Review: Shogun, "Chapter Six: Ladies of the Willow World" | Season 1, Episode 6
Mariko learns an unexpected truth, and Ishido takes control
Imagine you are part of Mariko’s family. Imagine worshiping your father, a kind and brilliant man, and loving your sister; imagine admiring her rise in prominence, and imagine empathizing with her misery when your father marries her off to an undeserving suitor; imagine feeling just a little bit of cruel satisfaction in seeing the favored child sent away, never to return; and then imagine your father killing his lord, sentencing himself and his entire family to death, and realizing just before the blade comes down on your neck that this was why he sent Mariko away. Not out of indifference or in error, but to save her life—even as he ended yours.
This isn’t a plot point in “Ladies of the Willow World.” We get to see more of Mariko’s backstory this week, learning about her friendship with Lady Ochiba, the Taiko’s former consort and mother to his heir. Toranaga makes and changes his plans, Yobishuge continues to be utterly screwed in a very entertaining way, and I…