Into The Badlands--First Thoughts
I was on the couch yesterday for three hours watching two episodes of The Walking Dead (I had missed the episode from two weeks ago) and then Into The Badlands. Ā It was raining outside and I had my hot tea ready. Ā
Let me just say I was giddy about this new series. Ā I really wanted to support a series with an Asian American male lead, and although I have mixed feelings about it being an Asian American male lead who could do martial arts (how typical), I still wanted to give it a chance. Ā And I couldnāt ignore the fact that Daniel Wu couldāve easily stayed behind the scenes and someone else couldāve played his part, someone not Asian American.
I was literally shaking with anticipation, especially after that ending to TWD. Ā I didnāt realize how much I wanted this first episode of Into The Badlands to be badass, and how much I wanted Daniel Wu to be super-awesome, because not only did this series and all series and all books with Asian American leads become representations of the advancement, or lack there of, of Asian Americans in America for me, butāand I know this is going to sound hypocritical because of what I said earlier about Asian American male leads and martial artsāI wanted it to shatter stereotypes of Asian American men not being āmanly.ā Ā Whew.
Well, I was not disappointed. Ā Those first shots of Into The Badlands were beautiful and painted a harsh and unforgiving world of survival of the fittest.
Daniel Wu played Sunny with confidence and just enough emotion to show the restrictions of his position in life and the secrets he has to hide. Ā The fight scenes were drool-worthy, especially that scene in the rain. Ā
There are problems aplenty, including political turmoil, forced servitude (a.k.a. slavery), family disagreements, and the appearance of a boy with a powerful gift (or not) that he is desperately hiding and others are desperately seeking. Ā
There seems to be plenty of characters for viewers to hate and root for. Ā Iām really interested in the female characters and how their journeys will play out. Ā
There is Lydia, who is the first wife of the most powerful baron (there are seven barons who own land andĀ āprotectā the people who live there through the use of their own armies).
Jade who used to be a slave on the baronās opium plantation and is now going to marry him, and is at the same time sleeping with his son.
The Widow who reportedly killed her own husband so she could rule. Ā I cannot wait to see her fight (clapping giddily).
The Widowās teenage assassin Tilda who wasnāt shown in the first episode but looks like she will have a lot of screen time.Ā
And Veil who is a doctor and Sunnyās lover. Ā I donāt anticipate anything good happening to her because she just seems like a good, principled person and nothing good happens to good, principled people on AMC. Ā Poor Sunny, who seems to love her a lot. Ā
Anyway, those are my thoughts. Ā This was just a 40-minute intro. Ā I have a feeling itās going to get real crazy real soon. Ā
