It was OK, but the original followed the book better, even if it looks exactly like you would expect a 1980s miniseries to look like. You'll be right at home though if you're cool with V, the North and the South, the Blue and the Gray, etc.
This one focused too much on Mariko IMO, with her physically fighting and defeating trained samurai. She also has more agency than in the book. Without spoiling it, there's a bit of diplomatic maneuvering at the end that was Toranaga's doing in the book but the miniseries turned it into her plan. In contrast, Blackthorne comes off sort of like an idiot, but he was the protagonist in the book and not dumb at all, just a fish out of water trying to learn about a completely alien culture.
This one wins hands down on cinematography, costuming, and special effects. Apparently it was mostly filmed in British Columbia and Canada, but you wouldn't know it.
It was OK, but the original followed the book better, even if it looks exactly like you would expect a 1980s miniseries to look like. You'll be right at home though if you're cool with V, the North and the South, the Blue and the Gray, etc.
This one focused too much on Mariko IMO, with her physically fighting and defeating trained samurai. She also has more agency than in the book. Without spoiling it, there's a bit of diplomatic maneuvering at the end that was Toranaga's doing in the book but the miniseries turned it into her plan. In contrast, Blackthorne comes off sort of like an idiot, but he was the protagonist in the book and not dumb at all, just a fish out of water trying to learn about a completely alien culture.
This one wins hands down on cinematography, costuming, and special effects. Apparently it was mostly filmed in British Columbia and Canada, but you wouldn't know it.