Shogun

10/10 Perfection in TV Show

I tend to stay away from TV shows with lots of subtitles, usually to my detriment, but when I saw they had created Shogun I had to try. I'm glad I did. Literally after 20 mins of the first episode I was fully engrossed to the point I forgot it had subtitles. The production, acting, storyline, everything about this show ozzes class, emotion, depth and attention to detail. It's like being transported back to the beginning of 17th century Japan, the culture, customs and way of life on full display. The real genius of the novel and this TV show is the story of the westerner in the East, though his eyes you take the journey with him and also you grow with him as you slowly appreciate the resilience, dedication and honour of the Japanese people. I highly recommend this show, it's a worthy winner of every award it has won, all that's left to say is ...roll on season 2!

Read More

用西方視角重寫日本權謀歷史

起初以為這是文明與野蠻之辯，透過語言、姿態、社會階層、宗教的奇觀與接納顯現雙邊文化的神聖與卑劣，然而，看到後來才知道這是講述權謀之心的歷史架空劇，故事參考的是德川家康崛起的時代背景，一名英國海商（人稱按針）漂流到日本，意外成為德川手下的武士，見證了日本風雲變色的政局。

網路上有很多人談這部劇，我想講一些他們沒說過的面向，是關於地震。

劇中我最有印象的是兩場地震，第一場是虎永領主（影射德川）等人還在封地時，天崩地裂，坑埋許多人的大地震，即使是虎永都被差點殺死，而作為按針與領主間翻譯的鞠子夫人（影射明智光秀倖存的女兒細川伽羅奢）說了句很經典的話，大意是我們生我們死，這句話放在日本社會是無常，放在她所信奉的天主教其背後的葡萄牙背景，也是有類似的意味。第二場地震是大阪的四個領主結盟，打算置虎永於死地，就在結盟書寫就時，就發生了小地震，因此阻卻部分領主簽署的意願（而且是天主教領主）。

其實我覺得把地震放進來日本影劇非常適合，作為島國，若是缺失地震，就很難呈現地方人群如何思維和生活。然而大多數歷史劇，很少會放天災進去，除了非常大的天災除外。

Read More