From the very first scenes, Chief of War review captures attention and intrigue. Apple TV+’s new nine-episode historical drama, co-created by and starring Jason Momoa as Kaʻiana, blends mythic spectacle and Indigenous storytelling to tell a gripping tale set in late 18th‑century Hawaii.
Jason Momoa stars as Kaʻiana, a war-chief turned exile who is drawn back into conflict as rising colonial threats stir unrest across the Hawaiian Islands. The show opens in jaw‑dropping fashion: a nearly nude Kaʻiana riding and lassoeing a great white shark—a visually daring cold open that immediately sets an epic tone.
Filmed largely in Hawaiian and steeped in cultural tradition, the series zeroes in on four independent kingdoms—Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi—as diplomacy, prophecy, and warfare collide. At the center is Kaʻiana’s journey from reluctant fighter to reluctant visionary, torn between loyalty, betrayal, and the desire to unite his people. His return to battle is motivated by the desecration of his father’s grave and political pressure from King Kahekili—who sees Kaʻiana as essential to a looming prophecy.
Chief of War review continues throughout its body, exploring emotional weight and cultural stakes.
Table of Contents
🔥 Cinematic brutality meets cultural resonance
- Characters speak nearly entirely in Hawaiian, lending authenticity to a narrative often absent from mainstream streaming.
- The action is visceral: bone‑crunching fights, lava‑faced horrors, and massed warfare shot with cinematic ambition and a score by Hans Zimmer and James Everingham.
- The visuals—shot across Hawaii and New Zealand—are lush and grounded, even when CGI volcanoes falter.
🎭 Themes, criticism, and key performances
Chief of War balances prophecy and power with personal identity. Critics note:
- Momoa’s portrayal of Kaʻiana is physical and charismatic, though some feel emotional nuance takes a back seat to spectacle.
- Luciane Buchanan’s Kaʻahumanu emerges as a thoughtful force, her arc intertwined with spiritual visions and political maneuvers.
- Cliff Curtis and Kaina Makua support strong subplots around rivalries, ambition, and ideological clashes within royalty and warrior circles.
Comparisons to Game of Thrones and Shōgun are frequent. But unlike those shows, Chief of War foregrounds Indigenous voices and language, even if pacing occasionally bogs down its dense narrative structure.
📊 Quick take: strengths vs. critiques
| Strengths | Critiques |
|---|---|
| Authentic Hawaiian language and cultural detail | Pacing slows in middle episodes |
| Physicality and themed spectacle (shark, battles, lava) | Emotional depth not as consistent |
| Beautiful cinematography and immersive world‑building | Some supporting characters feel underwritten |
Overall, the series is an ambitious cultural milestone and major storytelling effort that blends Hawaiian heritage with sweeping cinematic drama.
While not every moment lands perfectly, Chief of War earns high marks for bold visuals, rich cultural perspective, and Momoa’s commitment to telling a story long neglected by mainstream media. For those seeking epic scope wrapped in Indigenous authenticity, this is a standout premiere.
Let me know if you’d like more coverage—meanwhile, thoughts on Kaʻiana, prophecy, or that shark scene? I’d love to hear your take or delve into season predictions in the comments.