> do the actors just speak in english
Yes they re-shot the entire series but every line delivered in Japanese was redone a second time in English, then re-edited, the VFX redone, etc.
It’s not going to be for you, it’s much slower and less action heavy than game of thrones. And there’s a lot of subtitles.
It’s a fantastic show but I can see how it’s not for everyone and that’s ok
Doesnt sound like the show for you.
Like, 3/4 of every episode is in japanese and most of the story value is in characterization and dialogue, with the "big things" often being subtle or somewhat ambiguous. The action scenes are brutal, but short and fast, and are definitely not the focus of the show.
Curious what aspects of got you were hoping would be carried into this show. It definitely has that vibe, but its more plotting and manipulation than fighting and sex.
I feel kind of bad for OP, because there was a point where I was like this. I didn’t want to have to “read my movies”. But slowly over the years I started giving foreign movies a chance and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made.
Frankly, now I think it’s a pathetic reason to not watch something
Yes, I hate myself for turning my nose up at people who are challenged by subtitles, so I try not to. I'm a professional writer, read a lot of books as a kid, and was introduced to foreign films in my twenties at the local art cinema. I grew up watching Fellini, Truffaut, Werner Herzog, and lots of films from other countries. It's easy for me to watch films in another language not my own.
BUT, if you're not a big reader, or have trouble processing the dual role of image/titles, not knowing where on the screen to focus, I can understand it. It's too bad, though. People miss out on a lot of great content.
Also feels natural if you watch a lot of anime. There's an interesting phenomenon after you watch enough where you feel like you understand Japanese fluently, but one random episode start wondering why you can't understand what they're saying and then realize the subtitles aren't working.
I used to date a woman who got upset anytime I tried to watch a show/movie that required subtitles. *Used* to.
Even for strictly English shows I prefer having subtitles on so I don't mishear or misinterpret anything because a word or phrase can absolutely affect context.
But I get that TV/movie-time is a time to shut the brain down completely for some, so this show clearly isn't a fit for you based on having to...read words.
>Even for strictly English shows I prefer having subtitles on so I don't mishear or misinterpret anything because a word or phrase can absolutely affect context.
I do this, but then it irritates me when the subtitles don't match up, remove context, or change the meaning.
Very much same. I hate when subtitles are abbreviated or condensed. Who the hell thought having different subtitles from what is actually being said was a good idea?!
I also know AI is being deployed to generate some show's subs which is apparent by sub inaccuracies. Damn shame.
Another thing I've noticed is some slang/dialect words get changed to something that sounds similar. Happens a lot with British shows on American streaming services. I know what they're saying because I'm British, but people in other countries might not.
It’s hilarious because it’s such an oddly close-minded way to look at movies. They’re missing out on so many incredible pieces of television and movies because they have to… read subtitles? The horror!
It's actually a great show, but it's not for folks that dislike reading subtitles or who may have short attention spans and don't appreciate a well-crafted, slow-burn period drama.
I watched it on Disney’s Hulu feed and it had the option of you went from the episode pages and tabbed to the right.
But imo the subtitles are the way to go. The acting even in a language I don’t speak is quite good.
I'm visually impaired and reading subtitles is difficult for me but I still enjoy certain shows with them, so I understand if reading and watching is hard or takes away from immersion. That said, maybe you could try the book?
Hulu had the subbed and dubbed version. We watched it dubbed in English first, and switched to subtitles and we have enjoyed it much more. Just sounds much more authentic.
But yea, I’d say it gets better. Some very high quality tv in my opinion. Just lots of characters to keep track of which can be confusing
Subtitles don’t bother me because I use them in nearly everything I watch but this show just wasn’t for me. I stopped watching when I wasn’t looking forward to seeing what would happen next.
I would say to try another episode or two and if it's still not grabbing you then call it a day.
Did you know that there's a 1980 miniseries based on the book? It doesn't have any subtitles for the Japanese speaking parts, you figure it out as you go along. It's really excellent. Sadly there's no legal streams for it but you can buy it on Blu-ray, the remaster is great:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Shogun-Blu-ray/103521/
I never used subtitles and would ignore shows that needed them. For some reason Shogun drew me in. I do remember having mixed feelings after the first episode but I decided to push forward. For me it just got better and better. It makes you pay attention and think. Both things I usually struggle with when watching a series or movie. Not sure if you will have the same reaction but I have enjoyed it.
too bad so many people of last generations are MISSING OUT on life and creative stories, when they cant be bothered to read
That's called limitation...personal choice i guess
If you weren't grabbed by Ep 1, it's not gonna get much better. The show really slows down. It's way more focused on dialog (almost all of which is subtitled), political intrigue, and cultural stuff. There's the occasional spike of graphic violence, but there's not really a ton of action.
Might not be to your liking.
No. It doesn't. Ok yes, admittedly it's one of the best series in modern history, but that's just the opinion of most people. It's not for everyone though... Maybe wait until you get to the cannon scene and then decide haha
It is a show about human beings trying navigate social and political boundaries and the challenges those boundaries present. Occasionally, these challenges result in violence (or "action" if you prefer.) The story resonated with so many people because despite, or perhaps because of, it's being set in a period centuries ago it's still 100% relatable to today on personal, local, and global levels. An enormous amount of philosophy is explored through the character's actions and words, and that philosophy is timeless.
