Hiroyuki Sanada starrer historical drama limited series Shōgun has been receiving critical acclaim worldwide, but it seems that even within the industry, opinions are divided. While the renowned game designer Hideo Kojima has hailed the series, calling it the Game of Thrones of ‘Japan’, Shōgun’s director, Jonathan van Tulleken, begs to differ.
In an interview, Tulleken stated that he sees Shōgun as more of Succession or House of Cards than a direct comparison to Game of Thrones. Based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks developed Shōgun as a limited historical drama series. In addition to Sanada, the cast also features Tommy Bestow, Cosmo Jarvis, Takehiro Hira, Tadanobu Asano, and Fumi Nikaido.
Critics Compare Shōgun to Game of Thrones
Hailed by some critics as the ‘new Game of Thrones’, the new television adaptation of Shōgun made its premiere on February 27. With a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the series, starring Hiroyuki Sanada, has become very popular very quickly upon release.
The narrative, which is set in 1600s Japan, centers on Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Sanada), who must fight a group of rivals for his life. The show is highly praised by USA Today as well, which wrote:
“Shōgun is the kind of series that reminds you that TV can be an event, not just something casual you click on while folding laundry…Beautiful, rich, and deeply compelling. It might just scratch that Game of Thrones itch you’ve had since the HBO fantasy folded in 2019.”
In a review published on Indiewire, the show is compared to Game of Thrones and even claims to succeed where the HBO series failed. They composed an A- review, writing:
“Shōgun’s overt brutality paired with its cunning betrayals calls to mind Game of Thrones, but there’s also an elegance and earnestness to the production that draws a clear line in the sand between the two blockbuster epics.”
Even Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima, best known for his work on the critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid series, recently discussed his thoughts on Shōgun, saying he was pleased with Jonathan van Tulleken’s direction for the project.
He has nothing but praise for the show:
SHOGUN Shogun." Written comment. I recommend it.
The "Shogun" we were so crazy about 42 years ago, "Anjin-san" is back. The scale, details, cast, costumes, sets, props, and VFX are all top-notch, and it is no exaggeration to say that this is a "Game of Thrones" set in 17th… pic.twitter.com/oNQQpimetB
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) March 6, 2024
However, Jonathan van Tulleken, the director, has other comparisons in mind.
Creator Of Shōgun Rejects Comparisons To Game Of Thrones
In an interview with the BBC, director Jonathan van Tulleken refuted the comparison between Shōgun and Game of Thrones. The director stressed that despite being an epic spectacle based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel, the movie is more concerned with intricate character dynamics and political intrigue.
Tulleken noted:
“This is a dangerous world where violence can come out of nowhere but the real danger is in the machinations. A conversation can be as dangerous as anything else. A better comparison [than Game of Thrones] would be Succession or House of Cards.”
Remarkably, the director pointed out, the Japanese version avoids a Western point of view. To quote him:
“This is made hand in hand with the Japanese because it is a story about two cultures encountering each other and seeing ourselves in each other. We are way past [the Western gaze] in terms of audience sophistication and the stories we want to tell. What we really want to tell is a story of political intrigue, imprisonment, and entrapment.”
The show’s depiction of 16-17th-century Japan included elements that critics could not help but draw comparisons to Game of Thrones. The dramatic settings, contentious politics, and intense violence are reminiscent of the epic HBO saga. According to The Washington Post:
“Shogun will inevitably be compared to Game of Thrones because it hits that proven combination of gorgeous set pieces, moral ambiguity, cliffhangers (literally, in one case!), and extreme, distressing violence. Also, perhaps, because it so gratifyingly marries the pleasing grandeur of an epic with juicy psychological stakes.”
Jonathan van Tulleken directed the first two episodes of Shōgun which aired on February 27, 2024. Weekly new episodes will be released through April 23, 2024.
Shōgun is available to stream on Hulu, fuboTV & FXNow.
