FX’s ‘Shogun’ Parents Guide: Show’s Age Rating Explained
FX’s ‘Shogun’ is an upcoming period drama based on a novel written by James Clavell, which was, in turn, based on true events. The show is set to follow Blackthorne, played by Cosmo Jarvis, the first Englishman to visit Japan, and tells the story of Lord Toranaga, played by Hiroyuki Sanada, and Lady Mariko, played by Anna Sawai, amidst the rise of Tokugawa shogunate, in 1600 which will mark the end of Japan’s Sengoku period. Samurai and Japan are always interesting on-screen, and so children might be tempted to watch ‘Shogun.’ This is why we’re here to clear up the show’s Age Rating and whether it’s suitable for your kids.
‘Shogun’ age rating explained
As with any period drama, whether it’s based on true events or not, you can expect some scenes, plots, and dialogues that might not follow modern-day sensibilities, and such is the case with ‘Shogun.’
‘Shogun’ has been officially classified as TV-14, and there are several reasons why the show might not be suitable for kids younger than 14 years of age.
Going from the trailer alone, we see a scene of murder, some moderate violence, and some shots of the battlefield. Keep in mind that the show is set within one extremely tremulous period in Japan, and it’s not exactly your typical slice-of-life period drama.
The show will also feature some brief sex and nudity, some moderate gore, there will be swearing, and you can expect various time-appropriate substance-abuse scenes.
You can expect the show to have a lot of suspenseful and frightening scenes, some of which younger kids might not be able to understand.
Is ‘Shogun’ okay for your child?
‘Shogun’ is okay for younger teens as long as they are not younger than 14 years old. If they are younger than that, it might be a good idea to watch the show with your child so you can provide commentary and explanations for the scenes they are seeing. In any case, the show is not as bad as some psychological horrors, thrillers, and the like, but it is set in the middle of a war, and some things might be hard to comprehend, especially if your child doesn’t usually watch such shows.
Other kids-friendly shows like ‘Shogun’
If your younger kid is hellbent on watching ‘Shogun’ mainly because of the setting and you’re not comfortable with that, there are several alternatives, mostly animated in nature.
- Samurai Jack – Samurai Jack is an animated series that follows the story of a Samurai prince called Jack who aims to defeat the devil demon Aku. Jack is transported into a dystopian future where he picks fights with bizarre creatures and futuristic technologies as he looks to return to his own timeline.
- Yōkai Watch – While not strictly samurai-themed, it incorporates Japanese folklore and features samurai-like characters in some episodes. The story follows Keita’s adventures as he befriends various yōkai, each with its own unique abilities and characteristics. Together with his yōkai companions, Keita takes on different challenges, solves problems caused by mischievous yōkai, and uncovers the mysteries of the yōkai world.
- Ninja Hattori-kun – The story revolves around a young ninja named Hattori Kanzo, who comes to live with a regular Japanese family. The family is unaware of Hattori’s ninja background, and he tries to blend in with daily life while using his ninja skills to help his new friends.
- Usagi Yojimbo – his animated series is based on the comic book of the same name, featuring a rabbit samurai in feudal Japan. Usagi wanders through a landscape filled with anthropomorphic animals, encountering various characters, both friend and foe, as he upholds the samurai code of honor and justice.
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