warrior

Warrior – “Warrior Season 3 Continues to Fight on HBO Max”

2021 has been a year of surprises both good and bad. Changes have been happening slowly but there is always something hindering that change. HBO Max has been off to a rocky start with it’s launch as content has been questionable. “Wonder Woman 1984” was a mild success and “Zack Synder’s Justice League” proved to be the film that everyone wanted back in 2017. And in terms of the world, well not much has changed as Asian Hate crimes are still on the rise, and police procedurals change is still absent. HBO Max acquired the series “Warrior” last year after Cinemax cancelled their original programming. This left the series in a state of limbo that the cast, crew and audience wanting a season 3. HBO Max streamed both season 1 and 2 at the start of the New Year and they have showed their support in the Stop Asian Hate […]

Kyle Wong Talks Up WARRIOR With The Movie Dojo’s Own Phat Samurai Guy

Lee B. Golden III

The past few months have proven to be the most driven for one of our own here on this platform. If you’ve been keeping up with all things related to the hit series, Warrior, which is currently streaming both seasons on HBO Max, and you happen to be one of our readers, chances are you’ve caught on to Kyle Wong’s own reviews of each episode. The series continues to inspire as it’s been doing, despite the discouraging lack of a third season and the reportedly paltry media attention against all cries from fans for the show’s continuance, myself included, wishful thinking be damned. Welp, that didn’t stop Kyle’s mission to cover this show, and The Movie Dojo’s own Phat Samurai Guy only recently wrapped up his own viewing and has since taken up arms with the fanbase to keep the fervor going as of late Tuesday in a new episode […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 10 “Man on the Wall” Fight For What You Believe In

I love “Warrior” and hope for a season 3 with its new home on HBOMax. Here we are with the finale of Season 2. And we’re going back to the main philosophy of the series which is finding one’s purpose. With the series in limbo, this finale leaves an unsatisfying conclusion but like the series and the creators, it will keep fighting to make its purpose known. Mai Ling walks the streets of the aftermath from the Workingmen attack, gazing upon the destruction left behind, and noticing a mural dedicated to Ah Sahm. A few days later, Ah Sahm gazes upon it as Ah Toy joins him. Ah Toy recognizes that the mural gives Chinatown a hero but Ah Sahm denies it. She tells him that even though Young Jun is leading, they won’t follow him. Ah Sahm helps Ah Toy back to the brothel, telling him how Mai Ling […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 9 “Enter the Dragon” History is Doomed to be Repeated

Here we are and we are going to get real. This episode is a hard one to watch, as it came out on Bruce Lee’s birthday but also released after one specific death that occurred in May 25, 2020. (Spoilers are ahead as we are going deep into the shit now.) The San Francisco Chinatown riot happened in 1877, lasting for two days. As the series have used real historical events as inspiration, this one is the stepping stone that made the Chinese Exclusion Act possible. The Workingman’s Party of the United States of America held a rally on July 23, 1877. Speaking about the unemployment and potential resolutions that were needed, city hall granted the rally but police were stationed in case of a potential riot. Chairman James D’Arcy spoke that it was not an “Anti-Coolie meeting” but 200 in the rally chose to make it the main subject. […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 8 “All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic” Locked Down with Consequences

If the episode 17 was about the choices, this is about the consequences. This episode goes into the start of what consequences the characters will encounter. I have stated that Season 2 was filmed in 2019, finally airing in October 2020. Now this is going to get very crazy, because this episode involves a lockdown in San Francisco’s Chinatown, with a curfew implemented. Also the police enforcing the lockdown. As we remember what was going on in June 2020, I will definitely go in depth in the Season 2 Episode 9 review, because there is a lot to unpack there. Well as we know there is a pandemic, the Asian community was targeted and still is. The lockdown was real the Bubonic plague spread in San Francisco. From 1900 to 1904, it swept across Chinatown, letting other communities to leave but keeping the Chinese and other Asian communities were required […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 7 “If You Wait by the River Long Enough” The Choices that Impact the Future

