Into The Badlands Episode 1 Review: The Dystopian Kung Fu Future (Season Premiere)

AMC's latest fantasy offering "Into The Badlands"  premiered last Sunday. If initial viewership numbers are any indication, the network might have another hit on it's hands. "Badlands" is the third most viewed premiere (right after "Fear The Walking Dead" and "Better Call Saul"). There are six episodes currently scheduled.  

The episode opens with a sunglass wearing samurai looking guy zipping through the countryside on a motorcycle. The voiceover tells us that there was a war which destroyed modern civilization. Land in this dystopia is divided between seven barons. They recruit/enslave young boys (known as "clippers") to protect their assets. There are apparently no guns. Swordplay and the martial arts are their only forms of protection. 

Sunny (the guy on the motorcycle) works for Baron Quinn. Quinn's compound looks like the futuristic version of the Antebellum South-- complete with plantation house, clippers in training ("colts") and slaves ("cogs") working the poppy fields. His banner is an armadillo. 

Much of the pilot follows Sunny as he finds a sole survivor of an ambush. The teenager is M.K. and he has some mysterious powers. He is in search of his mother. Meanwhile the Widow is another Baron who knows about M.K.'s powers and wants to use them for her own purposes. Her banner is a butterfly. 

Sunny dreams of leaving the Badlands and escaping back to his birthplace of Azra. When he finds out M.K. was born there, his hopes are renewed. It won't be easy though. Most people believe nothing exists outside the Badlands. At the end of the episode, Sunny helps M.K. escape the plantation. We're sure he'll be back.   

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Some of the story dragged a bit but who cares? We're here for the excellent fight scenes-- especially Sunny defeated several assassins in  the rain. Daniel Wu as Sunny (played by Daniel Wu) is a compelling character. I also enjoyed Quinn (Martin Csokas), Quinn's wife Lydia (Orla Brady) and the Widower (Emily Beecham). Will I add this show to my "must see" list? I'm not sure yet but I'll definitely check back for the Kung Fu action.  

Photo Credits:
http://io9.com/into-the-badlands-brings-martial-arts-back-to-american-1735831858
https://www.thewrap.com/daniel-wu-wields-a-sword-and-rides-a-motorcycle-in-into-the-badlands-sneak-peek-exclusive-photo/
http://www.amc.com/shows/into-the-badlands
http://www.amc.com/extras/catwoman-whos-the-cats-meow

World According To GMonster
TV: Heavy On Sci Fi, Horror & Adventure; Light On Reality

November 22, 2015

11:08 AM