WARRIOR – Season 3, Episode 9 – “The Harsh Reality of Who We Are”

When episode 8 ended, Lai infiltrated Strickland’s household. After dispatching Strickland’s guard Shaw, Lai faces off with the man himself in a swordfight.

The aftermath has Nellie bringing the defeated Lai back to Ah Toy. Broken and fueled with rage, Nellie stands by Ah Toy, preparing to face off with Strickland themselves.

Ah Sahm sees Yan Mi in private, showing her the new counterfeit bills that Young Jun’s men made. Fearful, he urges her to leave San Francisco which she pleads with him to follow.

Young Jun learns that Father Jun’s condition is getting worse. The two have their words together as Father Jun urges Young Jun do what’s right, sharing their last moment as father and son.

Leary learns about Strickland’s working practices, discovering that their deal is no longer valid. In retaliation, Leary has the Donahues destroy Strickland’s tracks. Strickland responds by having men fight Leary.

With Atwood in the hospital, Buckley appoints O’Hara as the Chief of police. O’Hara finally in the position he’s supposed to be in, while Lee is by his side in some form.

Lee and Mosley make their way to the printing press and arrest Yan Mi for aiding in the counterfeiting for the Hop Wei. Zimo informs Ah Sahm and he heads to O’Hara.

Ah Sahm makes a deal with Mosley, Lee and O’Hara: the plates for Yan Mi’s freedom. Ah Sahm informs Chao of his intentions on giving the plates to the secret service for his assistance for safe passage for Yan Mi and him.

With everything falling into place, Isaac is seeking retaliation for Happy Jack by killing Chao but Chao makes a deal by telling him about the plates.

This episode is heavy and building the tension. I did not know where it was going to go but it is boiling up. It goes back to purpose and where everyone belongs.

First with Mai Ling and Li Yong. After the wedding, Mai Ling had the elders of the Long Zii murdered. Kong Pak survived the attack but Li Yong fights him and kills him.

With his trust and spirit broken, he tries to talk to Mai Ling but she has their men protect her. He pleads to her asking if he would hurt her, only for Mai Ling to turn away.

Li Yong has stood by and fought for Mai Ling, with Kong Pak gone and knowing the truth of certain events, Li Yong doesn’t know where he fits in the Long Zii or with Mai Ling anymore.

Young Jun with Father Jun is the one example of Asian culture where the child is looking for their parent’s respect. Sadly it comes at the expense of Father Jun’s passing.

With Father Jun’s condition worsening, he wants his son to take lead of the Hop Wei and giving him a peaceful death. It is a nice emotional moment which harkens back to Season 1 where Mai Ling killed Long Zii.

Both leaders have accepted their fate and passed on their leadership to those who they knew would be trusted in their ways. It is a bittersweet scene.

Hong and Marcel’s relationship comes to an end when Hong encounters one of Atwood’s police officers. Hong beats him down in their paradise which Marcel resents.

Hong expresses the reality and cannot escape to a fantasy where Marcel refuses to accept, resulting in them walking away from each other. As Hong wanted a place for himself, it was a matter of time that it wouldn’t last.

For Leary thinking Strickland was going to hold up his end of the deal, he learned Strickland is like everyone else and promises to fight back. Going back to his ways of getting his way.

Ah Toy said it out right, her experience outside Chinatown was great but she came back. The moments between Ah Sahm and Ah Toy have always the come to terms moment. This moment gives Ah Sahm his choice to leave the Hop Wei.

Ah Toy notes he never really belonged which he never did. He was sold into the Hop Wei and as the season progressed, he chooses to help Chinatown and the people because he knows what’s right and what’s wrong.

With Yan Mi in jail, knowing she’ll be deported or killed by the Hop Wei, Ah Sahm’s deal with Mosley is his last attempt to find something for himself.

With the last episode of the season, will Ah Sahm leave the Hop Wei? Will he leave Chinatown and it’s people?

Lead photo: David Bloomer