The lengths of these 4 episodes here are longer than just the first 4 episodes from TV. Websites that show the plot outlines of all 5 original episodes track exactly to these 4 in total, so nothing is missing. These are all 5 episodes, just in 4 parts, so good to go!
That said, I saw this in 1980 and watching it now, wonder how the heck my parents let me at 8 years old? On the other hand, the new one is, like most things today, gratuitously gory for no reason? This tasteful made-for-TV original did wonders compared to the boiled face, sepukku guts and bloody rolling heads that were NOT needed to tell the new story. Do people no longer have any imagination at all? I don't know many kids that still read books (cheers to those who do!), so I guess not...
I thoroughly enjoyed them both, but after watching them back to back, this old one still wins it for me. Richard Chamberlain was far superior as Blackthorne, and given more to work with than Cosmo Jarvis. The new one's take on Rodrigues and Alvito were great disappointments, and Blackthorne's crew quickly cast aside. The new one focuses much more on the Japanese characters, and its subtitles give us much more -and welcome- insight into same. However, part of this old one's charm was feeling as clueless as Blackthorne, and watching him develop (he seems to just magically now know Japanese later in the new one, whule we see how much he studied in this one), although it's at the cost of it being very Western-centric. The new one's changed focus is a welcome addition for the two, when taken together.
This old one was adventurous and bright, while the new one is much darker, including its joyless Mariko. I appreciate toning down the romance aspect, and trying to eliminate the Western biases, but it was just too far, and she was more pitiful than relatable (although the true life story of Yoko Shimadu is also sad, and she died far too young, RIP). The new one also had to cater to global/modern streaming audiences, of course. As an old white man in the USA, I am surely biased, but recommend you watch both, and enjoy them for what they each are - both are incredibly good series, but definitely watch this one first (if not most)!

I watched Shogun in 1980 and absolutely loved it! I want to watch it again, but this entry shows only Episodes 1-4. It was a 5-part miniseries. Am I missing something? I’m not going to start watching if the 5th episode isn’t available.

I never read the book, but I did watch the Hulu TV series, which was incredible and excellent. This version of the show inspired my want to experience the 80s version.
I thought this series, made in the 80s, would suffer from the type of maladies typical for TV or filmmaking for that period. Wow was I wrong...
I don't think it makes sense to compare whether the 2024 or 1980 version is "better." Each have their strengths and weakness. The 1980s version has certain characteristics that are "better" than the 2024 version, and vice versa. Sure, the production value of the 2024 version blows away the 1980s version, but remarkably the 1980s version makes up for this with stunning visuals of its own.
The acting and direction in both are on point. However, the 2024 version of Mariko and Yabushige is a definite step up. But the 1980s version of Blackthorn is...I don't know...maybe more interesting than the 2024 version.
At the end they even each other out. The bottom line is both versions are stunning and are worth your time.

I absolutely loved the when I first watched it 15yrs ago. I was born in 1982 so unfortunately did not see the original airing. I was with my uncle who asked if I’d like to watch his favourite show and after watching his copy of it I immediately fell in love with this masterpiece, and it will always remain the best of what true cinematic storytelling should be, I even appreciated the language even I couldn’t understand it it gave me a sense of immersion like no other….I literally felt like I was in the shoes of Anjin-san and managed to learn some Japanese along the journey that is this work of art. Domo internet archive!

After watching this movie, the question I have is why was Marico given a Buddhist funeral and she was supposedly a Christian ?
She surrounded herself with Church leadership and was a valued member of the Church and community ?
The love story tie in with Blackthorn gave the movie depth and an interesting look into the Samurai / Warrior class.
The 2024 version was not as good as this.
The reason for not getting 5 stars is the ending I was left hanging on what happened to Blackthorn on how the story ends.

Video's a little grainy and low-quality, black bars appear to have been cropped instead of just having the full 720*480 DVD video. That fuzziness could be from the DVD transfer itself though, who knows. If I want any better, I guess I can just buy the show myself.
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/shogun-rather-longwinded-thoughts.310788
Going by the contents of this thread (spoilers within), one person goes at length to assure another poster that that particular 2003 DVD set (which I think this release here is based off) is complete and uncut. Things get pretty heated in there, and while I don't think Matt_Stevens really has the moral high ground getting as uppity as he does (is that a 2003 internet thing, or just how the kinds of people who use their real name on the internet still act?), I think he's most likely correct.
I personally feel like I'm missing at least a little bit by not getting to have those recaps and next episode previews if they -do- exist (though I wouldn't have actually watched them), but I can see how they'd be completely omitted from a home video release.
The bigger shame is probably how at which point the episodes cut has probably changed (if the TV release really did have five episodes instead of four, which everything online seems to indicate), but an actual recording of this show as it aired most likely doesn't exist on the internet, plus I trust the directors to have not cut any non-recap footage and ended episodes in places that are about as dramatically appropriate

I wish there was more to watch. As a modern viewer my want for content is insatiable.

The original version shown on US TV ran for five consecutive nights, first episode filling a three-hour slot, second through fourth two hours each, and the final episode again filling a three-hour slot. I figure about fifteen minutes of ads per hour, more or less, so the copy I have that runs a total of approximately nine hours may be complete, but I can't be sure. Certainly, this copy, at eight hours, is not complete.
I don't remember if I saw the whole thing at the time, or if I even saw all of it at all....I just remember being amazed at how good it was, despite watching it on an old 19" B&W TV. I do recommend making the effort to find a more complete copy than this one, though.

School homework prevented me from watching Shogun when it was originally broadcasted. Many thanks to you so that now I can enjoy this epic triumph!
sardonik007

My husband and I loved this series when it first aired on TV. Though he has passed away, I still love this series more than any other mini series that was produced.