Shōgun proves you don’t need dragons and bare bottoms for compelling drama

Then along comes Shōgun, last night’s Emmy winner: the first non-English-language show ever to take best drama. It’s set in 1600 and there are no dragons at all, but there’s quite a lot of detailed trading negotiation. There are multiple fiefdoms, but they mainly agree with each other. There’s a lot of romance, but it’s thin on the nudity. A large amount is conveyed by beseeching looks, which go on for ages. There are definitely plot points where you think, “It would be helpful to know more about Portuguese imperialism, and trading routes, and samurai, and the sea. Also: pheasants, and sake, and Christianity, and Shinto.” It is peerlessly beautiful to look at, but there is no question at all that this is a show for people who can sit still and listen.