‘Shōgun’ Breaks Viewership Records Set by ‘The Bear’ for Hulu; How to Watch the Series With a Free Trial
The epic historical drama has generated widespread critical acclaim, and it appears audiences are in full agreement.
To say that critics have been falling over themselves to praise “Shōgun” would be an understatement. The Hulu series has pulled in a 99% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and from Hulu’s perspective, the only downside of the show might be that it’s a limited series, and thus won’t be offering any more seasons after this year; unless the creatives in charge change their minds. According to Disney, “Shōgun” has officially broken records for Hulu in terms of views in its first week of availability.
- The first two episodes of “Shōgun” drew 9 million views across Disney+ and Hulu.
- The series is now the top global scripted premiere from Disney General Entertainment, beating Season 2 of “The Bear.”
- New customers can grab a 30-day free trial to ad-supported or ad-free plans of Hulu, and add Disney+ for as little as $2.99 extra.
“Shōgun” reportedly garnered 9 million views in the first six days of its availability on Hulu. In the unusual way that streaming data is calculated, a view is defined as the total streaming time divided by the runtime of the two episodes released on Feb. 27, the first day of the show’s availability.
That number was good enough to make “Shōgun” the No. 1 scripted series premiere for any show from Disney General Entertainment. It even beat the second season premiere of “The Bear,” which jumped 70% in terms of viewing hours over the first season premiere of the restaurant-focused black comedy.
“Shōgun” did get an assist from a big change made behind the scenes on Disney’s streaming services. Unlike with nearly every other Hulu original, the “Shōgun” viewership numbers also include audiences who watched the series on Disney+, which is possible only because Disney has been integrating Hulu content onto its flagship streaming service since December as part of a widespread beta test. That beta test is set to end this month, followed by the official launch of Hulu on Disney+.
“Shōgun” is based on the James Clavell novel of the same name. Set in Japan in the year 1600, the story follows a warlord who is surrounded by enemies and desperate for allies when a mysterious European fishing ship washes up in a village under his rule, carrying a passenger that will change his life forever.
How to Watch ‘Shōgun’ with a Free Trial
If you’re not currently a subscriber to Hulu, you may not be aware that the streaming service offers one of the most generous free trials of any service on the market. It provides viewers with a full month of free access to its on-demand content, which will allow you to nearly finish “Shōgun” and its ten-episode run without having to pay a subscription fee.
Hulu’s free trial is available to all new customers, as well as select returning subscribers. If you’ve had Hulu in the past and want to know if you’re eligible for a free trial when you sign up again, simply click here and start the process of getting your new account now. Hulu customers can choose a free trial of Hulu’s ad-supported plan ($7.99 per month after the trial) or its ad-free tier ($17.99 per month) and enjoy all the benefits of full Hulu membership.
From all accounts, “Shōgun” is a cultural phenomenon that cannot be ignored by fans of great television. If you’re already a Hulu subscriber, you can watch the three episodes that are currently available, and see a new episode every Tuesday. If you’re not currently signed up with Hulu, you can stream the show free with a 30-day free trial of either Hulu plan by clicking here.
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