It did not take long for the trendy new series to catch on. FX series Shogun is currently dominating Disney Plus and Hulu. The epic miniseries based on the James Clavell novel debuted its first two episodes on Tuesday (February 27) and will end the month on an upward trajectory to be the most talked about series this spring.
Set in the 1600s, the series follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) in a losing battle. When he discovers a European ship from John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), he finds something that can help turn the tides for this high-stakes historical epic. It also stars Tadanobu Asano, Anna Sawai, Yûki Kedôin, Eushin Lee, Hiroto Kanai, Hiromoto Ida, Jodai Suzuki, and Tommy Bastow.
Shogun Rules Disney Plus and Hulu
Television Stats and Flix Patrol confirm that it is not just a vocal minority on social media and critics devouring the series. It has surpassed The Bad Batch, Grey’s Anatomy, and Bluey on Disney Plus, which were previously battling it out for the number-one spot for the prestige epic came along. Meanwhile, Hulu had momentum in continuing shows like Futurama and The Bear before the show on feudal Japan came along.
FX has struck gold with Shogun by releasing it on Hulu and Disney Plus. The latter had slowly been giving more mature series, with some sharing the space between the two streaming services. It benefitted casting a wider net for Marvel’s first TV-MA series, Echo. The strategy continues, but this time in a bigger way, as the new series soars through streaming charts.
Much of the success has come from the overwhelming reception. It has a certified 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and 95% from audiences. Critics call it “high-intelligence drama punctuated with visceral jolts” and will “scratch that Game of Thrones itch you’ve had since the HBO fantasy folded in 2019.”
Shogun is a limited series that will run for ten episodes. Its first two are out, and new episodes will be released every Tuesday until April 23.
