The barrier to subtitles in the United States has been finally lifted: despite its many dialogues in Japanese, the series “Shogun” triumphed Sunday at the Emmy Awards, with the prize for best drama series and a record number of awards.
The adaptation of James Clavell‘s novel, which explores power struggles in 17th-century Japan, won 18 trophies at the American television equivalent of the Oscars. It became the first non-English-language series to win the top prize and also received the award for best director.
Its screenwriter Justin Marks highlighted the creative gamble made by the FX channel and its owner Disney with this project. “You have validated a very expensive, subtitled Japanese period series, the climax of which takes place around a poetry competition,” he praised.
The soap opera’s star, Hiroyuki Sanada, won the Emmy for best actor. “It was a dream project where East meets West,” said the actor, the first Japanese comedian to win an Emmy for his role as a master strategist.
Her co-star Anna Sawai, who was remarkable as the daughter of a fallen samurai who converted to Catholicism, was voted best actress. It was “the role of a lifetime,” she thanked, very moved.
South Korean productions “Parasite,” which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2020, and “Squid Game,” which won multiple Emmys in 2022, had paved the way. The victory of “Shogun” confirms that American audiences can now praise a foreign-language series, with a different cultural prism.
About 70% of the dialogue is in Japanese and the hero of the novel, an English sailor stranded in the Japanese archipelago, quickly fades into the background in the series, to the benefit of court intrigues and the murderous rivalries of the shogunate.
“Hacks” creates surprise
In other drama categories, Elizabeth Debicki won best supporting actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the final season of “The Crown,” the saga about the British royal family. HBO’s “Hacks” surprised everyone by winning the Emmy for best comedy, beating the big favorite “The Bear: Eat In or Go Out.”
The comic springs of “Hacks” rest on an unlikely duo between an aging American stand-up star, played by Jean Smart, and a young comedian tasked with renewing her jokes, played by Hannah Einbinder. The series was rewarded for its third season’s script and Jean Smart was voted best actress.
“I appreciate it because I don’t get enough attention, seriously,” the 73-year-old actress thanked.
Deprived of the major award, “The Bear” nevertheless collected 11 Emmys, including a shower of trophies for its casting, thanks to its grueling dive into the back kitchen of a Chicago restaurant in search of a star.
Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who play childhood friends turned chef and maître d’, won best actor and best supporting actor respectively for the second year in a row. Liza Colon-Zayas, who plays a gruff cook, won best supporting actress.
“My little reindeer” crowned
The evening also rewarded the Netflix phenomenon “My Little Reindeer” as best mini-series, a category reserved for single-season soap operas. The story of a London bartender harassed by a woman suffering from mental disorders, this series presented as a “true story” is based on the misadventures of its author, Scottish comedian Richard Gadd.
He won best actor in the category and also won best writing. The series came out of nowhere and proved that “the one constant in all television success is good storytelling. Good storytelling that speaks to our times,” said Mr. Gadd, wearing a kilt on stage. “So take risks, push the boundaries, explore the uncomfortable.”
Jessica Gunn, who plays his on-screen stalker, won the award for best supporting actress. In real life, the British actress who is said to have inspired this character was trolled on social media and filed a defamation suit against Netflix. She is seeking $170 million in damages.
Miniseries also include anthologies – soap operas that keep the same theme but change characters and settings each season. In this regard, the fourth version of “True Detective” allowed Jodie Foster to win the award for best actress.
The actress plays a relentless investigator in the polar night of Alaska. At 61, she had two Oscars, but had never won an Emmy.
– What impact did “Shogun” have on the perception of foreign-language series at the 2024 Emmys?
Table of Contents
Shogun Makes History at 2024 Emmys: Barriers to Subtitles Broken
In a historic moment for television, the FX series “Shogun” triumphed at the 2024 Emmy Awards, taking home the prize for Best Drama Series and a record-breaking 18 awards [1]. This marked the first time a non-English language series has won the top prize, shattering the barrier to subtitles in the United States.
The adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, which explores power struggles in 17th-century Japan, won over audiences and judges alike with its gripping storyline and stunning performances. About 70% of the dialogue is in Japanese, but this didn’t deter audiences from embracing the series, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon [2].
Justin Marks, the show’s screenwriter, highlighted the creative gamble made by the FX channel and its owner Disney with this project. “You have validated a very expensive, subtitled Japanese period series, the climax of which takes place around a poetry competition,” he praised [3].
