The 2024 miniseries Shogun is a historical drama series based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, which was also adapted into a 1980 miniseries under the same name.
The recent episode of Shogun has left many people’s hearts shattered into pieces. Lady Maria, a.k.a Lady Marilko, in the end, sacrifices herself so that the mission won’t take the wrong turn.
Highlight
- The 9th episode of Shogun reveals a shocking scene of Lady Maria’s demise to the viewers.
- Lady Maria was known by her real name, Hosokawa Gracia.
- Lady Maria worked as a translator for John Blackthrone as she was well-known in the English language.
The series also highlights Maria’s backstory, combined with her feelings for Anjin.
The series revolves around the character Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties who has to prove her value and allegiance.
The series shows how her father’s betrayal of his liege tainted her as the traitor’s daughter. And at the end of the season, it also shows how she lost her life violently.
Lady Maria In “Shogun” Is The Real Life Historical Figure Of Hosokawa Gracia
The character of Lady Mariko is a fictionalized version of the real-life person Hosokawa Gracia.
Hosokawa Garasha was born into the Akechi clan, but she converted her religion to Christianity and embraced her baptismal name.
Lady Maria, portrayed by Anna Sawai in the series, is a devoted Christian who allies with Lord Toranaga.
‘SHOGUN’ has ended today.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 23, 2024
Thoughts on the series? pic.twitter.com/li192VHoxx
Though born in a Japanese family, Lady Maria learned English and decided to convert her religion to Christianity.
Apart from being a Christian, Lady Mariko’s multilingual skills helped her to become a translator for John Blackthrone, with whom she eventually became close.
John Blackthrone is an English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, whose unfamiliar culture would ultimately redefine him Lord Toranaga.
Lady Maria’s Family History
Lady Mariko’s character was the daughter of Akechi Mitsuhude. He was the warlord at the time when she was born.
Akechi Mitsuhude was the one who betrayed the powerful daimyo Oda Nobunaga and ended up taking his life.
Akechi Mitsuhide raised Lady Maria, and he later was protected by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a prominent feudal lord.
The noble lady and religious leader from the Sengoku period was the second daughter of the feudal lord.
Lady Maria Chose To Sacrifice Herself To Complete Her Mission
The 8th episode of Shogun shows how Toranaga gave Mariko a secret mission, which she initially accepted. Maria’s goal was to confront Ishido in front of Daimyos.
She was told to do so because Ishido would left to choose between letting all the hostages go or exposing that he was keeping powerful families in Osaka Castle as prisoners.
It shows that Mariko was successful in forcing Ishido to follow her plan, but he was still trying to fight back by having assassins storm the cast and go after her.
Then, in the 9th episode of the series, Lady Maria sacrifices herself to plan the successful mission.
The episode, which was by far the most shocking and surprising episode, shows how Ishido had permitted Mariko to take hostage and leave the castle in the morning.
Lady Mariko had some of the hardest deliveries on #Shogun🕊❤️🔥🌸 – Thread
— LEV.IS not LEE.VAIZ (Lev)⚪ (@LevisRyann) April 16, 2024
“Accepting death isn't surrender. Flowers are only flowers because they fall” pic.twitter.com/ib9kRcBjq1
And in the middle of the night, Ishido sent groups of army to take the life of Mariko. It was Yabuishige who opened the castle doors to the shinobi and homicide the guards himself.
Yabushige was the guy who betrayed Maria and the Anjin in exchange for his own life in a deal with Ishido.
And while Anjin and Maria were fighting back the shinobi, they soon saw themselves trapped with other hostages inside the room.
As the room was about to be blown up, Mariko decided to sacrifice herself and chose to put herself between the explosion so that hostages would not get hurt.
Additional Information
- The series shows Mariko, despite being a married woman, sleeping with John, and while they are lying in bed, Ishido sends Shinobi to abduct her.
- Mariko’s character was simply defined as a determined yet poised and mysterious woman who was loyal to Toranaga.
- Mariko was married to Buntaro and also had children, Elizabeth and Tudor.
