In episode 9 of Shogun, the stark contrast between Mariko's appearance in the flashback and her present-day visage is startling. Fourteen years prior, Mariko attempted suicide for the third time, having lost all hope after her father condemned their entire lineage to extinction, with Mariko being the sole survivor. If not for her fateful encounter with Father Martin years ago, she would have succumbed to her despair.
As Yabushige's ship neared the shores of Osaka, John's curiosity was piqued, inquiring about Mariko's motives for the journey. She responded coyly and concisely, warning John to remain close to the party as per Yabushige's instructions. Upon stepping ashore, the first thing that struck them was the macabre atmosphere permeating the castle. A sense of gloom and anxiety hung heavily in the air as the approaching doom cast its shadow over everything.
Yabushige sternly instructed John to accompany him when they convened with Ishido the following day to present their proposal. Meanwhile, the Portuguese were becoming increasingly agitated. Although Father Martin harbored doubts about Toranaga's intentions, his superiors were cautious, well aware of the threat posed by his cunning and wit.
Prior to the meeting, Yabushige and John encountered Lord Kiyama, and their encounter was far from cordial. Lord Kiyama was intent on offering John to the Portuguese, but Yabushige steadfastly maintained that John was his captive. The pair were resolved to pledge the firearms they possessed to Ishido, solidifying their allegiance.
Despite his best efforts, Yabushige failed to persuade Ishido, who dismissed their case with a wave of his hand. Mariko was the next to speak. The assembled crowd awaited her words with bated breath. Mariko began by acknowledging Lady Ochiba, who smiled broadly upon seeing her old friend. They exchanged fond memories of their shared past, including an invitation extended to Mariko to participate in a poetry competition held in memory of the late Daiyoin.
However, to everyone's surprise, Mariko declined the invitation. She further announced her intention to leave the castle the following day, accompanied by Lady Kiro and Lady Shizu. They would return to Edo to be with Toranaga. Mariko's words were abrupt and her tone unyielding, provoking Ishido, who refused to let her departure go unchallenged. He ordered Mariko to remain in the castle until Toranaga was summoned in a few weeks' time.
In a bold display of defiance, Mariko rejected Ishido's command and declared herself the liberated heir of Lord Jensai. Her defiance did not sit well with the Council, who convened to decide her fate. Yabushige was enraged. He begged Mariko in private to reveal Toranaga's plan, even offering his own services to execute it. But Mariko remained silent, insisting that there was no secret plan. The underlying intention appeared to be a bid to expose Ishido's grip on the castle, potentially igniting a rebellion. Mariko was prepared to risk her life in this endeavor, a sacrifice she was fully committed to making.
John's profound remark, "You'd walk into a sword, just to prove the blade is sharp," aptly encapsulates the resolute spirit of Toranaga's intentions. As the dawn broke, Mariko stood unyielding, refusing to back down. She attempted to pass through the gate, accompanied by a group of ladies and a handful of samurai, but met with stubborn resistance.
Without hesitation, Mariko commanded her men to engage the guards blocking their path. Despite their valiant efforts, the overwhelming force of Ishido's soldiers quickly overwhelmed them. She urgently called upon Kiyama and Ohno, who were watching from the gallery, to order the men to withdraw. But they claimed helplessness, with Kiyama even suggesting a meeting to diffuse the situation.
Mariko's resolve was unwavering. She refused to acquiesce and took bold strides towards the gate. The tension mounted as bowmen released warning arrows that narrowly missed her. She boldly brandished a spear to confront the guards, engaging them in a fierce battle without any fear of death.
However, the numerical superiority of the guards eventually wore her down, and she fell to the ground, conceding defeat. She conceded that they must retreat as the guards were too formidable to overcome. Yet, knowing that she had failed to fulfill her duty to Toranaga, Mariko announced that she would take her own life at sunset.
At the Council's meeting, Ochiba labeled Mariko's act as a "vengeance on fate." She also pointed out that regardless of the Council's decision, Toranaga had once again outsmarted them. Ochiba, renowned for her wit throughout the series, cunningly arranged a meeting with Mariko, feigning the Heir's desire to meet John.
Ochiba firmly admonished Mariko, ordering her to abandon her role as Toranaga's pawn. This was not the path to freedom for her. As Mariko persisted, insisting that Toranaga desired an end to the conflict, Ochiba's gaze drifted back to their childhood together. She begged Mariko to translate for John, to help him understand the depth of their bond. They had grown up like sisters, but the feud between their fathers had torn them apart. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they emotionally pleaded with each other to halt these mind games.
Ochiba's anger boiled over as she berated Mariko for surrendering to a "futile death," while Mariko felt Ochiba held the key to ending the war. After their tense exchange, John confided in Mariko, expressing his disdain for Toranaga. He deemed him a coward, "sending a woman to do his bidding," and dismissed her sacrifice as meaningless.
John attempted to dissuade Mariko from committing suicide, revealing his feelings for her, which she reciprocated. The stage was set for her seppuku, and the atmosphere was tense and uncertain. Amidst the gloom, a sense of a plan brewing to avert this tragedy hovered in the background.
In Kiyama's absence, John bravely stepped forward to be Mariko's "second," ready to sever her head if she fell. But just as the blade was about to descend, Ishido burst into the room. He flung the permit papers at Mariko's feet, declaring that she was free to leave the following morning. Others in the room - Lady Kiro and Shizu - echoed his words, prompting Ishido to assert, "No one is a hostage in this castle. You are all free to go."
The thrilling and wholly unexpected conclusion of Episode 9 unfolded due to Ishido's secret plan. Earlier, we had witnessed him grudgingly accepting Yabushige's plea for mercy, but only on one condition. Yabushige repaid the favor by slaughtering many of Ishido's men while the rest of the castle celebrated their newfound freedom. Unbeknownst to them, Yabushige had allowed assassins from the Shinobi to infiltrate the castle with the sole intention of abducting Mariko. Despite causing significant damage, the Shinobi's mission was thwarted as John, Mariko, and the others became aware of the looming danger. The group quickly retreated to a stonehouse outside the castle walls.
Undaunted, the Shinobi prepared to blow up the door, a move that would likely kill everyone inside. Yet even in this dire situation, Yabushige refused to assist John in averting the disaster. Seizing an opportunity, Mariko bravely positioned herself against the door, condemning Ishido's ill-fated attack before succumbing to the explosion's fatal embrace.
