A story beginning 500 years into the future of a post-apocalyptic America. AMC's newest Into The Badlands is a mix of Mad Max dystopian and Games of Thrones power plays. Including martial arts action.
Though not much else is explained about the wars that had ushered the downfall of American civilization centuries ago, the land is now ruled by seven Barons. Similar to the seven kingdoms of Game of Thrones, the seven Barons are not content with only holding onto their turf, but also of expanding their resources. One of which is opium. Such is the pursuit of power.
Think of the Barons as feudal warlords each with their own army of samurai's, which in this case are called Clippers. Yet before becoming a Clipper, a period of unforgiving brutal training is required during which one is called a Colt. If not a Colt intending to become a Clipper, the only other role available to a young man living under a Baron aristocracy is to become a Cog, which is a slave. Guns don't exist. So matters of conflict are settled with blades, or hand-to-hand.
Of the Clippers under the rule of Baron Quinn, no other is more feared, respected, and lethal than Sunny (Daniel Wu). Therefore, perhaps it helps to think of Sunny as also an Alpha Clipper. Only because given his reputation and stature, Sunny is also known for his other role of being sort of a close confidante or an adviser to Baron Quinn (Marton Csokas). Which this additional role of Sunny, is also much to the chagrin of the Baron's son Ryder (Oliver Stark). Along with that, there's the Baron's wife Lydia (Orla Brady) who presses her husband to give their son to take on more responsibility, though she also says it is to give her husband much needed rest. Yet the Baron knowing his wife all too well, sees behind such a request as he replies, "Power is not inherited Lydia, it is taken," followed by also saying that he's spent years trying to groom their only son. Even so, after the Baron tells his wife that they both know their son is not up to the task, Lydia concludes, "After everything that boy sacrificed for you, I will not let you abandon him again. He's stronger that you think."
Created by American writer Alfred Gough and British writer Miles Millar, both also exec. Producers having met at the University of Southern California, the pilot of Into The Badlands premiered strong on November 15, 2015, capturing the attention of 6.4 million U.S. viewers. The pilot episode titled, "The Fort," opens as Sunny rides his motorcycle along a dirt road, then slows only to discover a gruesome massacre scene. Several people, all cogs who had been chained together were mercilessly killed, even a child. He also finds empty shackles, showing someone had escaped. After scanning ahead with his telescope, he sees a clue, and then rides off.
Upon entering a camp of Nomads, warriors without a Baron similar to being a Ronin, one of them speaks, asking, "You lost, stranger?" Sunny then replies, "Nomads ambushed a transport a couple miles back. Killed all the cogs except one." Then the nomad says, "We don't deal in human cargo here. What's your interest?" Sunny replies, "The transport belonged to my baron." The nomad then says, "Check it out boys. We got a real live clipper here," next, taunting Sunny. "What's in the trunk?" asks Sunny softly. "That's none of your damn business," the man replies.
The conversation ends, next as a bold nomad attempts an attack upon Sunny. The man's blade fails to even nick Sunny. Also, not one hand lands upon Sunny as Sunny first dodges all before he lands quick strikes. To after breaking the man's neck, what suddenly appears to be about ten men all surround Sunny. Yet Sunny kills them all without ever unsheathing his daisho.
After opening the trunk, a teen boy suddenly jumps out, sees Sunny, and then tries to flee. Sunny stands calmly and smiles by not giving chase before throwing a bola after the teen boy. Soon afterwards causing the teen boy to trip and fall, landing unconscious. Next after awakening, the teen known as M.K. (Aramis Knight) sees Sunny burying the dead cogs. Sunny then asks M.K. why was he spared from death as the teen helps with the burial. To which M.K. replies, "Someone named The Widow paid those nomads to find me."
Only later into the episode does The Widow makes her appearance. For during a night time rainy scene on a street, after walking from the clinic where Sunny's girlfriend Veil works as a doctor, Sunny suddenly sees four clippers approaching him all appearing after a car pulls up. All four advance upon Sunny with their swords drawn. Yet only after he manages to kill all four is when a car door finally opens, revealing a woman getting out before opening an umbrella. Followed by The Widow, now shielded from the rain beneath the umbrella of her assistant.
"You really are as good as they say," says The Widow. Then Sunny says, "I should kill you where you stand." To which The Widow replies, "We both know you can't. I'm a baron." For it's now apparent that The Widow (Emily Beecham) is not only a baron, but also that the four dead clippers were hers, using them as she says, to get Sunny's attention. She then demands that Sunny hand over M.K. to her. After Sunny tells her, "That's not gonna happen," The Widow replies, "You think you kill for Quinn out of loyalty. But I know that's not the reason. Let me know when you change your mind." Then both The Widow and her assistant drive off.
Well before that rainy scene had taken place that Sunny suddenly knew there was more to M.K. than anyone else, besides also The Widow, had realized. One may also include the colt named Ajax, who had bullied M.K. by pushing him too far, and had paid the price. For when Sunny suddenly sees M.K. bleed after he's attacked by Ajax, is when M.K.'s eyes begin to glow momentarily as he's then transformed. Retaliating against Ajax with supernatural speed, M.K. then also catches a shard of glass and hurtles it across the room into Ajax eye, confounding even one as skilled in the martial arts as Sunny.
Then later, Sunny is made aware of a city named Azra as M.K. recognizes the cityscape emblem on Sunny's compass. Azra being the home of M.K. before he and his mother were later caught by nomads. M.K.'s only wish is to be reunited with his mother. Yet he'd been sentenced to death by the baron's son Ryder. For M.K. had been caught trying to steal back his pennant that Ryder had taken from him in Ryder's room. Nonetheless, not only does Sunny arrange for M.K.'s escape, he's also now more certain than ever that a civilization exists beyond the badlands. That which, Baron Quinn had lied to him about.
There's two excellent sources of info about Into The Badlands. One is an AMC blog titled, "Everything You Need to Get Ready for Sunday's Series Premiere," posted by Ms. Ashleen Wicklow, which also does clarify the story taking place 500 years into the future. Then also the source NYCC 2015: AMC's 'Into The Badlands,' Panel by Mr. Maximus Prime at Geeks of Doom on October 10, 2015.
Though entertaining and pleasingly visual, Into The Badlands may require patience for some viewers. For after all, it is an AMC pilot. Especially since, and I've mentioned this before, that AMC shows tend to all have a different style and go about their own pace than other network TV series. Discovering this, after having viewed the pilots of Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Fear The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, Turn: Washington's Spies, Humans sci-fi drama, and Halt and Catch Fire. All have been granted by AMC to develop both characters and story gradually. Therefore Into The Badlands is no different, though to be fair not excusing the pilot from any constructive criticism. So in the meantime, rock on Sunny rock on.