"At a time when complex algorithms dictate taste and determine which show will become popular next, there's some comfort in the fact that a multicultural, largely subtitled, and decidedly analog historical drama can still become a hit. The drama series Shogun, which takes place in 17th-century Japan, captivated viewers and critics across different cultures by creating a deeply immersive world. The bilingual show premiered on FX and Hulu in early 2024 and, later that year, won a record 18 Primetime Emmy Awards."
"The show faced significant barriers to US popularity-namely, the deep-rooted resistance to subtitles in the US, and the psychological distance from other cultures many Westerners feel. About 70 percent of the dialog was spoken in Japanese, and many of the principal cast members were actors not yet widely known in the United States. The fact that the show nevertheless held viewers' interest pleased Marks. "I think the viewers enjoyed the experience of discovering a culture they did not understand through the story," he says. "This is because the algorithm only presents choices that are similar to past choices, so choices that venture into an unknown culture are unlikely to be recommended in the first place.""
Shogun is a bilingual historical drama set in 17th-century Japan that premiered on FX and Hulu in early 2024. The series captivated viewers and critics across cultures and won a record 18 Primetime Emmy Awards later that year. Executive producer Justin Marks served as showrunner and Rachel Conduit oversaw the writing; season 2 production will begin in early 2026. About 70 percent of the dialog was spoken in Japanese and many principal cast members were not widely known in the United States. The series overcame resistance to subtitles and algorithmic recommendation limits by engaging viewers through cultural discovery.
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