WARRIOR – Season 3: Episode 2 – The World is Bigger than You Think

The episode starts with two of Greer’s men stopped by Secret service agents Mosley and Donaldson. Mosley asks the men to relinquish the contents on their wagon but the men engage in a firefight with Mosley surviving, finding the hideout along with the counterfeit bills. Mosley asks the surviving Greer’s men, who tells about Chao’s involvement.

This leads Mosley into working out of the San Francisco’s police department, much to Atwood’s protest. Mosley knows about the Chinatown squad, looking for one officer to help… Lee.

As Atwood cleans up the streets, Buckley’s campaign is suffering. Mayor elect Thayer is succeeding with the public, giving Buckley anxiety until he meets Catherine Archer. Showing her support and pointing him in the right direction to keep true in his campaign.

After taking the printing press and failed attempts, Young Jun tasks Ah Sahm to find someone who will create the bills needed. He heads to the Chinese printing press (introduced in the previous episode), working a deal with the owner on settling the protection debt to the Hop Wei in exchange for his services. The owner refuses but his daughter Yan Mi secretly asks to help, in exchange for the deal Ah Sahm offered.

Bounty hunters come searching for Lee at Abigail’s bar, prompting Abigail and him to consider leaving San Francisco. Mosley arrives and offers Lee a position to join the Secret Service to infiltrate Chinatown.

Leary comes to check on the deal he has made with Merryweather, who informs him of two brothers known as the Donahues, have assaulted Chinese coolies, putting the work in jeopardy. Leary has the Donahues fired, informing the rest of the men to work respectfully or to discuss with him personally.

The Donahues bring their frustrations to Leary, culminating into the Banshee Alley fight. The Donahues think they have the upper hand but Leary beats them down, gaining their respect.

This episode serves as a brief introduction to the new characters and new development of others. Yan Mi, Abigail, Happy Jack, Mosley, Lee and Douglas Strickland.

Yan Mi was introduced in the previous episode. In this episode and the next, she chooses to help the Hop Wei to settle the debt for her family. Her quick wit and sarcasm draws the attention of Ah Sahm but her skills with the printing press, gives the edge the Hop Wei needs.

The addition of Yan Mi does serve it’s purpose but with the absence of Penny and Vega, it is questionable of how this relationship between Ah Sahm and her will turnout.

Abigail and Happy Jack get a bit more backstory. She is the sister-in-law of Happy Jack, who reveals their story to Lee on how Abigail’s husband was killed by the police while trying to protect her. Happy Jack is unhappy of their relationship which prompts Lee and Abigail’s choice to leave San Francisco.

While Abigail and Happy Jack were minor characters in Season 2, they serve the story of the city’s citizens, in their case of the Barbary Coast and what they encounter.

The addition of Mosley gives Lee what he needed, a new angle to dispense the law. This option helps Lee to be excused of his crime and giving Abigail and him a better life. With Lee coming back, it does put him and O’Hara in different footing.

Douglas Strickland is a brand new character, a business owner who wishes to purchase Nellie’s land to make way for the railroads. He used to work with Nellie’s husband but she declines the offer, prompting Strickland to come up with other means of gaining the land. With this new addition, he automatically comes off as pure evil, and I will say, this man is merciless.

The highlights of the episode have been: Ah Sahm and Ah Toy.

Anytime these two are on screen together, they are just magical as they walk the streets of Chinatown together, discussing how the police have caused them to be in the streets. Ah Toy sees it as a different means of surviving which she expresses her happiness in Sonoma with Nellie which makes Ah Sahm question if there is anything else good outside.

The Long Zii fighting against the Three Brothers’ Tong.

Li Young is tasked by Mai Ling to discuss the assimilation of another Tong led by Muchen. Played by none other than the show’s Fight Choreographer and Second Unit Director Brett Chan, the meeting doesn’t go as planned as Li Young and Kong Pak fight the Three Brothers Tong and kill Muchen.

The fight definitely highlights Li Young and Kong Pak’s trust in each other along with Mai Ling’s trust in Li Young.

Leary fighting the Donahues

The Donahues mock Leary losing to Ah Sahm, which he does not back down but does feel the effects from the fight with Ah Sahm. He still musters up the strength to fight the two brothers and putting them in their place. It is good to see Leary grow as a character and how he is assuming his political role.

With the second episode, it does feel like a bunch of introductions but the show does know how to balance them in terms of their purpose for the story. With this, I got nothing historical this time to share but get ready for the next episode.

Lead photo: David Bloomer