Episode 8 of Shogun delves deeper into the complexities of its characters and storyline, adding a layer of poignancy and gravity. Following the heartrending demise in the previous episode, Toranaga is granted a customary period of mourning, a time of reflection and silence. Saeki's forces bide their time, encamped at Edo's borders for a solemn forty-nine days, affording Toranaga the precious opportunity to ponder and regroup.
John, meanwhile, finds himself liberated by Toranaga's benevolence. The Englishman's long-held dream is finally realized; he is free to reunite with his crew in Edo, commandeer their ship, and set sail for the far-off shores of his homeland.
Within the Osaka Castle, Ishido eagerly informs Lady Ochiba that her machinations have borne fruit. He stands poised on the brink of ascending to the throne of Japan's most powerful leader, as Toranaga's hopes for a comeback seem dimmer than ever. However, Ochiba remains cautious, her heart heavy until Toranaga's head is firmly bowed in submission. She senses that this period of mourning might provide him with the chance to recalibrate his strategies.
Eager to solidify his position at the top, Ishido extends a hand in marriage to Ochiba. She listens to his proposal with a mix of weariness and begrudging enthusiasm, her thoughts still swirling with the intricate webs of power and ambition that entangle her world.
At the banquet honoring Nagakado's memory, opinions were divided over Toranaga's fateful decision. While Buntaro and Hiromatsu remained silent, swearing allegiance to Toranaga until death, Omi's voice rang out in opposition. He lashed out at their lord, accusing him of a cowardly choice that doomed the entire clan to destruction. Many of Toranaga's closest advisers and military commanders chose to protest this decision.
Strangely, Toranaga himself was absent from Nagakado's funeral procession, as the rest of the city marched in somber unity. Hiromatsu confided to Yabushige his intention to seize Toranaga's guns and cannons, transporting them to Osaka as a gift to Ishido.
John found himself in a perilous predicament, dragged along by his drunken sailors. Salomon, one of them, lambasted John for his arrogance and greedy ambition that had led them all to Japan. They could have easily turned back to England instead of wandering in these foreign lands.
Despite spending considerable time in the country, John merely pretended to be one of them, claiming falsely to belong. However, he neither spoke their language fluently nor was he fully attuned to their customs. He was trapped in a limbo, neither here nor there.
During a dispirited meeting with Father Martin, Mariko, and Hiromatsu, Toranaga once again reiterated his resolve to surrender unconditionally. His defeatist attitude shocked and bewildered his audience. Martin suggested that by aligning with Ochiba, Toranaga could still triumph over Ishido and his vested interests. But Toranaga was in no mood to entertain such suggestions.
Hiromatsu, however, remained convinced that Toranaga intended to fight and that everything was merely a ruse. He suspected that Toranaga's persistent cough and illness were feigned to make him appear even more. Toranaga was beseeched by Martin to fulfill his promise of granting land to the Christians in Edo for the construction of a church. But Toranaga had the final laugh, as he cunningly bestowed the land adjacent to Gin's ambitious tea houses instead.
As John approached Yabushige, seeking to sail under his banner, he found the Lord of Izu steadfastly aligned with Toranaga. In Yabushige's eyes, his alliance and loyalty to Toranaga were unwavering, and any deviation from this path would be considered treason. Hence, he was not prepared to welcome John into his fold.
Meanwhile, Mariko and Buntaro's marriage hit a rocky patch when the latter suggested a suicidal pact as a romantic gesture in the face of Toranaga's surrender. This proposal caused a rift in their relationship that was difficult to mend.
On a fateful rainy day in Edo, Toranaga's vassals gathered. He demanded that all those loyal to him sign their death warrants and agree to commit suicide. Although Yabushige and Omi were among the first to sign, Toranaga's steadfast vassals raised their voices in protest. They refused to silently watch as their lord gave away everything they had fought for over the years.
Toranaga insisted that they listen to him, claiming that he had no ulterior motives. But it was Hiromatsu's declaration of seppuku that brought the proceedings to a halt. The air was tense as the two longtime friends faced each other. Despite feeling daunted, neither Toranaga nor Hiromatsu backed down.
In a bid to stop Toranaga, Hiromatsu enlisted Buntaro's help to "second" his seppuku. However, Toranaga refused to relent, and Hiromatsu ultimately committed suicide as Buntaro mercifully ended his suffering by severing his head.
Later that night, during a heartfelt conversation with Mariko, Toranaga revealed that Hiromatsu had been part of his plan. To give the appearance of complete defeat, Toranaga had sacrificed the life of his closest friend. This sacrifice was part of his duty to ensure that he and his clan emerged victorious against the evil plan unfolding in Osaka.
To convince Osaka and the Council that Toranaga's defeat was genuine, they needed to believe that his closest allies were divided. And there was no more convincing way to achieve this than for one of them to take his own life.
With a mission of revenge in her heart, Mariko joined Yabushige and John on their voyage to Osaka. Meanwhile, Ochiba accepted Ishido's marriage proposal, setting the stage for a promising showdown between the two parties.
