Cool
More of the same...
shareYup.
My initial reaction to a new Shogun series, as a fan of the original with Chamberlain, was "oh cool!".
Then I remembered that we're in the 2020s and that this production is doomed from the start and will be ahistorical woke trash with the focus on the usual tropes to satisfy "modern audiences".
Watched the trailer and my fears were immediately confirmed.
If one can believe the trailer, there's an alarmingly strong focus on the new Mariko, who of course is a total Girl Boss now and we did get multiple fight scenes with her just in the trailer because remember: WemEn ArE StrONg tOo yOu BiGOt!
The original Shogun series is an absolute gem, a masterpiece in my opinion, for its originality and actual, non-political diversity alone. Men are men in that show and women are women. I have nothing but respect for the original Mariko and while she wasn't a fighter, because why would she be, she was as courageous and upright as one can be. It does not need unrealistic female super warrior scenes to make women appear powerful, intelligent, strong, independent... you name it. It never needed that and film history has proven that.
But "modern audiences" demand their daily dose of political correctness, no matter how dumb it is.
Oh, inB4 "but muh Onna bugeishi!!".
Bring it, can't wait for that bullshit argument. It's usually followed by "muh Birka viking shield maiden grave!" which always makes my day.
Are you so focused on the 1980 series that you are unaware of how the father of Toda Mariko (of the novel) trained her to use various weapons while a youth? Mariko also attempted to defend Blackthorn during the ninja assault on Ishido's castle. Seeing a Toda Mariko that is more faithful to the novel would be interesting.
If the new series is a more direct adaptation of the novel than simply a re-imagining of the 1980 series, it will most likely be better.
The 1980 series was less a gem than a poor adaptation of the novel. Is it really more important to you that the series re-enforce your perceptions of what the roles of men and women were in feudal Japan, than what actual history says?
You claim Mariko was not a fighter, the novel says otherwise. What we do not need is another sexist fanboy TV show to cater to the likes of you. :)
There's a difference between having received some self defense training and being a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon-like super fighter like she is already in the trailer. Her combat scenes are absolutely laughable and over the top and that's just the trailer!
She stabbed a single attacker in Shogun and neither did I forget about that nor would I scold that, because it was depicted very believable. Japanese Ladies did wear a hidden Tanto at basically all times and they were taught basic self defense and while there also have been actual female warriors, a few and very overhyped ones for again political correctness, Mariko was not one of them.
"Is it really more important to you that the series re-enforce your perceptions of what the roles of men and women were in feudal Japan, than what actual history says?"
So, the shit we see in the modern trailer is "actual history", but what we have seen in 1980s Shogun is "fiction"?
Are you alright? Did you hit your head? Because you got things mixed up here.
Also, how was the original "sexist"?
On one hand, you accuse me of disregarding history, on the other hand you complain that the original was "sexist" which is debatable, but whatever it was: It was a spot on depiction of male and female roles in Japan at the time, in other words: Historically accurate (in this aspect).
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
There is a brief scene of a woman cutting down a man with a knife, not sure who it is. Another brief scene shows Mariko using the spear that her father trained her on. Two other scenes show more fighting that Mariko did not do in the novel or 1980 series, but none of it is "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" style, not even close. I think you didn't even watch CTHD if you're going to claim the fight scenes are anything alike in those two productions.
I am claiming the the novel and the 1980 series were not history; the 2024 series will probably not be either.
I'm saying that you are sexist.
I am not having any cake, at all.
How am I sexist for pointing out that classic Mariko was more historically accurate than modern Mariko?
Why does me respecting historical facts make me "sexist"?
And why do you feel the need to resort to personal attacks, without any explanation or reasoning as well, instead of sticking to actual arguments? Do you think that is helpful, or will lead to anywhere reasonable?
My CTHD comparison was, so I thought, obviously over the top to make a point. However, the scene in the trailer where she faces a dozen armed men with her cute Yari because "ShE's TrAIneD!1" is exactly that sort of nonsense.
If it makes you happy, I would have complained about it just the same if it would be a man in that scene, because I prefer more realistic combat scenes over modern over the top ones, but let's not pretend that her being a woman with significantly less body mass, muscle mass and general stamina would have an equally (slim) chance to survive such a fight compared to a normal male counter part of the time. The fact alone that you listed so many female combat scenes from this short trailer only supports my point > unrealistically high focus on female warriors in a land and time when 99.9% of all women were NOT warriors at all, let alone masterfully skilled ones like depicted in the trailer.
Is that still sexist for some reason, or wrong for any other?
Edit: "I am claiming the the novel and the 1980 series were not history; the 2024 series will probably not be either."
And neither am I, just to make that clear. I was careful to point out precisely what I am referring to when I used the words historically accurate, authentic and/or realistic. Please do not misrepresent my argument.
Because you're making it clear that you object to women being depicted as strong.
Perhaps you can withhold judgement until watching the series?
Is that why I said in my post above:
" I have nothing but respect for the original Mariko and while she wasn't a fighter, because why would she be, she was as courageous and upright as one can be. It does not need unrealistic female super warrior scenes to make women appear powerful, intelligent, strong, independent... you name it. It never needed that and film history has proven that."
Look, if you just want to fight someone on the internet, go pick someone else. Not interested.
If you want an honest discussion about whatever without political partizan induced hostility, be my guest.
You have absolutely no grounds to call me a sexist, zero, and I will not have it.
What I said above alone makes that very clear and Mariko from Shogun is not the sole example either, as I hinted at by mentioning film history itself.
It's up to you where this goes from here.
I always wonder, though, how big is the audience for wokist revisionism? It seems something primarily imposed by wealthy liberals who think it's their job to convert everyone to their religion of fascism disguised as manners.
shareAnd you'd be correct, mostly.
However that's irrelevant. All that matters to them is indoctrinating as many people as possible and more importantly, indoctrinating as many younger people as possible. That is why leftist ideology is today in universities, schools and even kindergarten - they want to brain wash children as soon as possible, making sure they already grow up with the absurd idea that a man can give birth, made-up fantasy pronouns are something to be taken serious let alone respected and also the early sexualization of children that is happening as we speak.
Destroying the ideal of the nuclear family is paramount for all of this, without it, they cannot implant their new ideology, first the core family needs to be destroyed and with that, all known - and working - roles and rules society has.
That is what woke is, and that is why these companies are willing to lose money, because ultimately it is an investment into their dystopian future. It is a similar story with the climate politics. Western politicians are willing to destroy their countries economies and the wealth of their people (see Germany) for their absurd climate ideology.
Do you think this all goes back to the Frankfurt School?
shareWho knows. I am not really interested or well informed about all that, I just call things how I see them today. What's truly behind it all... boy do I even want to know? It has to be some really sinister shit, otherwise I cannot explain all that is happening for years now.
share