Every single year, without fail, there is that one big TV series that captures everyone’s imagination. And now, hot on the heels of Squid Game, The Bear and The Last Of Us, comes Shōgun – a show that is already riding high on a perfect 100% rating with critics, despite the fact it’s not even hit our screens yet. 

Adapted from the James Clavell novel of the same name, the epic historical drama takes viewers hurtling back to the year 1600, just in time for the start of a feudal Japanese civil war.

Cue a masterful tale about duty, power, class divides and legacy.

Watch the trailer for Shōgun below:

Has your attention been piqued? Dive on in, then, as we reveal everything you need to know about Shōgun…

What is Shōgun about?

Shōgun follows “the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai” – which, let’s face it, is already enough to tempt us in.

“Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him,” continues the official synopsis. “And so, when a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English captain, John Blackthorne, comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies.”

Naturally, we advise you to keep your eye on Toda Mariko, a disgraced noblewoman who acts as the pair’s translator…

Who stars in Shōgun?

Cosmo Jarvis, Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai take the lead in this one.

The ensemble cast also includes Tadanobu Asano, Hiroto Kanai, Takehiro Hira, Moeka Hoshi and Tokuma Nishioka.

What are people saying about Shōgun?

Speaking about the critically acclaimed project, producer and star Hiroyuki Sanada explains that he “wanted to [take the opportunity to] introduce to the world our culture… correctly”.

Adding that he took great care with how he depicted Japanese history in the series, Sanada tells POC Culture: “[The] important thing is, you know, not showing the samurai fighting or violence or something. Samurai spirit is most important to introduce to the world. And also, the model of ‘Toranaga’ is a big hero in Japan and for the Japanese because he stopped the war period… and then he created the peaceful era for about 260 years, until the opening of the country. 

“So that’s the biggest point for me: why he is a hero? But, you know, the meaning of this release now, I think, is very important to the world. What he has done is very heroic, and this is a universal hero…. He could stop the war for a while. So, we need that kind of hero now.” 

When and where can we watch Shōgun?

Shōgun will premiere on Tuesday 27 February on Disney+ in the UK with the first two episodes, and a new episode will follow each week until 23 April.

Images: Disney+