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Summary In the late 1700s, Hawaiian warrior Ka'iana (Jason Momoa) seeks to unite the islands against encroaching Western forces in the drama series co-created by Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Created By: Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
Chief of War
Season 1 Premiere: Aug 1, 2025
72
7.6
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Summary In the late 1700s, Hawaiian warrior Ka'iana (Jason Momoa) seeks to unite the islands against encroaching Western forces in the drama series co-created by Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett.
Created By: Jason Momoa, Thomas Pa'a Sibbett
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
72
70% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
30% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
72
70% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
30% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
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.
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.
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.
None of it would work without Momoa’s considerable screen presence.
Like every other modern streaming enterprise, Chief of War could be more concisely plotted and there are times when its adherence to storytelling formula dilutes its impact.
For all the attention Chief of War pays to the beauty and authenticity of its setting, it doesn't put enough emphasis on psychological depth. There's potential for things to expand in future seasons, but for now, Kaʻiana doesn't quite get his due.
As much as I enjoyed learning about Hawaii's past, the dragging, uneventful, and repetitive conflicts in "Chief of War" surely undercut the experience. That's despite the generally stellar performances — particularly by Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, and Luciane Buchanan, who might be the revelation of the series (she's fierce, dazzling, and fiery at 5'2") — and a lived-in atmosphere (the island's beauty is breathtaking) that sadly falters by an uninspired execution.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
7.6
70% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
20% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
7.6
70% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
20% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Chief of War is literally everything I expected from it. It's a Jason Mamoa showcase (not a bad thing, though I'm cheeked-out already after 2 episodes) and a Pacific Islander epic. It has all the hallmarks of any heroes journey with the added bonus of amazing production values and good acting. I was also relieved this has not yet turned into a political message about colonization etc. ... yet. It reminds me of Rapa Nui (again, not a bad thing). The only thing I find slightly tedious is that it's in Hawaiian or whatever Pacific Islander language the setting demands. That's a noble addition to this epic, but it can be hard to listen to and reading subtitles distracts from the amazing visuals. No offense to the language/culture and kudos for going down that path... it couldn't have been easy, but I think some plot device to move into English would have served the show better. Having said that, I didn't see that as an issue in Shogun, which COW also reminds me of.
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