Critic Reviews

Chief of War is a stunning, culturally rich epic, and Momoa’s finest work to date. I can’t wait for season two.

Stunning, historical and with acute attention to detail, this series is about the greed of men, a crushing power obsession and the brutality of war.

Unwilling to abandon its meditative story for loud action sequences or gaudy performances, the series takes time in a landscape that feels the need to rush through these tales. “Chief of War” forces its audience to reckon with its languid storytelling process and the histories it teaches, demanding to be seen in a genre that outsiders often dominate.

It by no means sugarcoats how bloody that war got, and though it isn’t as narratively daring as “Shogun,” it is on the same playing field as that Emmy winner when it comes to the pure spectacle of it all and the level of exacting attention it pays to cultural detail.

Momoa adeptly embodies all of Ka’iana’s contradictions, creating a compelling portrait of a desperate leader bound by duty and sacrifice. .... While the characters in Ka’iana’s immediate family could have all used a tighter focus after his unexpected departure at the start of the season, their relationships eventually pay off in the final three episodes in a way that is rewarding and heartbreaking in equal measure.

They remain laser-focused on the big, burgeoning war. A similarly single-minded approach could weigh down a show with less momentum, but “Chief of War” has such a strong engine — in Momoa, his character, and their shared daring — it rarely feels slow or stagnant.

As with any of these somewhat ironically called historical epics, varying levels of disbelief suspension are required. That doesn't stop Chief of War from feeling like a culturally significant series, as this could very well be the start of something special that is as engaging to explore as it is entertaining to watch.

“Chief of War” moves rather slowly, except when it doesn’t: The opening sequence, in which Ka‘iana literally manhandles an enormous shark, assisted by jars of anesthetizing ‘awa root (kava) sprinkled into the water, is electric. You hope for more of the same. What you get is just more.

The series’ impressively brutal action sequences are the fun stuff, but questions about the validity of a monarchy and the intrusions of the outside world on an insular culture are what stick with you. Some people may be annoyed by this. But for those who want a little bit of rumination with their raucousness, Chief of War provides a nice balance.

We felt instantly immersed in this 18th century Pacific island world, before contact by Westerners, where omens and prophecies are all powerful and the stars above are as important a guide as what the land and sea can give.