John Blackthorne is instructed to re-construct his ship by the end of the series.
Shogun is set in mid-1950s Japan where we see our protagonist John Blackthrone getting shipwrecked and entering the fishing port of the region as a prisoner. As the story goes on we see Blackthorne learning the ways of the samurais in Japan, getting accustomed to their culture and tradition.
Shogun has come to be known as one of the most historically accurate fictional series. The series showcases a time of loyalty and discipline in which the people of Japan used to live. The series displayed the era of Lords, shotguns, and samurais, where people lived in a hierarchy system where lords and priests of the land had all the power and respect, while others served them with honor and loyalty.
John Blackthorne’s journey in Shogun Season 1
The story begins with our protagonist John Blackthorne, played by British actor Cosmo Jarvis, an English navigator being honored with the title of being the first English pilot ever to get through Magellan's Pass. On his vessel, Erasmus, John unfortunately met with a devastating shipwreck that brought him to the shores of Japan, where he originally sought to reach to start his trading business. Japanese fishermen and lords capture John and his men, branding them prisoners and pirates by judging their attire.
As the show goes on, John is brought in front of the “daimyō” of the region, Lord Toranaga, who has taken John Blackthorne’s ship and men under custody. During their interactions, Toranaga finds John to be the key for him to understand the ways of battle that the English men fought with, along with the differences that the Spanish and the Portuguese had between them. Throughout the remainder of the story, we see John maintaining a friendly relationship with Toranaga, eventually earning his trust and receiving the title of “Hatamoto” and samurai, gaining all the respect and serving rightfully according to their tradition.
As the series arrives at an end, we see Lord Toranaga permitting John Blackthorne to rebuild his ship as Toronaga goes on to defeat his rival Lord Ishido. Even though we see Blackthorne getting permission to fix the ship, it is also revealed that Toranaga does not want our protagonist to leave Japan in any case. It could be presumed that as the story progresses, Blackthorne might meet his end in Japan and not be able to reach his homeland.
Who plays the role of John Blackthorne in Shogun?
John Blackthorne is played by the actor Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan Jarvis. Commonly known as Cosmo Jarvis, the British actor and songwriter started his journey in the pop industry working on various albums like 'Is the World Strange or Am I Strange?', and 'Think Bigger' among many others. The actor received his big break for his role as Sebastian in the movie Lady Macbeth in 2015. The actor has also starred in other movies and shows like Calm with Horses, Peaky Blinders, and Funny Face, among many others.
Also read: What happens to buntaro in shogun?
FAQs about John Blackthorn
A. John Blackthorn is one of the main characters in Shogun, often called a pilot or a barbarian.
A. John Blackthorn receives the title of Hatomoto from Lord Toranaga.
A. Yes John ends up having a romantic affair with Lady Mariko.