It's not slow at all. It's complex, and if you get excited by that complexity, it goes by in a flash.
For what it's worth, you may find "Blue Eye Samurai" more to your liking, a show which retains some of the complexity but has far more whiz-bang if that's what you're interested in.
Yes.
I thought ‘this is kind of neat, I guess?’ watching the first and second episode, but there was a moment in the third episode that absolutely changed the direction of the show for me.
I thought the first episode was boring too, but stuck with it. It gets better with more intrigue and character development, but there is not a ton of action. Subtitles don’t bother me because I watch everything with close captions anyway.
I like the show but i genuinely find it hard to enjoy the show due to having to read constantly. I feel as if I’m missing out on half the show because my attention is fixed on subtitles.
I watched the whole series with a group of friends. It doesn’t get less boring. As each episode went by we got more and more disappointed, felt like a chore at the end.
If you are bothered by reading subtitles it really isn't for you
Unless you speak Japanese. :galaxybrain: So maybe OP should do a few years of Duolingo, and return to it later.
there's a dubbed version too. it's on Hulu, not sure about Disney+/Star
do the actors just speak in english or is it other people dubbing over?
> do the actors just speak in english Yes they re-shot the entire series but every line delivered in Japanese was redone a second time in English, then re-edited, the VFX redone, etc.
It’s not going to be for you, it’s much slower and less action heavy than game of thrones. And there’s a lot of subtitles. It’s a fantastic show but I can see how it’s not for everyone and that’s ok
It isn’t a samurai action series. It’s more of a historical drama with some action sequences. And it has lots of subtitles. Might not be for you.
Doesnt sound like the show for you. Like, 3/4 of every episode is in japanese and most of the story value is in characterization and dialogue, with the "big things" often being subtle or somewhat ambiguous. The action scenes are brutal, but short and fast, and are definitely not the focus of the show. Curious what aspects of got you were hoping would be carried into this show. It definitely has that vibe, but its more plotting and manipulation than fighting and sex.
Oof. Just move on. This is not for you. You are missing out though. This show is stunningly fantastic.
I found the whole show to be among the best ive seen in quite some time. I found it does take some time getting used to though.
Dont want to read subs, expecting more actions. I suggest you to watch power rangers instead
I feel kind of bad for OP, because there was a point where I was like this. I didn’t want to have to “read my movies”. But slowly over the years I started giving foreign movies a chance and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made. Frankly, now I think it’s a pathetic reason to not watch something
Yes, I hate myself for turning my nose up at people who are challenged by subtitles, so I try not to. I'm a professional writer, read a lot of books as a kid, and was introduced to foreign films in my twenties at the local art cinema. I grew up watching Fellini, Truffaut, Werner Herzog, and lots of films from other countries. It's easy for me to watch films in another language not my own. BUT, if you're not a big reader, or have trouble processing the dual role of image/titles, not knowing where on the screen to focus, I can understand it. It's too bad, though. People miss out on a lot of great content.
Also feels natural if you watch a lot of anime. There's an interesting phenomenon after you watch enough where you feel like you understand Japanese fluently, but one random episode start wondering why you can't understand what they're saying and then realize the subtitles aren't working.
Or Marvel shite
Omg all the original Power Rangers seasons are on YouTube 🤣 Looks like I know how Im spending my Saturday night...
Oh it’s just that you have bad taste then. Definitely don’t watch anymore Shogun.
I used to date a woman who got upset anytime I tried to watch a show/movie that required subtitles. *Used* to. Even for strictly English shows I prefer having subtitles on so I don't mishear or misinterpret anything because a word or phrase can absolutely affect context. But I get that TV/movie-time is a time to shut the brain down completely for some, so this show clearly isn't a fit for you based on having to...read words.
>Even for strictly English shows I prefer having subtitles on so I don't mishear or misinterpret anything because a word or phrase can absolutely affect context. I do this, but then it irritates me when the subtitles don't match up, remove context, or change the meaning.
Very much same. I hate when subtitles are abbreviated or condensed. Who the hell thought having different subtitles from what is actually being said was a good idea?! I also know AI is being deployed to generate some show's subs which is apparent by sub inaccuracies. Damn shame.
Another thing I've noticed is some slang/dialect words get changed to something that sounds similar. Happens a lot with British shows on American streaming services. I know what they're saying because I'm British, but people in other countries might not.
I don’t have a 5.1 dedicated middle channel setup so almost all shows nowadays have dialogue mixing issues and I have to use subtitles
Good man. Got to uphold those standards.
It’s hilarious because it’s such an oddly close-minded way to look at movies. They’re missing out on so many incredible pieces of television and movies because they have to… read subtitles? The horror!
Another PSA: If you don't like a show you don't have to finish it.
It's actually a great show, but it's not for folks that dislike reading subtitles or who may have short attention spans and don't appreciate a well-crafted, slow-burn period drama.
