50 years ago, Bruce Lee left a legacy for the whole world. His philosophies, his films and his views on martial arts. Before “Kung Fu” was conceived, he pitched “Warrior” and the execs said the audience is not ready fora Chinese lead.
Asians in media have dealt with playing the stereotypes and relegated to just jokes or offensive caricatures and still to this day. The world is still opening up and accepting films like “Infernal Affairs”, “Oldboy” and “Parasite.”
Finally making “Crazy Rich Asians”, “Joyride”, “Gook”, “Minari” and winning best film for “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once”. Asian representation… no representation does matter, our stories and our people have something to say and it’s time to be heard.
It was a long 3 years, and here we are, the season 3 finale of “Warrior”.
Our cold open starts with the first loose end, Mai Ling confronting Eliza for having her arrested. Mai Ling tells her of how Eliza’s reaction was out of her husband’s infidelity and giving her the choice of whether to fight back, or stay blind.
The second loose end has O’Hara finding the massacre at the Banshee bar, prompting him to find Leary planning to infiltrate Strickland’s home. Only Nellie and Ah Toy has done the job for him.
The third loose end has Buckley proposing to Catherine Archer. It is revealed that Catherine is working with Buckley’s campaign manager Gumm, setting up what they really plan on manipulating Buckley for their own agendas.
With everything else out of the way, Mosley and Lee lead Stone and a few other officers to Ah Sahm’s plan. Ah Sahm tells Hong that they have to hide the plates only to find Isaac and his men have interrupted the plan.
A shootout ensues with Ah Sahm getting the plates away from Isaac and Lee keeping his end of the deal. Yan Mi is released and leaves at the disappointment of her father.
Lee is relieved of the Secret Service while O’Hara offers a spot back on the police force, only on Lee’s terms.
Ah Sahm learns Young Jun is about to kill Mai Ling. With the Long Zii defecting and Li Yong missing, Mai Ling is defenseless which Ah Sahm now chooses to leave the Hop Wei.
Ah Sahm fights through his former Tong brothers, Hong and Young Jun, dragging himself to Mai Ling’s home as she is about to be killed. Both barely alive, finally embrace as brother and sister.
The finale ends with Chao meeting Yan Mi at the train station, letting her know that Ah Sahm isn’t coming. She boards the train while Chao is stabbed by Zing.
As for the defected Long Zii, they join Li Yong.
Season 3 has wrapped up the arcs the first 2 seasons have built up with our characters as everyone are where they’re supposed to be.
Catherine Archer was the one I couldn’t pinpoint who she was really working with. There have been theories of who she was really working with, one was with Sophie to help locate where Penny was. Ultimately that wasn’t the case.
We learn that she and Gumm has been plotting the whole time. The revelation is a let down but the subplot for the two plotting against Buckley is interesting on what they plan on pushing for Buckley.
Leary finally getting a spot among the elites for who he is. As he sat among the business owners, Strickland gave him the push he needed to finally take matters into his own hands. Granted those matters was to kill Strickland but he didn’t have to do it. Leary is now in the position where he can keep his promise.
Ah Toy and Nellie finally getting their justice against Strickland. This one was built up from the start of the season, Ah Toy was promised a peaceful life for her workers and with Nellie. That was not to be when Strickland burned it all down. With Lai, it was the last straw as Ah Toy and Nellie took the fight to Strickland.
Not much of a fight he put up but Ah Toy was back at form. Only to breakdown that nothing has changed for her to keep fighting. There is a change as Nellie is now beside her, to help fight back.
Li Yong’s end stinger with Xin and the rest of the Long Zii joining him. It is nice to see Li Yong finally assuming the leadership position that he was working hard for. Like Ah Sahm, he was just a follower but does not know what he’s capable of.
After leaving Mai Ling, Xin and his brothers choose to follow Li Yong. And it is a nice call back to the Season 1 finale having the Chinese version of “Little Green Bag” as they walk the streets of Chinatown to an unknown future
Chao has always been the voice of reason to Ah Sahm and it was inevitable that his time would come. With so many close calls with Happy Jack, Lee’s family, it finally caught up with him when Zing came back.
Honestly the opening credits should have let the name be hidden because there is that spoiler. But it is fitting as Zing was put away by Li Yong and ultimately by Chao. Whether Chao makes it or not, time will tell.
O’Hara and Lee are finally reunited. With Lucy and Abigail meeting and enjoying time together, Lee is free from fear and his family while O’Hara is right where he wants to be.
Lee is offered a chance to return to the police force by O’Hara but only on Lee’s terms. As O’Hara has seen and experienced what it has been like under Atwood’s watch, he understands even more what Lee was fighting for.
Lee finally got to experience freedom but the price was to come back under different circumstances. The two do not work well alone but together they might make a difference.
Finally we come to our main characters Ah Sahm and Mai Ling.
Mai Ling has put herself in the situation she has built. Buckley now seeing the recklessness, Li Yong and the Long Zii leaving her, the only peace of power she had was confronting Eliza. It was all gone once Young Jun takes action to order to kill her.
Ah Sahm had choices in this season:
- Leave and be with Yan Mi
- Stay in the Tong and Yan Mi is safe outside
- Be the hero of Chinatown
The one choice though has been set in stone since season 1, to find his sister and bring her home.
Season 2: Young Jun gave Ah Sahm the choice if it was between him or Mai Ling, who would he choose and would he die for her?
The callback to season 2 where Ah Sahm fights Young Jun and Hong in the same room they had this discussion comes full circle. Especially with the conversation making a come back as Ah Sahm is battered to the point where he runs to Mai Ling.
The moment where Ah Sahm finally finds Mai Ling, he calls her by her original name Xiaojing and he’s reaching out to her battered and beaten has been a memory for her of how Ah Sahm was always in her mind.
But now, they’re both reunited once again, under different circumstances and an enemy to both Tongs.
Season 3 has been long awaited, and it delivered every emotion, every character arc and every sub plot leading up to this and even building up to the future.
Usually after 3 seasons, a show loses it’s steam if it’s continued. “Warrior” has been a nice of fresh air historically and of cinematic proportions.
Would I want the show to continue?
To be honest, how this season wrapped up certain threads, it is fine. If there is to be a Season 4, you know I’ll be there supporting it to know what Ah Sahm and Mai Ling are going to do as they united now.
Catch me on Sunday with That Phat Samurai Guy as we review the season on YouTube
Thank you to Shannon Lee, Justin Lin, Jonathan Tropper and the cast and crew for delivering a fantastic season as always.
HBO Max… it’s time to make your choice… and it better be to renew “Warrior”.
