#1
S1E9
Crimson Sky
Mariko arrives in Osaka for the fight of her life. Blackthorne and Yabushige scramble to save their own heads as their options dwindle.
Episode Ratings Grid
M
Loading chart...
Excellent
Great
If You Liked This
See AllEpisode Power Rankings
The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.
#2
S1E4
The Eightfold Fence
Blackthorne and Mariko test their new alliance as they train Toranaga's gun regiment for war. Yabushige must navigate his past promises to Ishido when an old friend comes to the village.
#3
S1E2
Servants of Two Masters
Blackthorne's arrival in Osaka stirs up a hornet's nest of rivalries. Mariko is trapped between her cause and her faith when she must translate for the barbarian in Lord Toranaga's custody.
#4
The Abyss of Life
S1E8
#5
Tomorrow Is Tomorrow
S1E3
#6
Broken to the Fist
S1E5
#7
A Dream of a Dream
S1E10
#8
Anjin
S1E1
#9
A Stick of Time
S1E7
#10
Ladies of the Willow World
S1E6
Lowlights
Lady Ochiba returns to Osaka in order to accelerate the Regents' campaign against Toranaga. In Ajiro, Toranaga tests Mariko's loyalty to his cause.
#9
A Stick of Time
S1E7
#8
Anjin
S1E1
#7
A Dream of a Dream
S1E10
#6
Broken to the Fist
S1E5
The Quality Arc
Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.
Loading chart...
Episode Engagement
High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.
Loading chart...
Series Trajectory
One point per season. Smooths out the episode-to-episode noise to reveal the bigger arc.
Loading chart...
Season Momentum
Did each season build or fizzle? Green means the finale outscored the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows, bigger swings.
Loading chart...
Season Consistency
How steady is each season? Tightly clustered dots mean reliable quality. Scattered dots mean a wild ride.
Loading chart...