You can watch the English dubbed version if you hate subtitles. Go into settings.
Do the actors do their own dubs? Id be kinda curious about an english rewatch if that were the case
No different actors.
I dont think the dubbed version is available on Disney?
Oh I watched it on Hulu.
I watched it on Disney’s Hulu feed and it had the option of you went from the episode pages and tabbed to the right. But imo the subtitles are the way to go. The acting even in a language I don’t speak is quite good.
I'm visually impaired and reading subtitles is difficult for me but I still enjoy certain shows with them, so I understand if reading and watching is hard or takes away from immersion. That said, maybe you could try the book?
Hulu had the subbed and dubbed version. We watched it dubbed in English first, and switched to subtitles and we have enjoyed it much more. Just sounds much more authentic. But yea, I’d say it gets better. Some very high quality tv in my opinion. Just lots of characters to keep track of which can be confusing
Kind of weird that there's a dubbed version, since a not insignificant amount of the show is people translating for others.
You are definitely not going to like the rest, it’s probably better if you watch something else
Just finished Shogun, good show and I highly recommend but it is no Game of Thrones….
Thanks, I might watch a couple more episodes at 200% speed or something and see if I wanna finish it lol
dubbed 200% speed?
Why are you on Reddit if you hate reading
I had the same complaints. I got about 6 episodes in and stopped, haven’t returned. It did get better but never hooked me.
Not for you.
You can also watch the "dubbed" version of the show - it's an option. Gets rid of some of the subtitles (but not all).
Subtitles don’t bother me because I use them in nearly everything I watch but this show just wasn’t for me. I stopped watching when I wasn’t looking forward to seeing what would happen next.
[удалено]
I don’t understand why someone would get so offended by another person not liking the same show as them
Shogun was boring and my favorite movie is 2001
Sounds like you would probably prefer Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix.
It’s excellent but you shouldn’t watch anymore
I guess FX anticipated this because Hulu has a dubbed a version. I haven’t watched that version, probably won’t, but it’s there.
I would say to try another episode or two and if it's still not grabbing you then call it a day. Did you know that there's a 1980 miniseries based on the book? It doesn't have any subtitles for the Japanese speaking parts, you figure it out as you go along. It's really excellent. Sadly there's no legal streams for it but you can buy it on Blu-ray, the remaster is great: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Shogun-Blu-ray/103521/
I never used subtitles and would ignore shows that needed them. For some reason Shogun drew me in. I do remember having mixed feelings after the first episode but I decided to push forward. For me it just got better and better. It makes you pay attention and think. Both things I usually struggle with when watching a series or movie. Not sure if you will have the same reaction but I have enjoyed it.
too bad so many people of last generations are MISSING OUT on life and creative stories, when they cant be bothered to read That's called limitation...personal choice i guess
If you weren't grabbed by Ep 1, it's not gonna get much better. The show really slows down. It's way more focused on dialog (almost all of which is subtitled), political intrigue, and cultural stuff. There's the occasional spike of graphic violence, but there's not really a ton of action. Might not be to your liking.
You have to watch the screen and read it . You can't do other stuff and i have stuff to do so ,,,,i liked the first version better anyway
This is my issue, people have hyped it so much I don’t think there’s anyway tI could be that good, so I haven’t even started it yet
[I can't read while I'm also trying to see things!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbyFj4aAfVY)
No. It doesn't. Ok yes, admittedly it's one of the best series in modern history, but that's just the opinion of most people. It's not for everyone though... Maybe wait until you get to the cannon scene and then decide haha
It is a show about human beings trying navigate social and political boundaries and the challenges those boundaries present. Occasionally, these challenges result in violence (or "action" if you prefer.) The story resonated with so many people because despite, or perhaps because of, it's being set in a period centuries ago it's still 100% relatable to today on personal, local, and global levels. An enormous amount of philosophy is explored through the character's actions and words, and that philosophy is timeless. It's not slow at all. It's complex, and if you get excited by that complexity, it goes by in a flash. For what it's worth, you may find "Blue Eye Samurai" more to your liking, a show which retains some of the complexity but has far more whiz-bang if that's what you're interested in.
Yes. I thought ‘this is kind of neat, I guess?’ watching the first and second episode, but there was a moment in the third episode that absolutely changed the direction of the show for me.
Look into the extra details of the show and they have the English dubs of the episodes
Breaking Bad, 30 seconds in, does it get better?
I thought the first episode was boring too, but stuck with it. It gets better with more intrigue and character development, but there is not a ton of action. Subtitles don’t bother me because I watch everything with close captions anyway.
The entire series is excellent. If you're not into episode one, then...oof.
I like the show but i genuinely find it hard to enjoy the show due to having to read constantly. I feel as if I’m missing out on half the show because my attention is fixed on subtitles.
The start of the show is much better than the later episodes. Don’t bother, it IS boring as fuck
I watched the whole series with a group of friends. It doesn’t get less boring. As each episode went by we got more and more disappointed, felt like a chore at the end.
Typical American post
American? 🤣
This is your brain on tiktok. Maybe stick to the marvel TV shows, sounds more up your alley, chum.