I haven’t been watching much in terms of actual shows for a good while, then while listening to a podcast a host casually mentioned they had rewatched Chernobyl, how it still holds up, that there’s a reason it got as much acclaim as it did, etc. So I thought I’d give it a go and wow, loved it (still one episode left to watch).
Had me thinking, what else have I missed out on? What are some “absolute cinema” TV shows that still hold up and and are considered must watch?
I generally don’t care whether a show is “woke” or not, but some people do, which is why I mentioned it.
Shōgun is an exception. It is based on an Englishman who achieved extraordinary things in feudal Japan. The writers seem to have viewed his story as a white savior narrative and rewritten Blackthorne into the exact opposite of the real figure.
The real Adams was intelligent, educated, skilled, a fighter, a sailor, a shipbuilder, adaptable, learned Japanese, became involved in politics, and rose to the highest position a foreigner could realistically achieve there. The show’s Blackthorne is given protagonist-level focus but is portrayed as slow-witted, oblivious, unable to adapt, and a complete underachiever. He accomplishes nothing significant and never grows into the role. His portrayal often makes him come across as if he has some kind of cognitive impairment.
Shōgun is still a great show, but Blackthorne holds it back. With Toranaga, Mariko, or another character as the lead, it could have been a masterpiece.