Max Almost Buried This Martial Arts Epic; Now It's Netflix's Biggest New Hit
Max was never able to capitalise on its many strengths.
There has long been a feeling that Warrior did not attract the audience it should. Compared to Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders and even Game of Thrones, there's a sense that it's always been on the "maybe someday" list.
Warrior may go down as one of the most aptly named shows in television history. After being canceled by Cinemax and now HBO Max, the martial arts drama that creator Jonathan Tropper says "refuses to die" is now available on Netflix.
What’s it about?
Set during the Tong Wars in late 19th century America, the show follows Ah Sahm (played by Andrew Koji), a martial arts prodigy who arrives in the US from China. Sahm is looking for his sister, but ends up working for one of the major Tongs.
The Tongs were basically gangs of Chinese immigrants who had settled in the US. The Tong Wars were fought between rival factions – mostly in San Francisco, where the show is set.
You see where the comparisons are coming from? It has all the inter-gang tension of those top gangster shows along with the scheming, intrigue and machinations of Game of Thrones. It also has some great martial arts fight scenes. These help distinguish it from other gang shows and ground it in its culture in the same way that being Italian was important to The Sopranos.
What’s Bruce Lee got to do with it?
The martial arts legend's association with the show dates back to the early '70s. He pitched an idea for a show about a Chinese immigrant struggling to achieve the American dream.
The idea was rejected by Warner Bros. and Paramount, with WB going on to produce Kung Fu starring David Carradine. Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee's widow) has claimed that Kung Fu was a reimagining of her husband's idea, but Warner Bros. insist that the show was already in the pipeline.
Whatever the truth, Warrior was shelved until Shannon Lee (Bruce's daughter) found her father's writings in 2000.
Is the show historically accurate?
Yes and no. The Tong Wars were brutal and that comes across loud and clear. The fight scenes are up there with some of the best. And, of course, this was 1870s America: immigrants weren't always welcome, and corruption was at the heart of politics.
These elements of US culture from that era are key parts of the show. Like Boardwalk Empire, Warrior uses artistic license to create a cohesive show, but the gritty reality of the turbulent and violent times it tries to portray feels authentic.
Is it worth watching?
If you're looking for your next fix of gangland drama, Warrior may be the answer. The show has an overall score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Season 1 scored 74%, while both 2 and 3 are rated 100%.
It's the age-old problem of Season 1 having to lay the groundwork for what's to come, and the subsequent seasons jumping right into the action. That's not to say that Season 1 is bad, just that it gets better in later seasons.
Will it get a new lease of life?
Moving the show from Max to the world's most popular streaming site instantly increases its potential viewership by around 150%. Netflix has over 260 million subscribers. More importantly, it knows how to market its shows.
Given that the show was conceived by Bruce Lee, that his daughter is involved in the production, and that it's been critically acclaimed, Warrior may have just found its forever home. And that could be the catalyst for even more seasons if it takes off the way many expect.
Source: Deadline.