Warrior (TV series) (2019)
Warrior is an American martial arts crime drama television series that premiered on April 5, 2019, on Cinemax. It is based on an original concept and treatment by Bruce Lee, and is executive-produced by his daughter, Shannon Lee, and film director Justin Lin. Jonathan Tropper, known for the Cinemax original series Banshee, is the showrunner. In April 2019, Cinemax renewed the series for a second season which premiered on October 2, 2020. It was Cinemax’s final series before ceasing production of original programming. In April 2021, the series was renewed for a third season, along with the announcement that the series will move to HBO Max.
Plot! Series 1.
While defending another Chinese migrant, Ah Sahm gains the attention of Wang Chao, a black market salesman who takes him to meet Father Jun, the leader of the Hop Wei tong. Elsewhere, police officer Richard Lee arrests a pair of Irishmen for murdering two Chinese laborers. Lymon Merriweather, the employer of the two victims, pressures Mayor Samuel Blake to protect his workers. In response, the Mayor commissions a Chinatown police squad under the command of veteran officer Bill O’Hara, which Lee joins. Father Jun’s son, Young Jun, is nearly abducted from a brothel by the rival Long Zii tong before Ah Sahm comes to his rescue. Later, Ah Sahm encounters Li Yong, the Long Zii’s enforcer, and discovers that his sister is now married to the leader of the Long Zii and goes by the name Mai Ling.
Plot! Series 2.
A group of Long Zii attempt to smuggle opium behind the Hop Wei’s back but are killed after a bribed police officer snitches to the Hop Wei. Despite the attack, Long Zii wishes to make peace and form an alliance with the Hop Wei to unite the Chinese tongs before the Chinese Exclusion Act is passed, unaware that Mai Ling is secretly working with the Deputy Mayor to stoke war between the tongs. The Mayor’s wife, Penelope, is attacked by two drunk Irishmen but is saved by Ah Sahm. However, Ah Sahm is arrested by Bill in spite of protests by Penelope and Lee, who defend him. Penelope asks the Mayor for help but he refuses out of fear of alienating his anti-Chinese white voters and because of Ah Sahm’s association with the Hop Wei.
Plot! Series 3.
At court, Ah Sahm is falsely charged with provoking an attack on the two Irishmen. Irish Mob boss Dylan Leary sends his men to attack Ah Sahm in jail, only for the latter to defeat them. Ah Sahm calls out Bill for aiding the Irish Mob which causes Bill to change his opinion of Ah Sahm. The next day, the charges against Ah Sahm are dropped when the Irishmen fail to appear at court after Mai Ling threatens to kill their family. This causes an angry mob to form, which the Mayor subdues by promising swift action against the tongs. Ah Sahm is able to sneak out with help from Bill and Wang Chao, with the latter giving Ah Sahm a message from Mai Ling, who tells him to leave San Francisco. Ah Sahm returns to the Hop Wei where he is given a hero’s welcome party, only to be later punished by Father Jun due to his actions.
Season 2 (2020)Â
Plot! Series 1.
Hoping to sharpen his martial arts skills, Ah Sahm enters the fighting pits of the Barbary Coast run by Mexican businesswoman Rosalita Vega. There, Ah Sahm encounters the Teddy Boys, an anti-Chinese hate group. Despite his objections, Zing convinces Bill to continue working as the Fung Hai’s debt collector when he is presented monetary compensation. Leary meets Penelope’s younger sister, Sophie, and the two share a connection. Mayor Blake and Merriweather pressure Penelope to sell her father’s company, though she remains adamant. Angered by Mai Ling and the Long Zii’s expansion in Chinatown, Young Jun questions his father’s direction for the Hop Wei and looks for a solo venture that will strengthen their tong.
Plot! Series 2.Â
With Rosalita’s help, a hesitant Young Jun and Ah Sahm broker a deal with Happy Jack, a local drug smuggler. Senator Crestwood holds a rally announcing his bid for presidency and gains the support of the crowd with his anti-Chinese sentiments. Lee becomes addicted to laudanum when he uses it to offset his lingering head trauma. Penelope seeks to hire the Hop Wei to protect her factory workers but Ah Sahm declines. Bill and Lee look into the financial records of Ah Toy’s business partner, Patterson, in hopes of finding the killer. Mai Ling hires Clyde Nichols, an ex-Pinkerton member, to spy on Deputy Mayor Buckley. When a member of the Suey Sing tong is caught dealing opium on Long Zii territory, Li Yong and Zing are dispatched to meet with their leader.