Is WARRIOR The Best Portrayal Of Asians? 

Love the show and have been waiting for season 3. As an Asian male that grew up in the hood, I appreciate the show because it gives ppl a glimpse of another side of Asian culture. Not just the watered down bullshit that we see from most Asian content that is depicted on American tv. We've been marginalized in this country for way too long.

The use of language in the show is an intentional creative choice. The show runners wanted the audience to most identify and empathize with the Chinese in the show which is why they speak in perfect unaccented American English when talking amongst each other. When they speak to white people, they have the Cantonese accent. I love the way they handle language like this. It also has very multi-layered characters (both Chinese and non-Chinese) and I wouldn’t characterize it as strictly a martial arts show. Watch a full season before making any judgements (and not just an episode here and there without any context).

Warrior is a drama series in the line of The Wire, Snowfall, Mad Men, and Peaky Blinders that is a male-centric prestige drama that provides an in-depth exploration into the innerworkings of the political, professional, cultural and social aspects of the era in which it represents. The characters all have great depth and the situations they are faced with provide for a great long-story and dramatic heart to it.

the show is solid af and it actually teaches some history

I think the criticism at 4:24 isn't regarding the Chinese characters' accents, but more that the dialogue itself comes off as being anachronistic. Otherwise, the show does set the stage that whenever the Chinese characters are talking amongst themselves, they're speaking perfect English, because it's supposed to be representative of them speaking Chinese. When non-Chinese characters enter the scene, they're accents, etc. come back to the forefront.

The character Ah sahm has an American grandfather, so he speaks fluent English.. anyone who don't know that obviously never watched the first episode

You’re not even paying attention. The language situation has been explained several times, including in the first show.

For the accents point at 5:18, they actually did this very well in the show. The chinese characters speak in 3 different accents. They speak cantonese. They speak english with a cantonese accent. And they speak perfect english. The show transitions between the 3 seamlessly. When the young jun or chao speak to a white person, they talk in broken english with a cantonese accent for example. Sometimes, they have the chinese characters speaking cantonese between each other. And usually they are speaking perfect english between each other but it is noted to the viewer that they are actually speaking cantonese.

This show is amazing thanks for letting us know there's a new season because honestly not enough people are talking about this show!

I just finished binge watching the first 5 episodes of season 3 of Warrior. This is one of my favorite shows that features my fellow Asian Americans, because it is well performed show, from acting to action and the writing is not that bad. I majored in English literature, so the writing for a particular series is the most important thing to me. I think they casted the perfect actors and season 3 is just as interesting to me as the previous ones. I think the series has done a pretty decent job of building on the major characters, while keeping that action series balance. Warrior is what it is. The best Chinese American martial arts gangster period piece series ever made. And probably the only one of that genre in America.

Big fan of the show. Got HBO Max just to watch it actually. Before anything else, I understand the complaints. When David talked about revisionist history, that struck a cord. Tong Wars and brutal fights, Chinese men using Kung Fu to fight against racist white people, all of those are pretty cool. But in reality, that didn't happen. Whenever there was the race riot or massacre, Chinese didn't win. Instead, they were beaten, lynched, and driven out of the town or city. However, the show's creators have addressed this. Yes it is based in history, but the themes are what are more important. Asian men are fighting and f'ing because that's what one of the producers, Justin Lin, wanted to be shown. Because those are rarely seen in western media. Certain creative liberties, like modernizing dress and speech, were taken. And yeah, there are brothels and "dragon ladies" sure. But throughout the seasons, one sees how these tropes are subverted and dismantled. Those women take up powerful roles. So yeah, there are changes to history. But "Warrior" addresses very relevant ideas. The stories and characters are complex. And seeing Asians stand up and fight back, especially with what has happened in recent years, can be very empowering.

This is an amazing series with an asian male lead imo. None of that stereotypical asian BS. Just a guy going through tough times and does what he needs to do to survive. My girl Ah Toy though. I'm in love 😩

One of my favorite shows. Time to re-subscribe to catch the 3rd season.

The show was dope. As a black man I think it was very honest and upfront about racism and not watered down . The martial Arts was A1. The fight scenes combined with the acting/drama is 2nd to none when it comes to shows and maybe even movies. The motivation you get from Game of thrones to never give up. I get some of that

This show is absolutely amazing, Bruce Lee strikes again.

Warrior: Asians Kicking A$$ & getting A$$. WARRIOR is in a way giving a good dose of VIGOR to Asian men. On the other hand, lot of female empowerment as well. Thanks fr putting some shine on this Show cause not a lot of folks are talking about it. Which is a shame.

"Mystical dragon dust" 😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm about to watch this show. It looks cool to me.

It’s great show! 10/10 👍🏼 Me and my friends love it

Warrior is better than the latest Kung Fu reboot.

