Masterpiece.

That's all anyone needs to know when trying to figure out if watching Shōgun is worth the time and energy.

This miniseries should be required viewing for anyone in the entertainment industry to comprehend what good story telling and construction of a series is.

This should be the bar, the gold standard in quality in every respect that shows should endeavour to achieve. Not just in historical drama but every genre!

We have had a constant diet of empty, lifeless garbage flood our screens (for the most part), expecting easy money making profits while dishing out crap.

We don't expect the lavish expense that has gone into Shōgun as the norm, but do expect decent story writing without today's continual political agenda bashing the audience. We watch shows to get lost in the world and the story being told to us.

We refuse the incessant garbage. We demand stories written by people, not a room full of monkeys, or AI and we want those writers to be passionate and well versed in the story 'world' they are writing about. No more compromise, no more 'calling it in'.

Audiences deserve better, and Shōgun piqued our desire for exceptional story telling and crafting for the screen. The vast library of modern entertainment is a waste of money and time.