People are given choices, we make choices for better or worse, sometimes we can’t make the choice ourselves. Sometimes the choice we are given is enough to get by or not enough at all. This episode explores our characters’ choices and how they act upon it. SPOILERS ARE AHEAD AS WE ARE GOING DEEP INTO THE SHIT NOW. Picking up where episode 16 left off, Hong, Young Jun and Ah Sahm return to an angry Father Jun. The three has gone behind his back, he burns off Young Jun’s mark and orders the Hop Wei to kill Ah Sahm. Ah Sahm diffuses the Hop Wei members, stating that the Long Zi and Fung Hai are slowly taking over. The Hop Wei present and new members side with Young Jun, letting Father Jun step down his position. Mai Ling is still unsatisfied with Li Young’s decision on Zing, prompting them to […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 6 “To a Man with a Hammer, Everything Looks like a Nail” Finding Purpose in the West Again

The most obvious reference this episode makes is “Enter the Dragon”. Granted we can argue about that any movie started the mad man holding a tournament troupe but here we are. This time it goes back to the stand alone episode while still connecting to the main storyline, going back to the main theme of the series: finding one’s purpose. And I did forget to put these in my reviews but spoilers are ahead. Especially for this episode and what’s to come soon. Vega brings Ah Sahm, Young Jun and Hong to the border town of Rooker’s Mill. She informs that it is owned by Elijah Rooker, who has interests in fighters from around the world and holds the tournament every year. Vega tells of the prize money to be won as the three check in. Young Jun and Hong settle in while Ah Sahm walks around the town. He […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 5 “Not for a Drink, a Fuck, or a Goddamn Prayer” Trust That Goes a Long Way

Trust is a hard thing to come by. You trust your family, you trust your friends, hell you trust the people at McDonald’s not to spit in your burger. This episode explores the theme of trust and the characters who experience it. Episode 15 opens with Mai Ling discussing with Li Young about how her endeavors will benefit Chinatown’s future. Li Young brings up the tournament from Season 1 and how she hasn’t been able to come to terms with Ah Sahm. Mai Ling states she has not forgiven herself for the position she put them in. Penny surveys the Steel Mill’s damage from Leary’s attack, Jacob brings to her attention the dead Hop Wei guards and the Opium stash. Ah Sahm arrives, seeing the damage and meets with Penny. She tells him that she found out about the Opium and it was a mistake hiring him. Knowing what he […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 4 “If You Don’t See Blood, You Didn’t Come to Play” Silence Doesn’t Save Lives

I should mention this as it will come out in a later review but over the past few weeks, the US has been experiencing attacks on the Asian community recently. On January 28th, Vicha Ratanapakdee was attacked in the driveway of his home and died in the hospital. Two other Asian elders have been attacked by slashing and beaten due to Racism. This is nothing new when the pandemic started last year, it is sad as the Asian elderly have done nothing to deserve any of this, and people brush off these attacks as Asians are supposed to be the model minority. As I am writing this, it’s getting much worse than 2020. This goes for everyone, if you see a racially motivated attack, it’s time to step up. Time to expose these people and it is time to stand up and stand together. Even Canada has its racism and […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 3 “Not How We Do Business” Not Everything is What it Seems

After winning another fight at the Barbary Coast, Vega proposes to Ah Sahm participate in a tournament for a bigger reward. He declines as Wang Chao enters to watch the fights. Chao speaks to Ah Sahm, knowing of the deal with Happy Jack but is suspicious of his relation to Mai Ling. Ah Sahm brushes it off but Chao assures that Chinatown will suffer because of his and Mai Ling’s quarrel. Mai Ling visits Zing to collect the Fung Hai share of the Opium dealings but he holds back for service fee. Not backing down, she threatens to break their alliance for killing the Suey Sing and taking the Fung Hai out of the Opium trade. Zing agrees to pay Mai Ling back. Mayor Blake meets with Penny, threatening to pull the Railway contract if she doesn’t rid the Hop Wei protection. While Patterson informs Ah Toy about Lee and […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 2 “The Chinese Connection” The Duality of Right and Wrong

