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Jennifer’s Body (2009) dir. Karyn Kusama

#jennyfer's body

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Hiroyuki Sanada as Seiichiro Fukiya in Murder on D Street (Dir. Akio Jissoji, 1998)

#hiroyuki sanada

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cats camouflaging themselves

#cats #camouflage

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ANNA SAWAI as MARIKO in SHŌGUN (2024–) Chapter Nine: Crimson Sky

#shogun #toda mariko

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"Shinobi. They have come for me."

#shogun #mariko x blackthorne

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Blackthorne x Mariko

SHŌGUN (2024)

#shogun #mariko x blackthorne

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TODA MARIKO and JOHN BLACKTHORNE SHŌGUN — 1x09: "Crimson Sky" (2024)

#cruel this show is cruel #mariko x blackthorne #shogun

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TODA MARIKO and OCHIBA-NO-KATA SHŌGUN | 1.09 Crimson Sky

#shogun #shogun spoilers #toda mariko #ochiba no kata #death cw

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Major Shōgun Ep. 9 spoilers:

Yabushige truly gives meaning to the term 'rat bastard'. Toranaga factored his inevitable betrayal into his plans, and Yabushige STILL somehow managed to spring a surprise betrayal. If it wasn't so horrible, it would be impressive how two-faced the man manages to be.

So, about Mariko .... (I'm actually glad I randomly got spoiled the day before seeing this episode and was prepared otherwise I would not have survived what happened to her.)

My take ... Mariko's death was 'pointless' in the same way Nagakado's death was pointless. Nagakado died a senseless death that failed to accomplish anything, but then Toranaga gave his son's death meaning and honour by thanking Nagakado for dying to earn him some time. Mariko blocking the door with her own body served nothing in the sense that it wouldn't prevent Ishido's men from getting in nor did it change the fate of anyone else in that room. But by choosing to sacrifice herself like that and die at the hands of Ishido's agents, Mariko derailed Ishido's plan to take her captive and ensured she'd become a martyr to Toranaga's cause. Mariko not only fulfilled Toranaga's plan, she exceeded it.

Mariko's mission was to get the hostages freed or die trying and in so doing force Ishido to dishonour himself by openly revealing his hand instead of keeping up the facade that he's not keeping anyone against their will. Mariko did both: got the hostages freed and died a martyr to the cause. (Yes, Ishido may choose to turn around and keep the hostages anyway instead of releasing them as agreed, but in doing so he'll only dishonour himself further and lose more support.)

When Toranaga gets to Osaka, he'll have the moral highground and the support of the other samurai families who didn't want Mariko to die like that and who now see Ishido for what he really is. (Also, when the time comes, I think the Christian Regents will now be prepared to turn against Ishido.)

And Mariko got what she'd wanted all along: dying with honour in response to what happened to her family. Her death was meaningful. She served her duty like her father told her to. And she got to spend her last night being at peace and experiencing something like happiness with John.

Buntaro dishonoured her for so many years by keeping her alive for selfish reasons and when he finally offered her the release of death, it was also for selfish reasons. Buntaro was only willing to allow her to finally die because HE wanted to die then and wouldn't be affected by her death since he'd be gone too. Buntaro ordered Mariko to stay alive. John asked Mariko to stay alive many times, and when she ultimately wouldn't change her mind, he not only accepted and respected her decision, he honoured it by offering to second her. Mariko died knowing John finally understood. He finally got it.

Mariko died, and now she is finally free.

EDIT to add:

She died calling herself Akechi Mariko instead of Toda Mariko. She disavowed her husband and her unwanted marriage with her last words. She was truly freeing herself!!!

#shogun #shogun spoilers #toda mariko #lady mariko #suicide cw

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Wow, Shōgun giveth (spooning) and Shōgun taketh away (fiery explosion).

#shogun

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Crimson Sky. I'm still reeling. To know what was going to happen and still be so blown away by it all. I have nothing but praise for Anna and Cosmo and really everyone in this episode. They all brought it. But ANNA. Give her all the damn awards.

Mariko, my baby, she just did it all. She did that. She accomplished what she set out to do and she was finally free before, during and after she made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause. And she just didn't give a fuck the whole time. We got to see her secret heart. All that pain and anger culminate and pay off.

John finally understood after all the pleading with him to understand her motivations. When he offered to be her second after Lord Kiyama no showed. It was like the ultimate declaration of love. It is significant that he, not being Catholic, didn't want her to go to death fearing eternal damnation for taking her own life. He would rather do the one thing he'd least like to do in the world than have her think she was going to hell because he loves her.

#shogun #shogun spoilers #😭

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ANNA SAWAI as TODA MARIKO SHŌGUN — 1x09: "Crimson Sky" (2024)

#shogun #toda mariko

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something about how toranaga recognizing mariko's intellect leads to him trusting her with his true plan versus ishido seeing ochiba's cunningness and wanting to have sex and how those narrative foils reveal things about both regeants

also, the fact that mariko could keep up with toranaga in free verse poetry when her husband could barely string a line together was crazy good characterization. no wonder she felt uninspired by buntaro. she was leagues ahead of him

#shogun #toda mariko

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"Then would you consider living for me?"

#shogun #toda mariko #john blackthorne #mariko x blackthorne #finally a good kiss in television

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Shōgun - 1x09 - Crimson Sky

#shogun #john blackthorne #toda mariko #mariko x blackthorne #sobbing

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SHŌGUN (2024) - Chapter Nine: Crimson Sky

#shogun #this was horrible thanks #whyyyy #noooo #toda mariko #shogun spoilers