Episode 5 of Shōgun opens with Toranaga's triumphant return to Izu, but the initial scene is a harrowing one. The mangled bodies of Ishido's camp litter the landscape, a ghastly reminder of the brutality that has taken place. The sight is deeply unsettling, as the remains of the fallen are strewn across the ground like discarded dolls.
Yet, amidst this carnage, there is a foreboding presence that looms over Mariko - Buntaro, riding alongside Toranaga. His arrival brings a chill to her heart, given her recent dalliances with John. Fortunately, John remains unaware of Mariko's involvement, and for the moment, his conscience remains unburdened.
Toranaga explains that Buntaro, despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds, managed to escape Ajiro with the help of the ronin. His survival is a testament to his unwavering perseverance and steely determination. Despite this, Buntaro is not pleased with the arrangement to stay at John's house.
Toranaga offers John a pheasant as a gift to cook, but the barbarian's response is shocking. He leaves the bird to rot, a stark contrast to the reverence the Japanese hold for such creatures. This act highlights the stark cultural differences between the two men, further underscoring the complexities of their relationship.
In one of the most tense moments of the season, the clash between Buntaro and John unfolded with a ferocity that bordered on the brink of a traditional duel. It was a clash not of swords, but of pride and ego, fueled by sake and spitballs. Despite the wise warnings of Mariko and Fuji, the two men persisted in their drinking, until their senses were clouded and their judgment blurred.
When John dared Buntaro to regale him with tales of his heroic deeds, the samurai bristled with indignation. "Stories are for children," he sneered, challenging John to press the matter further.
In his drunken stupor, Buntaro let loose a pair of arrows that whistled dangerously close to Mariko's face, yet she stood her ground, unmoved. His vanity was evident in the spiteful words he spat at Mariko's family, forcing her to reveal their "shameful" secrets.
Mariko's father, Akicho Jensai, had been a hero who slew the corrupt ruler of Japan. But the price of his bravery was steep; he was forced to slay every member of his own family and then take his own life. Mariko, married and thus spared, had never fully escaped the shadow of that shame and embarrassment. She had begged Buntaro, at every turn, to end his life with seppuku.
Later, in the dead of night, John was jolted awake by the sound of Buntaro's fists raining down on Mariko, leaving her bruised and battered. He tried to intervene, but it was too late; the damage had been done. Mariko blamed herself - and John - for Buntaro's violent outburst. John, faced with his own cowardice, confronted Buntaro, who, realizing he was a guest in their home, reluctantly laid down his weapons.
John's anguish deepened as his gardener, Uejiro, met his fateful end upon touching the pheasant. The cause of his demise remains a mystery, yet the sequence of events leading to this tragic outcome is gradually revealed. John had intentionally left the bird to decay, warning everyone to steer clear with his fractured Japanese, "Touch bird, die." This stark warning kept everyone at a distance, despite the unbearable stench that permeated the air.
However, Uejiro, unable to bear witnessing the struggle of others against the pungent odor, decided to intervene. Meanwhile, Toranaga, in his cunning machinations, had secretly instructed his village spy, Mujiro, to find a scapegoat. Yabushige and Omi's growing impatience forced Toranaga's hand, and although the makers have not explicitly shown what transpired with Uejiro, it seems likely that Mujiro had a role to play in his fate.
John was rendered speechless by the unexpected turn of events. He could not fathom that a man would perish as a result of such a harmless jest. Mariko, however, did not share his sentiments and offered a stark perspective on the fleeting nature of life. She bluntly stated, "We live, and we die. We control nothing beyond that."
The climax of the episode unfolded at its conclusion, when Toranaga's fleet of soldiers was engulfed by a devastating earthquake that triggered a landslide. The lord himself was buried amidst the chaos. John and the others rushed to his aid, scrambling to pull him out of the trenches. This calamity dealt a crushing blow to his chances of winning a war against Ishido, who received Jozun's remains in a box as a token of his defeat.
Lady Ochiba also made a stunning return from the Edo castle, ready to take on the challenge of ruling the country. The stage was now set for a new chapter in the intricate web of intrigues and power struggles that shaped this land.