For those who don’t know, Bruce Lee’s film “The Big Boss” was to be given the title of “The Chinese Connection”, capitalizing on the popularity of the film “The French Connection” as both films deals with drug smuggling. The problem was the titles were switched as “Fist of Fury” was given the title of “The Chinese Connection” and “The Big Boss” was titled “Fists of Fury”. If you didn’t know this history, that’s the quick lesson of why the international releases of Bruce Lee’s films has different titles. Especially after Bruce Lee’s passing, “Way of the Dragon” was released as “Return of the Dragon”, capitalizing on the success of “Enter the Dragon”. So we can say that this episode’s title referencing Bruce Lee’s film deals with drug smuggling and dealing with the theme of duality. The cold open has O’Hara running after another person in debt to the Fung Hai, […]

Warrior – Season 2: Episode 1 “Learn to Endure or Hire a Bodyguard” Real Strength through Media

Teddy Boys – A British subculture that young men wore clothes that were inspired by dandies of the Edwarian period. Originally started in the UK in the early 1950s of post WWII, it was associated with American Rock and Roll music. It was to differentiate the teenagers from the adults. On 1956, at a screening of the film “Blackboard Jungle”, the Teddy Boys rioted in theatres where the film was shown. Teddy Boys have forms various gangs and fought against other gangs and immigrant communities, one being the 1958 Notting Hill Race Riot where they attacked the West Indian community. In this episode, they attack the Chinese community, taking their queues as part of their initiation. Before I get into Season 2, I will take note of the filming of the season took place in the late summer and fall of 2019 then finally premiering in October of 2020. This […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 10 “If You’re Going to Bow, Bow Low” The Purpose to Keep Fighting

Episode 10 starts a week after the events of episode 9, a man wakes up Chinese coolies switching up those who worked the night before for those who are ready for the day. Among them is Ah Sahm, who has given up. O’Hara has been with Lee since his attack, waiting for him to wake up as Lee has no family. Lucy visits them, questioning who attacked with O’Hara hiding the knowledge it is the Foon Hai. Father Jun and Mai Ling meet as they go over the property the Long Zi obtained due to the victory of the match. Mai Ling accepts the small portion given by the Hop Wei as Father Jun swears that if the truce is broken again, he will stop at nothing till she dies. Leary intervenes on an inevitable altercation between his men and two black men wanting a drink, accepting the fact that […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 9 “Chinese Boxing” The Cry for Representation is Clear

Episode 9 starts with Leary negotiating with Byron on hiring his men for the railway contract while Li Young and Ah Sahm prepare for their match. Penny is informed by Jacob about the match, prompting her to go. At this time, O’Hara and Lee notice the streets of Chinatown are quieter than usual, finding that the community is gathering to spectate the match. Ah Sahm and Young Jun have a moment while Li Young questions Mai Ling on the probability of only one of them walking away. The Foon Hai, Ah Toy, Long Zi and the Hop Wei all gather as O’Hara and Lee join with the other Chinatown officers to spectate. Ah Sahm and Li Young step onto the mat, paying their respects to each other as Wang Chao explains the rules to O’Hara. Ah Sahm manages to gain the upperhand throughout the first part of the match, catching […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 8 “They Don’t Pay Us Enough to Think” The Downward Spiral

The episode immediately starts from episode 7 with the Hop Wei and the Long Zi charging at each other in the streets of Chinatown. Both sides experiencing casualties in a bloody battle.Penny wakes up to Mayor Blake and Buckley discussing a solution for the Chinatown brawl. Buckley tells Mayor Blake must side with Senator Crestwood with handling the Chinatown violence leaking out. Penny hears the news as she worries and Blake gives the railway contract to Byron, inviting him to a dinner in Crestwood’s honor.Wang Chao visits the Hop Wei to discuss a resolution with Mai Ling, Father Jun accepts the meeting as he tells Young Jun that they must fight smarter and wanting to understand Mai Ling’s motives as he knew Long Zii’s.Father Jun and Young Jun meet with Mai Ling and Li Young coming to terms of not breaking their truce. Lao Ting proposes a fight between a […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 7 “The Tiger and the Fox” The True Nature of People

