In my second review I take a look at the martial arts web series Sudden Master.
Sudden Master is an interesting cookie to look at. It functions very much like Karate Kid, but it manages to feel like it’s done more in nearly a third of the run time. There is a certain faster pace, and the fact that this show starts in medias res certain helps with that. Also each lesson implementation is not through a flashback remembrance/realization from the student, but rather with parallel timelines, so that the viewer is going through the events that taught the lesson for the first time when it’s being implemented in the fight. That stylistic choice allows pacing to keep up while still providing all the expected character development. It also doesn’t set the action up for singularly the end of the series, where it would be if this was set up any differently, and the spread of the action functions really well.
The other stylist choice that works really in this shows favor is the voice over by our lead character, Alex Cheng (played by Samantha Wan). There is a wittiness to it that kept me invested. She’s a fun interesting character, and a great protagonist for this type of story. She is also the only real source of comedy in the show, which while it wouldn’t be a problem is there was none (this doesn’t get into dower or depressing territories) it is still very welcome.
Opposite Alex is Vienna Erikson (played by Casey Hudecki), who gives a lot of weight to what could have easily been a one note villain with a couple lines of dialog. There is a certain amount of trauma in Vienna’s past, which makes her personality and motivations understandable, along with giving a context to her rage, though it is all done in allusion and never spelled out, which I also appreciated. There are also flashes of another person who has been pushed down by the rage and trauma in Vienna, creating something that is rather nuanced. Vienna is the lead of another story that is just as compelling as the one we go through here. There is also a very well done dynamic between Vienna and Alex, and these two feel like they have the strongest chemistry on the show, which may not have been the intention, but it works in favor of the show when it comes down to the finale fight.
When we get to the supporting cast, we should start out with Eric Lee (played by Allen Keng). He plays the teacher role in the series, and the dynamic between Eric and Alex works well. Eric’s stoicness is a good counterpoint to the near abrasiveness of Alex. His narrative arc also works really well, as did the growing sense of respect that Alex had towards Eric the farther you get in the series. There is a turn that the show tries to pull at the end of episode 4 that I think falls flat because it isn’t what the relationship feels like it’s been developing too, but otherwise I think that Eric works really well as a character.
On the other hand, my big issue with the show falls to the character of Jude Khan, to no fault of his actor Richard Young. Unlike everyone else in the show, Jude didn’t feel like a character, but as more of an engine to create additional drama, even when there was already enough of it through the many other story lines. There also wasn’t the chemistry between Jude and Alex there for it to be a believable relationship, the spark that you really look for just wasn’t there.
Beyond the names characters you have the various opponents that Alex has to go through in order to get to Vienna, each one with a very distinct visual look and style that play really well on scene. Each fight also has a distinct feel that characterizes it and makes it memorable. Also, while we are talking about the fight scenes, I’m so glad that chain makes an appearance in them. I think it’s one of the most visually entrancing weapon styles to watch, and it also feels rather underrepresented in media. It gives a feel of escalation to the between Vienna and Alex that made it stand out.
Over all, this series works on almost every level, but it has one issue that really causes it to stumble more than it should. Every you expect out of this style of show works, from the fight scenes to the training. The stuff on the periphery does hurt it though. In the end it gets a 7/10.
