We are not alone when we are confused by Toronaga’s war strategies in Shogun. The back-and-forth and the silence he maintains from everyone ends up being costly, as we know after the penultimate episode of the season.

The Betrayal

Toronaga knows his vulnerability and after the earthquake, where he lost many soldiers, he depends more than ever on his brother, Saeki Nobutatsu, and as they haven’t spoken to each other for a long time, everyone is apprehensive about the reunion.

It seems that everything is going well between them, although Saeki’s envy of his brother’s military feats is clear (we open the episode with the first of them, with a still-child Toronaga defeating the opposing army), and of course, at an embarrassing dinner, we discover ‘ that Saeki aligned himself with the Council of Regents and betrayed his brother. Toranaga must submit as a prisoner and all his men will be condemned with him. No one understands how Toronaga, even stalling for a day to decide whether he would surrender or fight, accepted such a blow so calmly. Among those most offended are Blackthorne and the shogun’s son, Nagakado, who accidentally dies trying to “save” his father.

Nagakado was leading an ambush when he slipped and hit his head, making the situation worse for his father, still unaware of the loss. Saeki feels for his nephew, but even more so because the attempt was futile.

The defeat that seems planned
So far, Toronaga plays with destiny, but he always has a plan up his sleeve so his submission doesn’t convince anyone. He argues that although there is evil to be fought, he will not do so at the risk of dividing the country.

And here is the “message” from the opening of the episode, when more than 46 years ago a Toranaga, still a child, fought alongside Toda Hiromatsu against the forces of Mizoguchi. His victory begins to create his legend, but instead of a single blow to execute Mizoguchi after the daimyo’s seppuku, Toranaga needs multiple attempts to decapitate his enemy. It was a messy and bloody death that Toranaga is not proud of. And that’s clearly what’s happening again.

John Blackthorne is even more offended by Toranaga’s surrender because, without him, his fate is defined by the Portuguese, he will never see his crew again and will be killed when he could have easily escaped if he had had help.

The love triangle

Meanwhile, Toda Buntaro’s emotional torture of following Mariko and Blackthorne’s friendship is consuming him. He asks to kill the Englishman, but Toranaga refuses otherwise he would have to kill Mariko too, something Buntaro doesn’t want to do.

Alone with the translator, Toronaga gives her a hard time too, and once again Mariko asks to commit seppuku and is denied. In other words, for now, things remain tense as they are. Another who waits for time to have the right to end her life is sweet Fuji, who does not forget the death of her son and her husband. Nobody is happy in Shogun!

At the end of the season, next week, we will have the clash we have been waiting for. Toronaga’s plans may change now that he has lost Nagakado and his allies are more than justifiably unsure. We will only know at the end. My records are always in Toronaga.

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