‘Chief of Struggle’ assessment: Jason Momoa’s historic epic is extra than simply its huge battle scenes

Once you name a collection Chief of Struggle, you are setting an expectation for jaw-dropping battle sequences and wartime chaos. It is unsurprising, then, that Apple TV+’s new historic epic carries these in spades — and boy, do they ship. From a horrifying seashore invasion to an unforgettable volcanic showdown, Chief of Struggle delivers sufficient adrenaline-fueled struggle scenes to make you’re feeling like you’ll be able to run via a wall or two.

But for as a lot as these battles caught with me — and granted, I am a sucker for epic battles — it is Chief of Struggle‘s lulls between storms that wound up sticking with me essentially the most. Right here, the collection tells a story concerning the corrupting energy of prophecy, and concerning the compromises individuals make as a way to guarantee their survival. These themes undoubtedly heighten the stakes of Chief of Struggle‘s spectacular battles, though they sometimes threat being drowned out by the spectacles themselves.

What’s Chief of Struggle about?

Co-created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, Chief of Struggle goals to inform the story of the unification of Hawaii from an Indigenous perspective. The present’s primarily Polynesian solid, led by Momoa, spends the overwhelming majority of the collection talking in Hawaiian, whereas a military of cultural consultants labored behind the scenes to make sure cultural and historic authenticity. Their efforts, together with these of Chief of Struggle‘s whole manufacturing group, create an immersive, beautiful look again via time, because the collection transports viewers to the Hawaiian Islands on the finish of the 18th century.

Because the collection opens, the kingdoms of O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i, and Hawai’i are trapped in a continuous cycle of conflict. A prophecy foretells that someday an awesome king will unite the kingdoms and finish these wars. Nonetheless, that prophecy has solely made kings imagine that they will be those to unite the dominion, additional exacerbating battle.

On the middle of all of it is Maui warrior Ka’iana (Momoa), one in every of many real-life figures who seem within the collection. His introductory scene includes him lassoing then killing a full-grown shark. If that does not persuade you ways robust he’s (or what sort of larger-than-life spectacle you are in for), I do not suppose anything may.

Regardless of his power, Ka’iana has no illusions that he’s the prophesied king. As a substitute, these illusions belong to Maui’s King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison), who kicks off a bloody marketing campaign to unite the kingdoms. On this case, “unite” actually means “brutally conquer and kill,” all of which horrifies Ka’iana and leads him to abandon Kahekili and Maui. Torn between kingdoms, traditions, and requires conflict or peace, can Ka’iana assist convey the Hawaiian Islands to a united future with as little bloodshed as attainable?

Chief of Struggle takes a considerate have a look at prophecy and the threats of colonialism.

Luciane Buchanan in “Chief of War.”
Credit score: Apple TV+

The prophecy on the middle of Chief of Struggle results in a few of the present’s most fascinating developments. Kahekili approaches it with a non secular fervor, slowly descending into insanity the extra he strives to perform what he believes to be his proper. In the meantime, within the kingdom of Hawai’i, counselors imagine Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) to be the prophesied chief, pushing him in the direction of battle whilst he prefers to decide on peace. The 2 are polar opposites in the case of prophecy, one actively attempting to form it to his will, the opposite taking his personal plan of action. Who’s “correct” of their strategy to shaping historical past? That is a query Ka’iana wrestles with all through the season, particularly as he reckons together with his personal relationship to conflict.

Described as “a chief of contradictions” by Kamehameha’s spouse Ka’ahumanu (Luciane Buchanan), Ka’iana sits at a number of crossroads. He is from Maui however involves serve Hawai’i. He is a Chief of Struggle who initially wished peace. He is additionally one of many few Hawaiian characters to spend appreciable quantities of time amongst Europeans and Individuals. In that point, he learns to talk English and easy methods to use a gun, a weapon that he involves imagine will flip the tide of conflict towards Kahekili.

Ka’iana’s quest to acquire extra weapons leads down discussions of commerce, of letting Europeans and Individuals come to the Hawaiian Islands. If he’s to be victorious utilizing weapons, Chief of Struggle hints, the worth of his victory will probably be colonization. So though the conflicts between the varied kingdoms happen on an epic scale, there’s additionally a way of claustrophobia, because the present makes it clear that exterior colonial powers are slowly closing in. That creeping worry permeates a lot of the present, particularly the quieter moments when Ka’iana and his family and friends marvel at how a lot he is modified since his time amongst white individuals.

Chief of Struggle‘s battles are nice, however are they an excessive amount of?

Jason Momoa in “Chief of War.”
Credit score: Apple TV+

For all its mulling on prophecy and the creep of colonialism, Chief of Struggle additionally needs to knock your socks off with motion. Hey, beginning the present with a shark-killing scene units the bar fairly excessive for the extent of epic you are going to get. That stage solely will get greater and better because the collection continues, culminating in a actually earth-shattering battle that had me writing “this goes so hard” again and again in my notes. (Once more, sucker for epic battles over right here.)

However for a present the place a lot time is spent on debating whether or not conflict is the proper plan of action, does Chief of Struggle go too far in the case of creating wonderful spectacle out of blood and guts and gore? Are the lingering photographs on throat-slitting and bone-snapping meant to shock and awe, or to remind viewers of the horrors of conflict?

Finally, a present can do a number of issues directly, together with maintain these two truths concurrently. There are definitely moments when Chief of Struggle‘s violence shocked me into silence, like a bloodbath that emphasizes the perils of treating with colonial powers. And there are others that made me set free an enormous “hell yeah,” even when they may really feel a tad like they had been undermining a few of the present’s broader themes. Look, generally you simply have to see Momoa rip a person’s tongue out together with his naked palms.

You will get loads of each sorts of second in Chief of Struggle, and whereas the stability is not at all times proper, it is instantly participating — and an plain landmark achievement for Polynesian illustration.

Chief of Struggle hits Apple TV+ Aug. 1.