If you like your labyrinthine historical dramas peppered with bouts of explosive martial arts action, then a) we should hang out more, and b) we have some great news for you. Season three of Warrior hits Binge and Foxtel Now on June 29!
Set during the Tong Wars in late 1870s San Francisco, and based on an original idea by supreme movie martial artist Bruce Lee, Warrior follows Ah Sahm (rising star Andrew Koji) as he arrives in the US to track down his long-missing sister, Mai Ling (Dianne Doan). But she’s now married to a powerful Tong leader, and effectively runs the gang in her husband’s stead with the help of her lover/enforcer, Li Yong (Joe Taslim of The Raid). Our hero soon finds himself embroiled in crime and politics, tangling with the local cops, the Irish mob, rival Tongs, and sometimes all three at once.
Essentially, if you thought Deadwood needed more flying roundhouse kicks, Warrior is tailor made for you, combining the now-mandatory scandalous take on real-world history with blistering fight choreography and a fascinating look at life in the Chinese diaspora of the 19th century.
Following on from the race riots that rocked the series’ Chinatown setting last season, this season sees Mai Ling moving to consolidate her power base in the uncertainty and chaos that follows, while Ah Sahm struggles with his identity. Is he a folk hero, defending his fellow immigrants, or a stone cold gangster?
This season also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the death of Bruce Lee, and there are rumblings as a yet-to-be-announced special guest star appearing to mark the occasion. Already confirmed, however, is the addition of Mark Dacascos, action cinema mainstay and occasional cooking show host. We’re betting the former skillset serves him better than the latter on this one, but either way, there’s sure to be plenty of big trouble in Little China in season three of Warrior (sorry).
