FX’s Shōgun, streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India, has redefined historical dramas with its meticulous portrayal of feudal Japan, rich political intrigue and brutal action sequences. After its record-breaking 18-trophy sweep at the Emmys, the series has become a must-watch not just for fans of samurai epics but also for lovers of complex political narratives reminiscent of Game of Thrones but rooted in real-world history.
Shōgun is set during a time when Japan was shut off from the rest of the world. It revolves around an English navigator John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) who gets shipwrecked and becomes entangled in the country’s political and cultural turmoil. Caught between two powerful warlords, Toronaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Ishido (Takehiro Hira), Blackthorne slowly adapts to the unusual Japanese way of life and gains favour with Lord Toronaga, ultimately becoming an ally in the latter’s quest for power.
Here are five shows with similar tropes, set in different worlds, to satisfy your post-Shōgun craving once you are done bingeing on it.
Boundless
In Shōgun, Blackthorne’s journey to Japan was made possible by the Spanish and Portuguese discovery of the Strait of Magellan, a vital passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is this discovery that the 2022 series Boundless focuses on. It shows how the route was kept under wraps by the founders to establish spice trade in Asia. In the series, Rodrigo Santoro plays Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer after whom the passage is named. Together with Juan Sebastián Elcano (Alvaro Morte), a Spanish sailor, Magellan embarks on a quest to explore the world.
So, if you want to watch some adventure and drama on the high seas set in mediaeval times, Boundless could be an option for you.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Pachinko
A significant strength of Shōgun lies in its portrayal of Japan as both a colonised nation and a coloniser. Several characters in the show keep expressing their wish to conquer the neighbouring Korea. Pachinko on Apple TV+, which also stars Shōgun actress Anna Sawai, explores this aspect in depth.
Pachinko, adapted from Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel, follows the multi-generational saga of a Korean family. The show focuses on Sunja (Kim Min-ha), a young woman living in a small Korean fishing village during the early 20th century. It follows her as she gets pregnant by a married man and faces societal shame and rejection. To avoid the stigma of having a child out of wedlock, she marries Isak (Noh Sang-hyun), a minister who offers her a fresh start in Japan. As the family relocates, they confront the harsh realities of life as Koreans in Japan, set during a period marked by the latter’s conquest of Korea.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Kingdom
Historical drama meets zombie infestation in the Korean series Kingdom. Set roughly around the same time as Shōgun, from the late 16th century to the dawn of the 17th, both shows feature similar tropes of warring royal families and treacherous political landscape rife with corruption and betrayal. However, unlike Shōgun, this lacks historical realism as it focuses on a zombie outbreak in a mediaeval era.
The show follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) as he investigates a mysterious plague spreading across Korea, which turns dead people into zombies. In this quest to uncover the truth behind the outbreak and find a cure, he is joined by a determined physician named Seo-bi and a brave village leader. Amidst the chaos, Lee Chang also navigates dirty politics, particularly from his half-brother, who aims to usurp the throne.
It’s a must-watch if you want to see something similar to Shōgun but with a horror spin.
Where to watch: Netflix
Marco Polo
Shōgun’s creator and its cast were all lauded for their authentic portrayal of feudal Japan. Similarly, Marco Polo also gives us a similar glimpse of the Orient, though not of Japan. Like Shōgun, Marco Polo shows a European explorer who lands in a foreign country and gets embroiled in its political turmoil.
The plot follows the famed Venetian explorer, played by Lorenzo Richelmy, who arrives in ancient China and is captured. However, he soon becomes a key advisor to Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. Similar to Blackthorne in Shōgun, Polo embarks on thrilling adventures, forges alliances and faces enemies as he navigates the intricacies of court politics.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Last Kingdom
Shōgun and The Last Kingdom are similar in many ways despite being worlds apart, particularly in their exploration of cultural conflict and the power struggle. Both series feature protagonists—John Blackthorne in Shōgun and Uhtred of Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom—who navigate complex political landscapes as they find themselves caught between rival factions and cultures.
The Last Kingdom follows the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon captured by Viking invaders as a child and raised as one of their own. Set in the tumultuous 9th century, during the Viking invasions of England, the series depicts Uhtred’s struggles as he constantly battles between his Saxon heritage and his loyalty to Viking culture. It is a perfect show for a first-time binge and even a rewatch.
Where to watch: Netflix
