TV Series
Action, Drama, Martial Arts
Release Date: April 5, 2019 – December 2023
Creator: Jonathan Tropper
Main Cast:

• Andrew Koji as Ah Sahm
• Olivia Cheng as Ah Toy
• Jason Tobin as Jin Xia
• Dianne Doan as Mai Ling
• Kieran Bew as Bill O’Hara
• Tom Weston-Jones as Richard Henry Lee
• Dean Jagger as Shaughnessy
• Hong Kong-born actors, martial arts specialists, and more.

Plot Summary

Set during the brutal Tong Wars of 19th-century San Francisco, Warrior (2019–2023) is an action-packed martial arts series that explores themes of immigration, loyalty, betrayal, and the struggle for power. It tells the compelling story of Ah Sahm, a Chinese immigrant who arrives in the United States with little more than his fighting skills and a thirst for revenge.

Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) quickly finds himself tangled in the dangerous world of gangs, where every street corner is controlled by powerful forces, and survival is the only law. After being recruited by the Chinese Tong, a brutal and secretive organization, Ah Sahm must navigate the violent underworld of San Francisco while uncovering dark secrets about his family’s past.

As Ah Sahm rises through the ranks, he faces rivalries with gang leaders like Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng), a cunning and ambitious woman who wants to gain control of the city’s criminal empire, and his sister Mai Ling (Dianne Doan), who holds powerful ties to the enemy. But the deeper Ah Sahm delves into the world of crime, the more he discovers that the price of loyalty and power might be higher than he ever imagined.

What Makes Warrior Stand Out?

1. Inspired by Bruce Lee’s Vision – Warrior is based on Bruce Lee’s original concept and vision for a martial arts television series. Lee’s idea of blending action with themes of idenтιтy, racism, and cultural conflict is brought to life in a modern context that still honors the essence of his work.
2. Choreography and Martial Arts – The series is renowned for its fierce and dynamic martial arts sequences, with some of the most visceral and stunning fight choreography on television. The martial arts are integral to the story, with every fight scene carrying emotional weight and advancing the plot.
3. Complex, Diverse Characters – At the heart of Warrior is a rich, diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and struggles. The series doesn’t shy away from exploring complex relationships, from the conflict between Ah Sahm and his sister Mai Ling to the precarious alliances formed between Ah Sahm and the various gangs of Chinatown.
4. Cultural Exploration – The series offers an in-depth look at the Chinese-American experience during the late 1800s, shedding light on the racism, exploitation, and social divisions faced by immigrants in a period of U.S. history that is often overlooked.

Key Highlights

⚔️ Epic Martial Arts Combat – Each episode features intense hand-to-hand combat and elaborate fight choreography that showcases the talent of the cast and stunt coordinators. Fans of martial arts films and series will be hooked by the fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action.

🌆 Gritty Historical Setting – The show is set in the brutal underworld of Chinatown, San Francisco, during the time of the Tong Wars. The historical backdrop creates a rich and dangerous environment for the characters to navigate, offering a compelling look at immigration, racial tensions, and the thirst for power.

👑 Power Struggles and Family Feuds – At the core of the series is the tension between the different factions fighting for dominance in the criminal world. Whether it’s Ah Toy trying to wrestle control of the city’s underworld or Ah Sahm’s quest for revenge, the power struggles and shifting alliances add a layer of intrigue to every episode.

💥 Character Depth and Personal Struggles – Each character in Warrior faces their own personal challenges, from Ah Sahm’s struggle to reconcile his past with his present ambitions to Mai Ling’s conflict with loyalty to her family and her thirst for power. These personal journeys add emotional depth to the series, making it more than just a martial arts show.

What Fans Can Expect

🔥 High-Stakes Action – Expect high-octane fight scenes, as characters engage in brutal, well-choreographed brawls that are both thrilling and emotionally charged. Whether it’s a one-on-one duel or a larger gang confrontation, the action is unrelenting.

🌍 Immigrant Struggles and Social Commentary – Through Ah Sahm’s journey and the lives of those around him, the show addresses the harsh realities faced by immigrants in a new land, highlighting issues like exploitation, racism, and cultural clashes. The show offers a powerful commentary on idenтιтy, belonging, and survival.

🔪 Powerful Villains and Complex Heroes – The series does not follow traditional hero-villain dynamics. Every character, from Ah Toy to the corrupt officials, has their own motivations, and the line between good and evil is often blurred. Viewers will be captivated by the moral ambiguity of the characters, as each faces difficult decisions.

Why You Should Watch

✅ If You Love Martial Arts – The series is a must-watch for fans of martial arts and high-energy action. With intricate fight scenes, it’s one of the best action shows on television that blends storytelling and combat.

✅ Rich Historical Context – Warrior isn’t just a martial arts series; it’s also a window into the history of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. during the late 19th century. The show offers a culturally rich experience that provides historical insights while entertaining with thrilling action.

✅ Character-Driven Storytelling – While the fight scenes are incredible, it’s the deeply fleshed-out characters and their personal journeys that make Warrior truly captivating. The series explores complex themes like revenge, loyalty, and family in a way that keeps you hooked from episode to episode.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss It

If you’re a fan of martial arts, action, and historically rich storytelling, Warrior is the perfect blend of intense combat, emotional depth, and social commentary. With its gripping plot, well-drawn characters, and unforgettable action, it’s a series that delivers on every front.

⚔️ The battle for power, survival, and family will leave you eagerly awaiting each new episode. Don’t miss out on this intense, action-packed ride into one of the most tumultuous periods of American history.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

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November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.