If you like Bruce Lee and Western movies, here's a hidden gem you need to check out

Fly kicking through the wall in 2019 on Cinemax came this awesome series whose pitch was written by none other than Bruce Lee himself in the 70ies.

So let's be honest, I watched the series, actually binged it, last year, so I don't remember much of it. Don't get me wrong, this is normal for me, as I usually do for most things I experience in life, I mostly remember just the feeling of it, which in case of Warrior is: wow, this is awesome! I want more, where is more?!? This cannot end...ever!!!

If you are wondering why do I write sentences like the one above, the answer is, I have been watching way too much Jerry Seinfeld lately. Sorry

Back to us, I was so pissed off when I found out that season three has been next to cancelled. The network on which it was released (that would be Cinemax) decided to cease production of all original series and focus only on movies. Say what?!?!?!

The last episode of season two ended on such a web of cliff-hangers that I was on a comedown of despair for the next week after I watched it. I wanted to know what happens next!

It is the story of a Sino-American immigrant to the US in San Francisco in the 19th century. His name's Ah Sahm, he comes to the US to look for his lost sister and gets sucked into the Tong Wars in China Town. He kicks ass and gets in trouble a lot with everybody. There is a lot of nuance, there is racial conflict, there is social class conflict, there is relationship conflict, gender conflict, internal psychological conflict, family conflict and goals interesting enough to make you really care...basically all the juicy stuff that keeps you glued to the screen.

It is not just fancy moves, dramatic sounds, cool photography and set pieces and costumes, it is also an action drama that faces big themes of immigration, integration, segregation, racism, class wars, rivalries in communities who instead of uniting against a bigger common cause or enemy, slaughter each other for petty reasons of pride, opium money and neighbourhood gang wars, while the rich and powerful get richer and more powerful. It is a very human story underneath all the entertainment value.

Furthermore, you have a potful of cultures, a bit for everyone to feel involved. You have the Chinese, the Mexicans, the Afro-Americans, the Irish, the working class and the capitalists, love, intrigue, western movie references and everywhere there are bits of story that are a clear homage to the awesome legacy of Bruce Lee, for anyone who has eyes to see them.

Coming from Fast and Furious director Justin Lin and Banshee creator Jonathan Tropper, who were recruited by Bruce Lee's Daughter Shannon Lee herself, in order to realize Bruce Lee's creative and philosophical dream, this series in only two seasons kidnaps your attention mercilessly and haunts your dreams making you want to beg for more.

No wonder. Put very contemporary conversations about race, complexity of sexuality, social injustice, the idea that things in life are more complex than just the simplistic dichotomy between goodies and baddies together with thrilling action, exquisite martial arts, brilliant dialogues, insightful moments of drama and introspection, very good acting, eye catching photography, cinematography and nail biting storytelling and you get a show you never want to stop watching.

My favourite character is the one Chen Tang plays in season two. A jolly, crazy fighter and kick ass gay gang member who is funny, wise and almost impervious to insults. Yes, chew on that for a moment.

I am VERY Happy, Thank You. More Please! (as in Josh Radnor's movie. Speaking of which, if you liked him in How I Met Your Mother you've got to check his two movies out, they'll surprise you)! But I digress.

To wrap it up, if you are starving for something fresh and human and still very imaginative and thrilling and also you can't get enough of anything Bruce Lee related, then Warrior is the show for you.

You can find it now on HBO Max and Amazon Prime, and hopefully, thanks to the traction that it's been getting lately, we might actually see Season 3 come to life very soon. Oh God YES!