Well guys, you really need to start with episode five written by Kenneth Lin, who was the show runner of house of Cards season three. The first episodes had major issues, but when kenneth lin came on board the writing got way better!

It’s from the writing of Bruce Lee, enough said! Don’t 😴 on this show. The wait for season 3 was way too long. So happy it’s back. Also if you watch the show, they speak english asian to asian with no accents and when they speak to the gailos they speak with heavy accents lol. Not sure if it to eliminate subtitles

Warrior is one of the most slept on shows in television. It's so good, but no one is watching it, unfortunately.

I love seeing Asian women being portrayed as strong and powerful!

Is this the greatest show with the best portrayal of Asian men? uh Hell yes!!! WHAT other *American Made* show gives the opportunity for Asian men to have...."swagger"? None.

Probably one of the best shows I have ever seen. It’s a kung fu movie with swag.

I am addicted to this show.

Whoever complained about the language Didn't notice the fact that when any of the Chinese characters speak to any other race. The Chinese characters then have an accent this is showing the other character's perspective on what they hear when any Chinese characters speak. but when Chinese characters speak among themselves they are shown speaking in perfect English. however when this is happening they are really speaking in Cantonese. The Cantonese being shown as perfect English makes sense because they are speaking in a language that they completely understand. For people who speak two or more languages this is very realistic if your a minority who learned English first because your brain will just translate the other language into English I do this alot without having to think if I hear Spanish, Japanese, hangul my brain will just translate it to English an I'll respond to the other person perfectly but in English but only if they understand English of course.

Love Warrior! The show is badass . And I found it by accident 💯/💯

I enjoy it, but mostly because I am Chinese. If it were the exact same story about an other ethnicity, or if it was the same, and I wasn't Chinese, I likely wouldn't watch it at all. Regarding the mixing of the historical stuff with modern music and dialogue, it reminds me of a movie I love called "A Knight's Tale." When they play "We Will Rock You" at the joust stadium and "Lowrider" during training, it cracks me up every time!

Such a great underrated show. Such nuanced very well written characters and storylines.

I feel like you have to watch this show the same way you'd watch Samurai Champloo with regard to the anachronisms. Also, the accents were explained in-universe, with them speaking broken or no English when interacting with white characters but speaking more neutral English when talking to each other. In the latter they are still speaking Chinese, it's just that the actors are self-English Dubbing themselves in the show for the audience. Only exception being Ah Sahm and his sister since they're both actually bilingual in the story

The show was soooo slept on

I love this show. Other than action it also touches on issues of gender and systemic racism.

LOL Toisan Jesus, f'ing hilarious.

This is an awesome show. Need to keep supporting it!

I think David's point about the show not being entirely accurate is something a lot of people take umbrage with in regards to period dramas. They think if it isn't true to form and marginalized groups get too comfortable and get too many wins it takes them out of it. I hear this argument from black people whenever our stories get adapted and we get too many wins. But the fact that he is precious with what he watches explains his high standards so I don't give him too much flack for that. I personally love this show because at the time this came out there weren't a lot of good martial arts shows out. You had john wick in theaters but not much on tv. I love how hard HBO goes when making shows and to show that much dedication to a martial arts show let alone one inspired by Bruce Lee's writings is a major reason I love the show. After shows like the knick and banshee it was great getting a show like this. I haven't started season 3 yet but I can't wait to watch it. This show uses pieces of American history to not only set the stage but also give you something to look up later. I think people who want total accuracy to history are narrowing the field for great storytelling. You should always respect history but don't hold it up so much that you regard any minor change as sacrilege.

The best show ever especially the historic significance.. Throughout times, we are always grieved about "they are taking our jobs".. First the Vietnamese in 1970's, then Nafta and then globalization and now "AI"

This show is the fuckin shit!!

As a non-asian I'm wondering how Chinese think about the male lead being ethnically part Japanese, and not Chinese. Either way he's a damn good actor and a damn good kung fu fighter.

So many people sleeping on this series!!

Honestly this tv show is worth watching. As a non-Asian, Just watch the first season and you will easily be intrigued. I really like how they develop the characters and the fight sequences. Just give it a chance, Fung bros. :)

Its on Netflix now

Im salty that i just found out about this show.

I enjoy the show. I think people who don't like it are reading way too much into it. At the end of the day, it's just entertainment.

This show is so good. As far as the grunginess of it, there are plenty of american shows that have that. So its about time asians have that perspective shined on them. It also doesn't feel cheesy and way more realistic than John Wick. I'd encourage to watch recaps then watch season 3.

The most amazing show no one is watching. If this was on Netflix it would be a top ten

Your vid today made me want to check it out. First, I like Bruce Lee,, love martial arts, like steampunk, like blade and I love John Wick movies and I want to watch movies that I can understand the dialogue and not read any subtitles. Yup. I guess this show is for me. But I agree it is not for everyone.

