Good News from Marks & Kondo's Second Shōgun Season Update
Particularly for those acquainted with Clavell's original material, the announcement that the *Shōgun* season 1 finale would not be the conclusion after all came as something of a surprise. After all, the ten seasons' worth of episodes seem to complete the book entirely, therefore ending the narrative. With Marks and Kondo extrapolating the paths of the characters from where Clavell's novel left off, projected seasons 2 and 3 won't be pulling from any source material.
This naturally begs issues of quality and if the excellent reviews of *Shōgun* season 1 could be repeated in Season 2 and beyond using different source material. But Marks and Kondo's most recent update seems to confirm that they are aware of this, and they originally tackled season 2 with a reasonable degree of uncertainty. Their assertion that season 2 won't happen until they can put a convincing narrative together in the writers' room is comforting even now, farther down the road.
Season 2's Development Process: Explained by Shogun Co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo
Season 2's creation process is discussed by Shōgun co-creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo. FX's *Shōgun* debuted earlier this year and became both a critical and audience sensation based on James Clavell's 1975 book. Branded as a miniseries, the show ran ten episodes in late April, apparently ending the tale of Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). The popularity of the show resulted in the news, in addition to a season 3, *Shōgun* Season 2 is under Development.
Marks and Kondo discuss in a recent interview with *Variety* the evolution of *Shōgun* season 2 and their attitude to the upcoming season. The Showrunners claimed that concepts for a series continuation emerged to them during season 1 production, including a more firm ending point for its key characters. They stress, though, that season 2 is not yet guaranteed and will rely on their ability to bring the narrative where it requires to be. Please find remarks from Marks and Kondo below:
The emergence of Shogun
From the writers' room of this program, we were always creating our fan fiction about possible story worlds. And without going particular, as a lot of those are just larks and jokes and fun stuff we would always want to do: Like some amazing alt-history where Blackthorne takes Yabushige back to London, and the two of them sort of go into this location. I mean, that would be wild.
But like any factory after it struggles to simply pump out one car, the next car gets a little simpler and a little easier after that, and we started to sort of see the mechanism the team had collectively put in place in terms of learning how to do this. All of these things testified to a certain regularity in the 900-page instruction manual writer/producer Caillin Puente assembled for this program.
The Life of the Shogun
Marks: We thought the narrative still lacked a lot of questions that begged answers. Not least of which is the title character never takes on that title. Indeed, with history on your side, what you lack now is this amazing book for the future. Not one path leads where we are going.
And if I said we have the solutions right now, I would be lying. Speaking merely about, "Tell us a little more about William Adams here and Tokugawa Ieyasu here, and tell us about some new characters and some new things that are going on," we have been corresponding with one of our valued historical advisers. And good, indeed. Novel.
TV's Shogun
Sanada is scheduled to make a comeback in *Shōgun* season 2 as Toranaga as well as in executive producer capacity.
Given the popularity of *Shōgun* season 1, the news that seasons 2 and 3 are under development could surely be seen cynically as a commercial move for FX rather than one motivated by creative aspiration. Although this component is still present, Kondo and Marks' most recent remark shows just how committed they are to their characters and the narrative of a great story above all. Though the show's future seems to be in great hands, it remains to be seen whether *Shōgun* season 2 will replicate the magic of season 1.
Series Shogun
Filmed in 17th Century Japan, *Shogun* is an FX original mini-series. Following John Blackthorne, who turns into a samurai warrior but is unintentionally a pawn in Yoshii Toranaga's scheme to become Shogun, Shogun follows Along with Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, and Yûki Kedôin, Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne and Hiroyuki Sanada as Yoshii Toranaga star the show.
Critics and audiences find the show to be really appealing. It presents fascinating stories and strong action together with a glimpse of a particular age in Japanese history. Since the series carries on the narrative of the Shogun tale, its future will be carefully scrutinized.
