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Successful Bet On 'Shogun' Could Be A Game Changer
Vince Staples plays himself in the new comedy "The Vince Staples Show." The show is filmed entirely in Long Beach.
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Courtesy Netflix
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Topline:
The FX series "Shogun," adapted from the 1975 novel by James Clavell, has become that rare thing of prestige television that’s also widely viewed.
Why it matters: As The Ankler’s Katey Rich writes, "In an era when some people are wondering if Gen Z’s “sludge content” is the future, a successful bet on long attention spans is an outright miracle.“
Second-season drama: Shogun has been picked up for another season after the lavishly produced series set in 17th Century Japan garnered excellent ratings and critical plaudits. Its success prompted Disney CEO Bob Iger (FX is a division within the larger entertainment conglomerate) to praise the show as well to investors as a signal of the company’s commitment to creative excellence.
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Second-order effects: With a second season, Shogun will compete for awards (such as the forthcoming Emmys) against other multi-season drama series, such as Netflix’s The Crown and Apple TV+‘s The Morning Show. With the show’s departure from the limited series category, a wide array of programs — from Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and Ripley to FX’s own Fargo and Feud: Capote vs. the Swans — now have greater opportunity to be recognized. The fate of these programs as well as the fortunes of their makers are all impacted by this single decision.
An era-defining show: The last show to command as much acclaim and audience as Shogun was HBO’s Game of Thrones. Shogun is attempting to break GoT’s record for most Emmy nominations in a single year. In the same way that the dragon epic ushered in a decade of elevated fantasy storytelling on television, Shogun’s success could influence the television landscape for a long time to come.
For more . . . read the full story on The Ankler.
This story is published in partnership with The Ankler, a paid subscription publication about the entertainment industry.
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