After winning big at the 2025 Crimson Sky", the penultimate episode of season 1, is a showcase for Sawai that puts the focus squarely on Mariko. It's widely considered to be the finest hour for the James Clavell adaption, serving as the farewell for the breakout character.

At the Golden Globes press conference, where Screen Rant was in attendance, Sawai addresses the possibility of returning for the already-confirmed Shōgun season 2. Sawai made clear she would love to be back as Mariko. But because of the character's death, the actor notes that she wants to be sure Mariko's return is done in a thoughtful way. Read the quote below:

If they asked me, I would absolutely do it. There's no way I'm gonna say no. But, I don't know if it serves the story, and I want it to be really good and not to bring the character back just to have [her] back.

What Sawai's Comments Could Mean For Shōgun Season 2

A Flashback Or A Dream Sequence Could Happen

Sawai's comments about Shōgun season 2 are an echo of what has been said about the series as a whole and how it is only worth bringing back if it would be possible to maintain the quality of the first installment. That's particularly true of Mariko, who might have initially seemed like a ing character but gradually emerged as the heart of the series and had a standout send-off.

Shōgun had a big showing at the Golden Globes, winning Best Actor, in addition to Hiroyuki Sanada winning for his performance as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, and Tadanobu Asano winning for his ing turn as Lord Kashigi Yabushige.

The most obvious way to keep Sawai in the Shōgun cast would be through a flashback or a dream sequence. But the question of making it count and making it meaningful is another. Series creators Rachel Marks and Justin Kondo, along with the show's team of writers and crew, delivered a perfect miniseries. The second installment will go beyond the Clavell novel, albeit it's not clear that there will be much more to say.

Our Take On Shōgun Season 2

It's A Risk

There's a common saying in the music industry that you have most of your life to work on a deeply personal, careful first album. But if that album is a hit, then you're expected to rush out a second album while maintaining roughly the same level of quality and insight. That conundrum applies to Shōgun, which is returning after its massive success. Along with The Bear, it helped to put FX on the map and allowed the Disney-owned cable channel to compete with HBO at major awards and with critics. But it remains to be seen if it can have a second act that is as strong as the first.