Kung Fu (2021)

In all, “Kung Fu” presents a compelling heroine, ably played by Liang, who feels obligations to community and family both generally relatable and specifically drawn. The mystical element of Nicky’s skills is treated matter-of-factly and with engaged interest — nothing here feels rote.

The cast is attractive and committed; the storyline has multiple avenues to pursue; Ms. Liang can carry the show. And the thrust of the pilot, at least (the only episode made available), is not Asians against the world, but good against evil. From what one can tell, the production itself makes a political statement, but the storyline won’t.

The new “Kung Fu” isn’t as serious as its predecessor, and it doesn’t have the makings of a classic thus far. But its light and affectionate portrait of Asian American family life feels both heartening and right for this moment.

If a pilot is your opportunity to establish premise and put your best resources forward, Kung Fu is a mixed bag anyway. ... There are definitely characterizations that are trope-y here, with the difference being the variety of representations and the likelihood that, given more than an episode or two to play out, even the things that look like stock types in the pilot will evolve and add depth. That's where Kung Fu has me interested, if not hooked.

Representation matters, so the existence of an almost all-Asian cast on a broadcast network series is a welcome development even as the show’s format and themes feel overly familiar.

“Kung Fu” definitely has potential, but the premiere episode also boasts a few other warning signs. There’s an enormous amount of exposition throughout the premiere and characters discuss their backstories and talents with the subtlety of a bag of sledgehammers.

The pilot — the only episode available for review as of this writing — is a busy, busy thing that packs in a mess of cursory exposition, introductions, family business, romantic groundwork, an operation for a subdural hematoma and a game of ping-pong, at the expense of subtlety and character.

A mostly Asian cast that is likeable and good-looking. The story line is predictable and could be better written. But with the current news cycle of Asian hate crimes, my oh my it's refreshing to see Asian women kick ass.

The storyline is decent, and the acting and choreography are decent but it was all ruined because they want to load it with a ton of gay crap like everything else, quit shoving it in our faces and get your own dang channel, not all people want to see it or associate with it!

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

The acting in this show is terrible. Like they're reading the lines. I was looking forward to a new spin on a classic but couldn't get through the first episode. Another Canadian flop.

I watched the first 2 Episodeds and the only thing the series got out of me was a couple of facepalms and cringe. The "action" is in slowmo to hide the fact that the cast can't really do Kung Fu. The dialoge and storyline is borderline stupid. Also she finds everything she needs in terms of information because of stupid luck or an "old grandma that says oh what a cute couple" while she WALKS past a dude she never met before. Do yourself a favor and dodge this.