Whilst the brilliant historical drama Shōgun wowed audiences in 2024, did you know there was a show called Shotgun from 1990?

The series followed the life of an anthropomorphic shotgun (called Shotgun) whom attempts to integrate into human society in the seaside town of Skegness, England.

Shotgun (played in magnificent fashion by acting legend Arnold Schwarzenegger) doesn’t integrate well into society. The tragicomedy of the show, thus, follows the life of the deadly weapon across various amusing mishaps and tragedies. Boom.

A Sentient Shotgun in a Sleepy Seaside Resort

What’s notable about this show is how Schwarzenegger dresses up in a giant, unconvincing gun-based outfit. Despite the show’s $130 million budget, most of that went on procuring Big Arnie’s acting talents.

Thus, the suit looks low-par and, thusly, the show remains largely unconvincing.

Taking place over one season of 20 episodes, Shotgun arrives in Skegness via a rubber dinghy. The immigrashotgun then attempts to integrate into society by getting some fish & chips with gravy, drinking several beers, and starting a fistfight with bald-headed angry locals with sunburn.

After this aggressive display, locals attempt to ostracise Shotgun,

However, to their surprise they find he’s a shotgun and he can shoot them dead if he so pleases. Luckily for them, Shotgun is a largely benevolent type and a pacifist.

That is right up until the moment he feels threatened, which results in him “letting one off” (i.e. firing shells). Mishaps like that are the main thrust of the show.

For example, in episode two the local chippy owner loses a limb after Shotgun accidentally discharges whilst drunkenly fumbling for change. The gun is promptly arrested and charged, but intriguing legal complications follow due to the nature of Shotgun’s being.

These complexities led to critics, when not handing the show 1/5 reviews, lazily labelling the sitcom Kafkaesque. Which it kind of is, because it isn’t (as in, it’s never existed, but sort of does as it’s covered here on this site).

The Best Episodes of Shotgun: The Immigrashotgun Saga

With its pertinent themes of immigration and guns, the show annoyed much of the public, created much resentment, and this plunged ratings significantly.

It was cancelled, banned, and burned to the ground after just one season.

Sadly, despite that tragic fate there were a few good episodes here and there. Moments of mirth, moments of tears, moments of beers. These included:

• The Lavvies: Shotgun uses a public lavatory and blows one of the urinals off the wall, irritating the janitor employed by the local council to keep the toilets in good working order.
• Supermarket Shopping: After attempting to find a specific type of shampoo, one with a minty quality, Shotgun blows the head off a security guard and accidentally assaults a customer service assistant. He’s fines £50 by the store and handed over to the police.
• Police Escape!!!: When in the police station for the supermarket mishap, Shotgun escapes by using his shotgun abilities. The police, astonished, have no idea how that happened.
• Bazooka Dates: Shotgun goes on a date with a bazooka and the pair, whilst copulating on the local beach, accidentally detonate and demolish the local pier.

Despite such peaks, the show’s ridiculous budget and weighty themes couldn’t sustain a second season. Instead, you’ll just have to make do with Emmerdale.