Lady Ochiba-no-Kata is far too cunning of a woman to read in the series, but episode 8 showed a different side of her. Did Lady Ochiba hate Lady Daiyoin in Shōgun? Here's what her response to Iyo's death means.
CONTENT SPOILERS: This article contains spoilers for Shōgun, so proceed with caution.
Lady Ochiba and Lady Daiyoin's Relationship Explored
Lady Ochiba (played by Fumi Nikaido) and Lady Daiyoin (Ako Dachs) spent a vulnerable moment together in Shōgun episode 8 titled The Abyss of Life.
Lady Daiyoin, otherwise known as Lady Iyo for short, was Taikō's wife, the same Taikō that Lady Ochiba wanted to avenge in her lifetime.
Lady Iyo was responsible for bringing Ruri aka Lady Ochiba into court. Thanks to this, Lady Ochiba transformed into Ochiba-no-kata, one of Taikō's most admirable consorts that she respects.
Taikō's wife saw Lady Ochiba's son as her own child, however, this doesn't seem to fully explain whether Ochiba considered her as family, as well. This brings viewers to question, did she hate Lady Iyo?
The answer comes into view based on Lady Ochiba's response to Lady Iyo's death.
READ MORE: Shōgun: What Lord Toranaga's Line "Who Chooses a Child as Second" Mean in Ep 7
What Was Lady Iyo's Dying Wish to Lady Ochiba?
As Lady Daiyoin lays in her bed after suffering a stroke that morning, Lady Ochiba sees to it that she reaches her room for her last word.
Considering that Lady Ochiba wouldn't be where she is now without Lady Iyo's help, it must have been the least she could do before she died.
As Lady Daiyoin lays in her bed, she tells Lady Ochiba her dying wish: "You must stop these games. Promise to release the hostages."
Lady Iyo takes her last breath and dies, and though Lady Ochiba briefly shows her grief for her death, the air between them seems still quite as heavy.
It would seem that Lady Ochiba doesn't hate Lady Iyo, specifically, but rather that she has developed a different strategy in mind when it comes to playing politics in feudal Japan.
It's likely an indication that she doesn't plan on stopping her revenge against Lord Toranaga just from a mere old woman's words.
READ NEXT: Shōgun: What is the Truth Behind Lord Toranaga's First Kill in Ep 7? Exposing Tall Stories
Meanwhile, Shōgun episode 9 titled Crimson Sky premieres on Hulu on April 16.
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