reimagines the story for a modern audience—one that demands authenticity, diversity of perspective, and emotional nuance. By giving Japanese characters their own voices—literally and narratively—it reframes the tale as not just Blackthorne’s journey into the unknown, but a shared exploration of identity, loyalty, power, and transformation. It is less about the outsider discovering Japan, and more about Japan revealing itself through its own fractured, uncertain lens. Therefore, as someone who has watched both adaptations, I prefer the 2024 version due to its representation of all perspectives, the bilingual nature, and the technical direction. The 1980s adaptation is a classic and is recommended for first-time viewers, but the 2024 adaptation covers the content in greater depth while implementing the political and historical side of the show.