Shogun Episode 9 Explained | Yabu’s Huge Decision!

Another long video for you guys! We got quite an action-packed episode this week. The gang arrives in Osaka and immediately gets to business. Yabu is still trying to betray his way to the top, Mariko is putting Toranaga's plan into action and Blackthorne , well he's doing what he always does lmao. A great penultimate episode and I can't wait to see how things end next week.
Mariko Outplays Ishido 00:00
Mariko's Escape Attempt 05:56
That Seppuku Scene! 8:41
The Attack On The Castle 12:49
Was Yabu Pretending To Be Scared? 17:34

[@BadTakeRisan]

Do you think Yabu was faking being scared at the end? We've seen him have the stomach for fighting, murder and torture (even enjoying boiling people). I doubt he'd be scared to the point of freezing especially against an "enemy" he knew wouldn't kill him. I personally believe he was playing possum so that he could justify not helping blackthorne and indirectly help the assassins.

[@UmamiNoodle]

I watched the episode today and searched for your synopsis. I got off work and saw this was up! So glad you made it. I read the book when I was 13 years old (and started Iaido and Kendo at 18 years old because of these books). I reread the book at 20 and again at 27. It’s been a few years- and was stretching my brain to remember how the book compares to the episodes. Your videos are the best on KZbin! Thank you. 💕 I go to Japan next week again to prepare for my 4th degree test in Kendo. I am glad I got to see this episode and this synopsis before I left. :)

[@BadTakeRisan]

Thanks for the kind words! The last few breakdowns have been posted a bit late because I’ve been working some late nights recently. If you’re interested, there’s actually a William Adams ( real life Blackthorne) memorial site in Tokyo! It’s got some info on him and his life and is pretty cool. You should check it out if you get have free time out there. Good luck on your Kendo test 🙏🏽

[@UmamiNoodle]

@@BadTakeRisan I will be in the area! I will have to check it out. :)

[@MikeMilly685]

Mariko was the MVP of this ep no cap

[@BadTakeRisan]

Fr‼️

[@FellVoice]

Can someone explain to me what Ishido gains from kidnapping Mariko? Doesn't that just make him look like the jailer that he is?

[@BadTakeRisan]

He’s not doing it first hand. He’s getting rid of her via the Shinobi that were hired by Yabu. Similar to when he killed Sugiyama and blamed it on “Bandits”. As long as he has plausible deniability (to prevent an uprising) , he’ll do anything to further his cause.

[@returntosoilgumiho]

Thank you so much for the breakdown, it was super great. I just have a point I disagree on, I think it was fine and even necessary to skip the scene where Mariko cries for the fallen men in the Cha house. It's like in a book it is perfect because when you read a book you imagine every scene and movement and there is not really such a thing as "overemphasizing" what should be obvious coz the readers imagination hinges on being told what the character feels. In a movie or series you can run the risk of overshowing and ruining the momentum. We see Mariko's expression as we're watching closely, it's neither the cold look she gives Buntaro or the 8 fold fence look of silent enduring, then we see hear her guards refer to her as "Sama" and speak with utmost loyalty and how she knows their names when she tells the second to take over when the first falls, finally when the low ranked (guard?) bows in all respect she bows back and she does it with a levity and respect that is obvious on her face. All it takes is knowing a person's name by their face and having a relationship where they respect you to feel their loss so we are expecting she does just from that little exchange. What also makes it obvious to us is that we have see Mariko breakdown over Fuji's son before to know she feel's loss even if she has sought death for more than a decade, and so assuming death was her plan she knowingly brought those guards with her knowing the outcome for her meaning she may have mourned them long before she gathered the courage to see this all through. So many options and directions for us to mull and it's nicer for me that way because then seeing a specific scene that should have been obvious would feel good but lazy

[@BadTakeRisan]

That's a fair point. After making this video, I rewatched the episode, and she seems hurt by all their deaths. Especially when she calls off the departure and tells everyone it's not possible to leave. At that moment you can see quite a bit of emotion on her face. Thanks for leaving such a detailed comment but bro, use some paragraph breaks next time 😭

[@returntosoilgumiho]

@@BadTakeRisan sorry, will do👍

[@monsurmoshood17]

Post about the final episode bro

[@BadTakeRisan]

I’m dropping the vid soon bro , sorry for the wait 🙏🏽

[@athenovae]

I was expecting Mariko to be badass with the fight scene 😭 but I think she purposefully was terrible to put up an act and make it seem hopeless to justify her Sepuku.

[@BadTakeRisan]

I don’t think she did terrible . She hurt a couple samurai. It was like 9v1, I think she did well given the circumstances.

[@athenovae]

@@BadTakeRisan she was flailing the naginata rather than making intentional and precise movements so that’s what gave me that impression. Haha

[@BadTakeRisan]

Lmaoo fair enough but she’s not meant to be a super capable warrior. Just in basic self defense and sparring. Plus, she knew what she’d have to do afterwards. Her and Toranaga knew Ishido wouldn’t let her leave so threatening (and possibly going through with) seppuku was inevitable. I think anyone would be a little imprecise fighting 9 samurai knowing you might have to kill yourself later 😭