charlierichardsn

I really enjoyed the first few episodes of this series. The premise is fun, the performances are good, and the action is all really well choreographed. Charles in particular (sorry not checking the castlist) is fantastic in the fights, and really strong dramatically.

It felt, around the midpoint, that all the major plot devices were tee'd up. Bruce's good heart would be weighed against his ambition. Charles would have to face the reality of what he has done, without his father's influence. And with the Boxer's, there was a really nice setup for a 'violence begets violence' message. They mentioned that the Triad used to fight oppression then became the oppressor, so there was an interesting comparison between them. In this shows context, a plot dealing with violent revolutionaries becoming oppressive institutions is particularly compelling.

This all seemed to be a big missed opportunity, and Grace's character really didn't get the ending she deserved. For her to be the leader of the Boxers was confusing as hell, given her age, but she could definitely have been a parallel to Charles; being coerced into violence from a young age by circumstance and community. Both of them locked in a fight against each other, while being very similar. Essentially both stuck fighting for their father.

It seems wild that this wasn't the case, I mean the way she described the Boxers as a anonymised diasporic group that sets up community hubs across the world etc. Sounded SO SIMILAR to the triad. I was really expecting the reveal to be that they were funded by one of the gangs from the start. And this was all part of the endless cycle of violence, perpetuated by the greed of people like ba ba sun.

Maybe I just totally misread the plot, but it seemed like the story was honing in on a message about the price of ambition and greed. The pain that created the Boxers. Alexis double crossing Charles for her career, shattering the most meaningful relationship either of them had. TK (who I'm baffled survived) taking constant risks for money.

And through all that would be Bruce, shaped by the decision his mother made to abandon all that. A choice made to provide at least one of her sons a loving home. Faced with the temptation of money and power, like he was tempted into selling drugs, he would need to make the same choice his mother did. To ultimately place more value in a peaceful life than in the glamorous, but cruel life of the triad.

But this isn't what happens. The boxers remain an anomalous group with no backing, or self awareness. Bruce is never offered his moral choice, instead using violence against violence by shooting his father, and enjoying the excesses of a lifestyle bought with blood.

Most bizzarely of all, their mother didn't want peace for her son, but actually just wanted all the power herself but couldn't get it because of sexism. So she leaves to become the next slaver queen of east Asia. And poor Charles goes from being an enforcer for one insane parent, to being an enforcer for the other insane parent.

I really enjoyed the first part of this series. I'm just really confused about where the story ended up going, and really dissatisfied with the resolutions all the characters ended up getting.

Genuinely a lot to like about it though, the action was for the most part fantastic. I'm just hung up on the story because it really fell flat.