Warrior

It’s tempting to herd all men into one group, assuming we all fit a few general stereotypes that describe what a man is supposed to be, do and have. And, while most men will likely not decry any such grouping (preferring stoic silence to sounding whiny), trust me – the words “man movie” do not describe every man’s ‘type’ when it comes to movies. Normally, however, a ‘good’ movie or television show will be seen as ‘good’ across a wide spectrum of both men and women. Television shows and movies that is universally regarded as ‘good’ will usually achieve the following:

1. Draw you into the story – I prefer to say that the story will ‘draw you in’, because irrespective of setting or period, a good story has its definite appeal. Game of Thrones, Black Panther and Peaky Blinders are each set in different places and periods of time, but each draws us into its story in its own unique way.

2. Have an undeniable aesthetic – Whether it be period, place or costume, any good movie or television show will have an aesthetic feel that is above and beyond what is normal. Much attention and detail is given to wardrobe and set design.

3. Present persuasive characters – The characters in the shows we love are not just believable, they are effective at making an impact and leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. It is not essential that we identify with every character, but talking about them requires that we remember them. Forgettable film and TV will have in common forgettable characters. Memorable film and TV will be characterized by the opposite.

4. Leave the viewer wanting more – Whether the viewer talks about what he or she has seen or decides to maintain the show as some guilty pleasure, it’s helpful if what we’re watching is like a few bites of our favorite dessert. A movie should make me ask “I wonder if they are going to make a sequel to this?” An episode of television should make us wish for next week when it is over. Or, if it is on a streaming service, we should contemplate whether to forego an hour of sleep to squeeze in another episode.

Many television shows do all of the above very well. And, the ones that do often become award-winning, global sensations or cult classics in their respective genres. Thankfully, I just discovered a television show that fires on all four cylinders. It is Cinemax’s “Warrior”. The show is not so well known, because…well, it’s on Cinemax. In fact, I only discovered it because it is also featured on HBO Max. And, I have to have HBO Max, because all the new Warner Brothers movies will be featured there at the same time as they debut in theaters this year.

I’m not saying “Warrior” is a man-movie, because men have diverse and unique tastes. But, “Warrior” is a mildly sophisticated, socially-conscious, spaghetti Western, with enough gun and swordplay, martial-arts action and gratuitous sex to make most men happy. So, if you liked “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, “Kung Fu” (David Carradine) or “Django Unchained”, then you’re probably going to like “Warrior”. And, by probably, I mean – you will definitely like it. It’s that good.

Picture – the year was 1878. The city was San Francisco. The Irish were 2nd class citizens fighting to keep their blue-collar jobs. Chinese immigrants were 3rd class citizens fighting to remain in the country as Mexicans are today. And, Black and Brown people were not to be seen or heard outside of their positions of service or servitude. An environment so tense and given to every day struggles and fights for survival makes the perfect backdrop on which to present an engaging plot. Further, I find it a bit uncanny that the show’s themes fit perfectly with our present-day fight to #stopAsianhate.

Andrew Koji plays Ah Sahn, the story’s protagonist who leaves China in search of his sister. Given he didn’t flee China like most who were either escaping horrors at home or sold into servitude, Ah Sahn is allowed a bit of freedom to explore the limited opportunities available to new arrivals from the Motherland. As a martial arts expert with a Caucasian grandfather, Ah Sahn has two other advantages over arriving immigrants. He has a useful skill and the ability to communicate in English, both of which will serve him well in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

The beauty of “Warrior” is that none of these advantages really help the protagonist to separate himself from his reality all that much. Being Asian in America in 1878 is not easy. It is the one cold, hard fact that plagues Ah Sahn on his real journey – that establishing an identity in this country separate from that of a hatchet-man who uses his martial arts abilities to protect his Tong (gang) will be next to impossible. So, his real fight is the fight to answer the age old question – “Who am I really?” It is a journey I certainly didn’t mind taking for two seasons. And, I must say – I can’t wait to saddle up for a third.