I’ll put this here too because it needs to be recognized. Anna Sawais portrayal of Mariko is not only the best acting I have seen all year, it’s some of the best acting I have ever seen. Building on one of the most incredible, strong and complex characters ever put to paper, the show was able to elevate Mariko into new dimensions; The writers gave Mariko focus and stoicism, and Sawai gave her heart and raw, unbridled power. Not many people can believably play a one-person army able to topple an empire. What a lightning storm of a performance she gives in episode 9 and all throughout this series. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of an Emmy.
I do the same as you. I comment everywhere because it truly needs to be recognized that something important happened when Anna's path and Mariko's path crossed each other. It was a God-blessed moment in filmmaking. I can't really recall when I felt the same way before about an actor's performance. When I saw Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds, perhaps that was when I was so impressed, and Christoph's portrayal then deserved an Oscar.
What's great about Mariko and the finale is, you don't realise she's actually the star of the show until she dies and when she's not in it, you truly miss her character.
Mariko had a hard life, but in retrospect, Buntaro had a hard life too as a side effect. Buntaro seemed to have really loved Mariko but has been acting out of spite after years of ice cold treatment because she was duty bound... only for her emotions to falter for the Anjin. No wonder Buntaro was always looking like he was about to kill Blackthorne with his eyes 😂
Anna and Mariko is an excellent example of when a heartbreaking story meets a beautiful character and an actress worthy of it. It rarely happens that perfect way in movie history.
Mariko, when you gave the order to kill Ishido's guards, that's been my favorite part of the whole series. I watched that part at least 20 times. Anna, you are such an amazing actor.
I loved Anna's Mariko. she was awesome. very intense. I really felt for her throughout every one of her scenes. hard not to fall in love with her. Great character, fantastic actress. Anna Sawai is absolutely beautiful. outstanding.
The way she expressed Mariko's complexity was incredible. Only after the show ended did I realise that Mariko was essentially the most important character in the show.
She and cosmo have to do more together tbh i love their chemistry it’s hella vibey not forced and cringe and not too shy just perfectly balanced cosmo is a great actor too i wish him all the best now that this series has done good he will get more recognition for his good acting
I've loved the original Shogun, and I had a HUGE crush on Yoko Shimada for the longest. That being said, Anna Sawai did a much better job of playing Mariko. They allowed her to really explore the depths of the character in a way that probably wasn't feasible in the original series. She knocked it out of the park.
Well done, Anna Sawai! Hope to see more of you soon. Things you might have missed in this episode: Mariko is wearing a crimson kimono when confronting Ishido. She humbles him by reminding about her long samurai lineage. He was born a peasant. When her samurai confronts Ishido´s guards, he cuts off the fingers of the first one with his first slash, turns to the second and after finishing him, faces the first one again finally killing him.
I fell in love with Mariko fifty years ago when reading Shogun, Anna portrayed her beyond expectations and contributed greatly to the success of the series. I have always believed she was the ultimate Samari protagonist in the book.
This show is outstanding across the board; every performance is top notch. But Mariko has been the beating heart of this show and Anna Sawai's performance is nothing short of astonishing. To convey so much emotion with just her eyes or the set of her jaw, but then to have that payoff in Episode 9 where Mariko finally gets to let everything just pour out of her was immensely powerful to watch. I'm gutted that we won't see Mariko in the finale, but Ms. Sawai should be soaring with satisfaction at the work she has done. A+++!
Anna I was enthralled by you acting and the person you played. I cannot get over the acting ability of you all. I don't enjoy series watching they bore me but shogun I could not stop. Thankyou all for this Anna you will go far my best to my favourite samari Hiroyuki Sanada xxxxxxx
Mariko.... One of the most cherished and incredible characters in the history of literature. And Anna was nothing short of perfection for such an amazing and important character. Amazing job. Incredible show.
Kashigi Yabushige definitely my favorite character in Shogun. Most colorful of them all. Lot more layers to him as well. He's that dude that is doing everything to stay alive. By no means a saint and constantly switching alliances and such but deep down I believe he hates the politics of it all and just wants to be free from it. Although he sides with Ishido when necessary, I believe his character also despises Ishido. That is my interpretation of him at least. Love this series and absolutely hate that it's ending. I've always had a secret love affair with Japanese culture, although I am a Mexican immigrant, my mother claims that she is part Japanese from her mothers side and if true that blood line although slight is in me as well. I can see it with old pictures of my uncles and even with my sister and I think its f*cking cool.
This episode is so emotionally packed that it doesn't I can stop thinking about him. What a script! Anna Sawai´s Mariko sama is the ultimate representation of feminine power, balancing delicacy and attitude. Calm waters are deep... Unforgettable!
Loved her acting sooo much that I needed to watch her in the other series that is : monarch legacy of monsters. She's a brilliant actress and her role in Shogun was soooo damn good wow 👌👌
I agree that was such a powerful moment. It showed that he respected and embraced their culture and was more honorable than the regent who backed out of his obligation. It also showed how his love for her had no limits.
I actually watched all 10 episodes in 1 day because she made me fall in love with her character....she is so beautiful and so talented. I also think she is the most beautiful woman I've seen. I fell in love with her just like blackthorn and when she gave her life at episode 9 I felt pain inside me. Asian women are the most beautiful women....I hope the best for this beautiful girl ❤
I have loved the book for decades. First reading it as a teenager. I worried that this series would be bad like the 80s version. However, this has been done excellently. Anna Sawai’s portrayal of Mariko has been superb. Great casting all round.
I understand it’s the way it was suppose to happen and it’s been almost a week now I can get over it. It is the acting the way she slayed Mariko deserves awards! This show bro messed me up but I love it. Wish there could be a 2nd season.
This was such a wonderful performance, I hope she gets all the roles she wants and I will absolutely be watching. The whole cast was excellent but her performance was just phenomenal.
We will miss Mariko-Sama 😢 thank you Anna for this amazing performance. Just... wow! Btw.. it's kinda hard not to fall in love with her/Mariko-Sama as a hetero woman 😂
I sincerely hope that at least one of the two announced seasons will be focused on her story before Blackthorne. She was for me the main reason for attending the show.
She sang and danced in a J-pop group called FAKY in the Japanese entertainment industry. Search on youtube Please to heal your trauma It might be useful.
