Servants of Two Masters

One year prior, the reigning Taikō is dying, surrounded by his family and members of his court. After sending them away, he privately talks with Toranaga, suggesting he could become the sole regent until his young heir, Yaechiyo, comes of age. Toranaga refuses, knowing that this will only make him a target for the Taikō's enemies. Anticipating this response, the Taikō informs him that he is forming a "Council of Regents," which includes Toranaga, to prevent a possible civil war over his succession.

In 1600, Blackthorne is brought before Toranaga and Mariko. They bring Portuguese Father Martin Alvito to translate their conversation, where Blackthorne reveals that England is at war with Portugal over their respective religions. This prompts Ishido to order Blackthorne's arrest, which Toranaga does not prevent to avoid antagonizing the two Catholic regents. In his cell, Blackthorne meets Father Domingo, a Franciscan friar, who informs him that the Portuguese Black Ships are using profits from the silk trade to support a secret military base in Macau, implying that the Jesuits are planning to take power for themselves.

Ishido learns from the Catholic regents Kiyama and Ohno that they will support Toranaga's impeachment if Blackthorne is killed, but he believes that the sailor can be useful for their plans. Yabushige, eager to play both sides, arranges for Blackthorne's prison escort to be ambushed by rōnin before ordering his own samurai to kill the rōnin and "rescue" Blackthorne for Toranaga. With Mariko translating his words, Blackthorne explains that Portugal and Spain have divided the world among themselves and intend to replace all non-Catholic governments, shocking Toranaga.

Realizing his potential, Toranaga decides to let Blackthorne stay with him as a guest. The Jesuits inform Kiyama that Blackthorne's private notes have been retrieved, proving that he was sent to disrupt the silk trade. That night, Toranaga kills a shinobi disguised as one of his servants when she tries to stab Blackthorne in his room. Toranaga explains to his shocked advisors that he had deliberately changed rooms with Blackthorne, proving that the assassin was sent to kill him.

In January 2024, Hulu confirmed that the second episode of the series would be titled "Servants of Two Masters", and was to be written by series developers Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, and directed by co-executive producer Jonathan van Tulleken.^[1] It was Kondo's second writing credit, Marks' second writing credit, and van Tulleken's second directing credit.^[2]

For the first meeting scene between Blackthorne and Toranaga, Jonathan van Tulleken said he wanted the scene to feel "very first person" to "get inside both their heads", hoping to build tension in the scene over whether Blackthorne would commit a misstep.^{[3]: 25:54–26:40}