“Shōgun” has fulfilled its destiny. After debuting to laudatory reviews , drawing strong ratings throughout its 10-episode run, and landing a (surprise) two-season renewal from FX , Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks’ historical epic took home the Emmy for Best Drama Series at Sunday night’s ceremony . The win capped off a record-shattering run, in which “Shōgun” landed 25 nominations in 22 categories and obliterated the former record for most Emmys won in a single season with 18 Emmys.
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Though some expected “Shōgun” to do well at this year’s Emmys, few anticipated such unprecedented totals . The series tallied 14 wins before the Primetime Emmy ceremony even started , and “Shōgun’s” four wins on Sunday for a total of 18 wins ended up besting a number of Emmy records, including:
- most Emmys won by a series in a single season. (The previous record was 12, set by “Game of Thrones” in 2015, 2016, and 2019.)
- most Emmys won by a series in its first season. (The previous record was 10, set by “The Bear” in 2023.)
- most Emmys won by any series in a single season. (The previous record was 13, set by the limited series “John Adams” in 2008.)
“Shogun” also became the first non-English-language original series to win Best Drama Series (although significant portions of the show were in English).
Set in 1600, the Japanese-language drama series follows Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he tries to outmaneuver his political rivals to ensure peace throughout the country — and perhaps a ruling position all his own. Complicating matters is the arrival of John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), an English sailor (often referred to as “Anjin,” or “pilot”) with ambitions to establish a trade route between England and Japan. Together, the two men embark on a perilous journey to better their positions, their people, and themselves — not always in that order.
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The series was based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, which had previously been adapted into a CBS limited series in 1980. That version of “Shōgun” won three Emmy Awards, including Best Limited Series, and went on to win a Peabody Award and three Golden Globe Awards.
FX’s “Shōgun” was originally seen as a limited series, as well, until the network ordered two additional seasons. The move — seen by some as clever awards maneuvering (to take advantage of weak competition in the Drama categories) and by others as flat-out category fraud — propelled the series into a wide-open Emmy race. Last year’s dominant victor, “Succession,” had ended (as did perennial Emmy favorite, “Better Call Saul”). Other regular Best Drama Series nominees, like “The White Lotus,” “House of the Dragon,” and “Yellowjackets,” were ineligible, having not aired new seasons between June 1, 2023 and May 31, 2024. The high turnover created room for a new drama series to leave its mark, and “Shōgun” did exactly that.
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The full telecast will be available to stream Monday on Hulu.
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