FX’s new adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 bestselling samurai novel Shōgun, premiered with a bang, logging 9 million views for its first episode, according to Disney. Fans can now tune in weekly to stream the remaining episodes until the finale on April 23.
Set in 1600 in feudal Japan, the action-drama centers around marooned sailor John Blackthorne (played by Peaky Blinders star Cosmo Jarvis) and his rise from English outsider to samurai while being used as a pawn in Lord Yoshii Toranaga’s struggle to reach the top of the country’s ruling order.
Helmed by Justin Marks, whose credits include Top Gun: Maverick, alongside his wife Rachel Kondo, the 10-episode series also stars Hiroyuki Sanada, who served as the series’ producer, as Toranaga. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters actress Anna Sawai plays mysterious Christian noblewoman Lady Mariko.
The new series marks the second time the novel has inspired a limited TV series, with a 1980 adaptation starring Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune and Yoko Shimada proving a huge worldwide hit.
To get your samurai fill, keep reading to see where to stream this much-anticipated new series and why a VPN could be a useful tool.
Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2024
When and where to watch Shōgun
Shōgun debuted in the US on Tuesday, Feb. 27, and three episodes are now available to watch. The remaining seven episodes will be released on a weekly basis at the same time on both platforms from then on, but you can watch the next one on Tuesday, March 12 on Hulu in the US, and at 10 p.m. ET on FX’s linear cable network.
Last year, Disney implemented price increases on its ad-free plans for Hulu, but you can save if you stream with ads or choose a Disney Bundle, including a $20 ad-free package. Read more on how we tested Disney Plus’ ad-supported tier and what to expect with the price hike.
Watch Shōgun on a live TV streaming service
FX is also available in the US via streaming service Sling TV on its Blue tier subscription.
How to watch Shōgun in the UK, Australia, Canada, Latin America
In the UK, Australia and Canada, the new Shōgun miniseries will be available to stream exclusively on Disney Plus via the Star section of the streaming app. Viewers in Latin America can watch via Disney Plus or Star Plus.
How to watch Shōgun from anywhere with a VPN
Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Shōgun while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to episodes from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming too.
A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic and stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.
You can use a VPN to stream content legally, as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US, UK, Australia and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.
At this point we’ll add the proviso that for US residents, Hulu notoriously doesn’t play well with VPNs, which may impact watching Shōgun on the service from abroad.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 35% — the equivalent of $8.32 a month — if you get an annual subscription.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
