When we reviewed “Another Life” final week, we described it as an old school science fiction area present, one thing that’s been absent from TV for the previous decade or so. “Wu Assassins” is one other new Netflix sequence, and it’s is also a form of a throwback — this time to ’90s martial arts sequence like “Vanishing Son” and “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.”
As we clarify within the newest episode of the Original Content podcast, “Wu Assassins” — which tells the story of Kai, a San Francisco chef who receives mystical powers and should battle highly effective nemeses often called the Wu Lords — has loads of delightfully tacky writing and particular results. But it’s set other than these older reveals in a pair key methods.
First, there’s the truth that Indonesian martial arts star Iko Uwais (who you may acknowledge from “The Raid” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) performs as Kai — he’s not a terrific dramatic actor, however as soon as the motion begins, he turns into a blur of punches and kicks.
The producers have surrounded Uwais with different different achieved martial artists, so the ensuing combat scenes are extraordinary. “Wu Assassins” features a couple huge set items, however much more remarkably, each single combat (and there are a lot) feels prefer it’s been choreographed for the right mixture of magnificence and brutality.
Even higher, there’s Byron Mann’s efficiency as Uncle Six, a ruthless triad boss who has a protracted historical past with Kai. Mann brings actual charisma and humanity to his efficiency, and he turns his dramatic scenes with Uwais into absolute spotlight of the present. Plus, he’s simply as compelling when he’s known as upon to beat the crap out of his enemies.
In addition to praising “Wu Assassins,” we additionally talk about the CBS-Viacom merger and listener response to our evaluate of “Another Life.”
You can pay attention within the participant under, subscribe utilizing Apple Podcasts or discover us in your podcast participant of selection. If you just like the present, please tell us by leaving a evaluate on Apple. You may ship us suggestions straight. (Or recommend reveals and films for us to evaluate!)
And if you wish to skip forward, right here’s how the episode breaks down:
0:00 Intro
0:40 “Another Life” listener response
11:51 CBS/Viacom merger
20:30 “Wu Assassins” evaluate
33:52 “Wu Assassins” spoiler dialogue