Shogun’s Star-Studded Cast
The soap opera’s star, Hiroyuki Sanada, won the Emmy for Best Actor for his masterful portrayal of a master strategist. “It was a dream project where East meets West,” said the actor, the first Japanese comedian to win an Emmy [1]. Co-star Anna Sawai, who played the daughter of a fallen samurai who converted to Catholicism, was voted Best Actress, saying it was “the role of a lifetime” [2].
Other Winners of the Night
In other drama categories, Elizabeth Debicki won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the final season of “The Crown”. Meanwhile, “Hacks” surprised everyone by winning the Emmy for Best Comedy, beating out the favorite “The Bear: Eat In or Go Out” [3].
“The Bear” still collected 11 Emmys, including a shower of trophies for its casting, thanks to its grueling dive into the back kitchen of a Chicago restaurant in search of a star. Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who play childhood friends turned chef and maître d’, won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively for the second year in a row [1].
The Netflix phenomenon “My Little Reindeer” was crowned Best Mini-Series, with its creator Richard Gadd winning Best Actor and Best Writing. The series came out of nowhere and proved that “the one constant in all television success is good storytelling. Good storytelling that speaks to our times,” said Mr. Gadd [2].
A New Era for Foreign-Language Series
The victory of “Shogun” confirms that American audiences can now praise a foreign-language series, with a different cultural prism. South Korean productions like “Parasite” and “Squid Game” paved the way, and now “Shogun” has broken down the barriers to subtitles in the United States.
As the Emmy Awards continue to celebrate excellence in television, it’s clear that the boundary-pushing storytelling and diverse voices of foreign-language series are here to stay. With “Shogun” making history, the future of television has never looked brighter.
– What cultural impact does the success of “Shogun” at the Emmy Awards have on American television?
Breaking Down Cultural Barriers: “Shogun” Makes History at the Emmy Awards
In a groundbreaking moment for television, the FX series “Shogun” has shattered the long-standing barrier to subtitles in the United States, taking home a record-breaking 18 awards, including the coveted prize for Best Drama Series, at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the industry, as “Shogun” becomes the first non-English-language series to win the top prize, paving the way for more diverse and international productions to reach a broader audience.
A Creative Gamble Pays Off
The adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, which explores power struggles in 17th-century Japan, was a bold creative gamble by the FX channel and its owner, Disney. With approximately 70% of the dialogue in Japanese, the series’ success is a testament to the growing appetite of American audiences for international content. Screenwriter Justin Marks praised the network’s courage, saying, “You have validated a very expensive, subtitled Japanese period series, the climax of which takes place around a poetry competition.”
A Night of Firsts
The “Shogun” cast also made history, with Hiroyuki Sanada becoming the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy for his role as a master strategist. “It was a dream project where East meets West,” Sanada said, expressing his gratitude. Co-star Anna Sawai, who played the daughter of a fallen samurai who converted to Catholicism, was voted Best Actress, describing her role as “the role of a lifetime.”
Paving the Way for International Productions
The success of “Shogun” follows in the footsteps of other international productions that have broken down cultural barriers, such as the South Korean films “Parasite,” which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2020, and “Squid Game,” which won multiple Emmys in 2022. These achievements demonstrate that American audiences are now more open to foreign-language series, which offer a fresh perspective and unique cultural prism.
Other Emmy Winners
In other drama categories, Elizabeth Debicki won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the final season of “The Crown.” Meanwhile, HBO’s “Hacks” surprised everyone by winning the Emmy for Best Comedy, beating the big favorite “The Bear: Eat In or Go Out.” The series, which follows an unlikely duo between an aging American stand-up star and a young comedian, was rewarded for its third season’s script, with Jean Smart winning Best Actress.
“My Little Reindeer” Crowned Best Mini-Series
The Netflix phenomenon “My Little Reindeer” was crowned Best Mini-Series, with Scottish comedian Richard Gadd winning Best Actor and Best Writing for his true story-based series about a London bartender harassed by a woman suffering from mental disorders. Gadd encouraged creators to “take risks, push the boundaries, explore the uncomfortable” in their storytelling.
A New Era of Television
The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards mark a significant shift in the television landscape, with international productions and foreign-language series now firmly on the radar of American audiences. As the barriers to subtitles continue to break down, we can expect to see even more diverse and innovative storytelling in the years to come.
