Shōgun was, without a doubt, the big winner at this year’s Emmys. First, it set a record by winning 14 awards for a single season at the Creative Arts Emmys, which take place a week before and honor supporting actors, technical achievements, and more. At Sunday’s Primetime Emmy gala, FX’s show won four additional awards, bringing the total to 18, another record.
The 14 Emmys in categories such as cinematography, costumes, and editing aren’t surprising because Shōgun is a technical marvel with a visual quality rarely seen on television today. Naturally, none of that would stand on its own without the creative team’s support. As such, the four additional Primetime Emmy awards for Best Drama Series, Best Actress in a Drama Series (Anna Sawai), Best Actor in a Drama Series (Hiroyuki Sanada), and Best Directing in a Drama Series (Frederick E.O. Toye, for the episode Crimson Sky) round out FX’s success.
Furthermore, Shōgun has broken a series of records beyond just the number of awards. Here are the milestones it’s achieved:
- Drama series with more Emmys for a single season (overtaking Game of Thrones, with 12).
- Series with more Emmys for its first season (overtaking The Bear, with 10, in 2023).
- Series with more Emmys for a single season (overtaking the miniseries John Adams, with 13).
- First non-English-language show to win Best Drama Series (Squid Game had previously been nominated but didn’t win).
- First Japanese actor to win Best Actor in a Drama Series.
- First actress of Asian descent to win Best Actress in a Drama Series.
This year was an undeniable success for Disney, considering its FX network dominated the night. The Bear, another major winner in the comedy category (as weird as it sounds), also airs on FX on Hulu. While The Bear already made a strong impact in the 2023 edition of the awards show, this year’s four Primetime Emmy statuettes for Shōgun mark a significant achievement for Disney.
However, the best part is that Shōgun’s extraordinary success may not be in the number of awards it took home on Sunday night but rather something else.
Television as It Used to Be
Shōgun immediately captures the audience’s attention with its meticulously constructed feudal setting. Based on the novel by James Clavell, which previously inspired a miniseries in the 1980s, the plot is rich with samurai, katanas, honor, and tradition, all set in late 17th-century Japan.
After Taiko (the effective leader) dies, a turbulent political environment emerges. His only heir is a minor, so a council of regents rules until he reaches maturity. Conflict arises among the regents, and one of them, Lord Yoshii Toranaga, strategically utilizes an Englishman who has recently arrived in the area.
Shōgun stands out for its sumptuous and meticulously crafted style, reminiscent of a time before streaming services dominated television. In an era where the TV industry often conforms to certain technical and production constraints, Shōgun offers a rare treat. It harkens back to a time when high-quality productions weren’t just about more CGI effects, but also featured better costumes, detailed sets, nuanced performances, and unhurried storytelling that wasn’t bound by strict episode structures.
FX’s exceptional series, currently available on Hulu in the U.S., received outstanding ratings and became the most-watched show on Disney+, where it streams outside the country. It’s a well-deserved recognition for a different kind of television (similar to HBO in its early days), now also acknowledged at the Emmys.
This is a departure from the trend of emphasizing cliffhangers and creating content for the purpose of generating weekly memes. Instead, it focuses on storytelling at its own pace, free from the pressure to constantly cater to audience demands. This approach is a refreshing change, akin to the ethical code of a samurai, in the chaotic world of streaming services.
Image | Disney
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