Cinemax’s “Warrior” is returning for its second season on October 2nd.
The action-packed period piece brings the vision of the late cultural icon Bruce Lee to the small screen. The show, which is executive produced by Bruce’s daughter Shannon Lee, brings Asian representation to the forefront while also restructuring the idea of what it means to be a period piece.
The second season of Warrior explores a variety of themes and conversations that mirror the social and political climate of today. The United States was built by immigrants and the American dream in many ways is attached to the upward mobility the country has promised since it was founded. However, even though the U.S. has been built by immigrants, xenophobia and its intersection with racism is quintessentially American in the same way the stories of Ellis Island are. The show, Warrior, shows how the nation has and also hasn’t evolved. Viewers will see a variety of scenes that eerily mirror what is seen on the news daily from protest against immigrant labor to arguments over who is allowed to identify as American. The rhetoric heard on the show is currently taking the political stage today.
The show is not only inspired by Bruce Lee’s vision but beautifully captures the sometimes forgotten history of Asian immigrants in America.
When discussing the show with actress Olivia Chang, she passionately describes how the show helps to continue Bruce’s vision and activism work towards equality. Warrior not only prioritizes Asian visibility, but the show offers examples of powerful women with leading ladies such as Cheng’s character of Ah Toy, Mai Ling (played by Dianne Doan), and Penelope Blake (played by Joanna Vanderham). It works to create an authentic contribution to the conversation around diversity and representation with its layered characters, diverse storylines, and cast members.