It is not over rated, the way it sets how racism is and how against us it was, if they do cancel this it's because they think us asians arent powerful enough and they want us down to just like black slaves, most people don't know how Chinese were fuckin slaves going back to the 1800s, I like how the way they speak english within the group so viewers can understand. It helps the new generation but historically it happen, what can you do or say they were treated like shit. U cannot compare this to samuel hung, you as a Asian cant downplay it's a well executed play on the past and the fact that an asian man is directing it. But whatever 😊

KEEP LOVING ASIAN SHOWS!

The transparency is good, it's obvious only hightlights were watched in preparation for the show. The run-ins don't end 50/50 in most scenarios and it's loss after loss after loss to the Chinese American population especially in the first season. The only time it's 50/50 is when the tongs are going after each other. Yes, it's going to be dramatized and some things are going to be stretched a bit for the story they're trying to tell. No, they're not going to kill off the main character in the third episode because he was maliciously sent to jail for a crime he technically committed.

hello fb, mr taiwan/japan as the 'canton superhero' - written by mr lee. he was mr red cliff master, right? he plotted the path to fight or not fight from mr hark. he got more fit and think he speaks slow english from his time in japan with his father. he sounds very master words for them to hear. think he's good. elle for feudal in cali

Don't have Cinemax. That time period was very stressful for Chinese people during the Taft year. Because of the Chinese exclusion act. Other than that happy for the actors that have worked on that series.

Oh boy, you never saw iranianian movie. Where the older brother want to win 3rd place of marathon competition to get shoe (the prize for 3rd) for her little sister who didnt have a shoe for school. But in the end he won 1st in marathon and didnt get the shoes. Its very sad movie but in the good way for me. I cant remember the tittle for movie, but i believe its iranian movie from early 2000s.

love it

Warrior is great i believe.

Only question is why they always have half Asians portraying full Asians, especially in male lead roles.

It's funny David gave all these reasons why he doesn't care for the show, but the real reason he doesn't like it is for his last reason. Because the main actor isn't chinese. As a taiwanese/mexican American, I consider this a win for asians in the west

The racism is what holds me back from watching the show. I was worried the show was going to be graphic of violence against asians or other minorities. I hate watching films and tv about racism. It took me awhile to give 12 years a slave a chance. Those earlier time periods are not a joke. A lot of alt right people think minorities, especially native americans should just forget the past and move on. But theres a lot of cultural and ancestral trauma that cant be easily forgotten. It becomes part of who we all are. People of color are reminded of their race by others every day so of course they will learn about their roots to inform their own identities.

I love how they don’t talk like wiser than thou accented sages. How much ancient Chinese media have we had of that? You think people hundreds of years back threw F bombs around like in Game of Thrones???

PF Changs lol the best comment.

Wah-tah!!! 😊😅

Best portrayal of Asian men... Jackie Chan Adventures!

No. But for Asian-Americans, maybe yes.

Warrior season 3 is now the #1 most popular HBO show worldwide (source: FlixPatrol)

I watched the first 3 episodes and mostly agree with David at @ 6:00. It's a cool martial arts show, but the appeal wasn't for me. The dialogue feels too modern and Andrew Koji isn't believable as a Canto-speaking Chinese character to me.

imagine how white people spoke back then? lolol prob like leprechauns and durka durks from south park.

This is a very good and cool FICTION show. If you're looking for FACTS, this isn't a show for you. 😂

I loved the 1st season but the 2nd season didn't show the main character much and the ending was underwhelming.the actors are great but dont plan on watching the next season

I respect any opinion on the show as long as the persons watched it, but how are you guys going to have this discussion without at least mentioning the people involved in the production?

wait i just found out there's gays in Warrior... hmm Maybe I'll tune it hehehe. finally we need some gaysian representation yesss

I want to support the Bruce Lee Estate, but I have not been interested in watching this series. Maybe I will watch an episode.

Best Portrayal Of Asians? You mean best portrayal of part-Asians? Koji is hafu, His father is Japanese and mother is English. As usual mainstream Hollywood, Western studios don't like actual full Asian men as lead actors.

I don’t like the hater

I think the show would resonate with David more if David got more pu$$y. The show is amazing! My ONLY critique is I wish they would’ve casted a Chinese actor to play Assam but having said that, the protagonist does a great job and pays a lot of respect to Bruce Lee

No. We don’t always do kung fu and fighting. Everything with Asians is kung fu and fighting. Tired of it

Steampunk? Wtf? When me and my coworkers talk about the show we talk about the characters and how they interact with each other and their motives. Not once did we complain about the setting and the time period. Clown take from you. We get something good on TV finally and we still gotta nitpick.

I was intrigued about the show right up to the part where someone said they added rap music to it. Bro, it's not the 70s...

the promo sucks on this series , just found out recently