Crimson Sky
"Crimson Sky" (Japanese: 紅天, Hepburn: Kōten) is the ninth episode of the American historical drama television series Shōgun, based on the novel by James Clavell.
John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.538 million household viewers and gained a 0.09 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
When Mariko tries to fight back with a naginata, the guards overpower her, so she announces that she will take her own life at sunset, with Kiyama agreeing to be her second to save her soul from damnation for suicide.
Mariko soon prepares to commit seppuku, with Blackthorne agreeing to be her second after Kiyama does not arrive, but Ishido stops her and grants her permission to leave.
Ishido agrees to spare Yabushige, who in exchange kills several guards and allows an army of shinobi to infiltrate the castle, but Blackthorne prevents them from kidnapping Mariko, fighting several off using his pistol.
After the shinobi set up explosives to blow open the door, Mariko willingly stands in front of it to defy Ishido, referring to herself by her birth surname, Akechi.
[10]: 31:35–33:00 In its original FX broadcast, "Crimson Sky" was seen by an estimated 0.538 million household viewers and gained a 0.09 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
[11] This was a 23% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was seen by an estimated 0.436 million household viewers and gained a 0.08 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Club gave the episode an "A" and wrote, "She declares, "I, Akechi Mariko, protest this shameful attack by Lord Ishido... and by my death—" she is cut off by the explosion, her body absorbs it, and the others are thus spared.
Will the chosen death of his most loyal vassal be the karmic linchpin to Toranaga's ascension as sole ruler of a country on the brink?
"[18] Tyler Johnson of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Rarely have we had any luck in predicting Toranaga's next move, but something tells us that he won't allow the death of his most loyal vassal to go unpunished.