Based on a Chinese folktale about a tiger and a fox, it is told by Mai Ling within the episode, and I’m not a history buff or an expert on Chinese idioms, metaphors and philosophies. I do know it is interesting that a show with this much depth and history really opens your eyes to so many little details that the creators and Bruce Lee have put in. As always, it is up to the reader and viewer to find its meaning. The episode starts with Long Zii with Mai Ling as he looks back at his yesteryears of being free to roam the streets of Chinatown but knows his time is coming. Ah Toy is looking to purchase women for her brothel from Zan. After finding one of the women bruised, Zan offers Lai; a young girl from a village that Ah Toy takes notice and immediately purchases her. […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 6 “Chewed Up, Spitted Out and Stepped On” What Family Really Means

This link was shared by a friend on Facebook and I wish to share it on this review as San Francisco’s Chinatown is slowly vanishing. As the main setting of the series and the entry point of many Chinese immigrants who managed to make a better life for themselves and their families, it has come to a point where it might disappear. This is history and this community has survived through the Chinese Exclusion Act, Black plague, gang wars and natural disasters. After this review, please click the link and help support San Francisco’s Chinatown. Episode 6 starts out with a bang… Yes I made a sexual innuendo as Ah Sahm and Penny reunite after Nevada, while Chinatown celebrates Chinese New Year. O’Hara and Lee patrol the streets during the lion dance and festivities while the Long Zi try to assassinate Father Jun via bombing. O’Hara returns home to find […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 5 “The Blood and the Shit” Finding One’s Purpose within

“We’ll be back in the blood and the shit soon.” –Ah Sahm Ah Sahm and Young Jun are traveling back from Nevada via stagecoach to bring a corpse stuffed with ingots back for Father Jun. Traveling with them are Father Flynn, Shepherd and his wife Nancy and Mason. And the usual racist connotations and remarks are given back and forth by the latter but Flynn is more accepting with the two. The travel back is stopped by Lew the driver doesn’t want to risk going past sun down. They take shelter in a small saloon run by Billie and Lu, it is a mix of warm welcome for Ah Sahm and Young Jun but more of a forceful entry by Mason. Lu offers Ah Sahm and Young Jun a piece of proper Chinese cooking as they reminisce of the old country. Young Jun falls for Wankeia who works in the […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 4 “The White Mountain” The Grass is Never Greener

“3 weeks, after that, you’re taking a trip to the White Mountain” –Jack Damon. I have been trying to find anything and everything if there is a definition for this term as most of the episodes have a nice nod to old terms or characters saying it in the episode. The only think I have found thanks to my mother, it is probably referring the White Mountains in California. And maybe how people died climbing up mountains but who knows. The episode starts off with Sergeant O’Hara gambling in Chinatown. Suffering loss after loss, he is helped by a former friend turned Pinkerton agent Jack Damon. Jack helps obtain a loan where O’Hara manages to get lucky but luck runs out as he is cleaned out and Jack introduces him to the Fung Hai. Jack gives O’Hara three weeks to pay the Fung Hai back or they will come for […]

Warrior – Season 1: Episode 3 “John Chinaman” The Ideals of Progression and Allyship

John Chinaman – Boy this one is not a doozy to talk about. First off, the term Chinaman did not start as a negative term before the 1870’s. It was used for Chinese immigrants in America as a form of identity. Whereas adding John as a prefix, it was given by Census takers at the time when getting the identities of various new Chinese immigrants who would not give their names. Thus they were named John Chinaman which is a way of saying John Doe. It was around the 1870’s, the term Chinaman became a derogatory term as the Workingman’s Party were fed up with losing their jobs to Chinese immigrants and leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Episode 3 starts with Byron Mercer (Penny’s father), approached by Leary to discuss Mercer’s company acquiring the construction of the railway of San Francisco. Byron sees Leary’s attempt at intimidation, […]