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Season 1 – Chief of War

Play trailer 2:47 Poster for Season 1 – Chief of War Next Ep Fri Sep 12 History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Hawaii's four kingdoms are divided by war; to prevent further bloodshed, a Hawaiian war chief embarks on a mission to unite his people as an existential threat approaches their shores.
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Chief of War — Season 1

Chief of War — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Starring Jason Momoa at his ferocious best, Chief of War is a brutal epic that recreates Native Hawaiian history with commendable authenticity.

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Critics Reviews

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David Opie Empire Magazine Momoa's magnum opus cuts a brutal swathe through epic chapters of Hawaiian history, long unseen and long overdue on screen — but you do wish the quieter moments carried as much weight as the barbaric battles. Rated: 3/5 Aug 8, 2025 Full Review Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Chief of War is invigorating, compelling and sweeping and also gives Momoa one of his meatiest roles yet. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 6, 2025 Full Review Rebecca Nicholson Financial Times Cut from a similar cloth to Shōgun, this grand, ambitious series deserves to call itself an epic. Rated: 4/5 Aug 5, 2025 Full Review Edgary Rodríguez R. LatinaMedia.Co It grips you from the opening minutes, as Kaʻiana (played by Jason Momoa) faces off against a shark in the depths, and it doesn’t let go until the final shot, when spilled blood stains the slopes of a volcano. This is a story that seeps under your skin. Aug 31, 2025 Full Review Rachel Ho Exclaim! An epic series that delivers both the complexities of history and [Jason] Mamoa's finest work as an actor to date. Aug 18, 2025 Full Review Susan Granger SSG Syndicate Authenticity abounds from an indigenous perspective, a nearly all-Polynesian cast & Hawaiian language with English subtitles.. Epic in scope & scale, the cinematography is dazzling and the fast-paced, intense, ultra-violent battle scenes are spectacular. Rated: 8/10 Aug 15, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jennifer L I enjoyed the series Chief of War. I watch period pieces the most. This was unique, refreshing and well done. It was a new historical story for me! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/09/25 Full Review T E. Very little plot or interesting characters. The opening scene is incredible then the rest is people running around in the dark with mean looks on their faces for uninteresting reasons. Why shoot in Hawaii if 90% of the show is at night? I saw the promotional review as “rivals Game of Thrones.”Not even close. What makes GOT interesting is character development. This throws you into the middle of the story with no attempt at getting you to care about the characters. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/07/25 Full Review ngel M. Muy buena serie, increíble producción Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/06/25 Full Review Audience Member Wonderful series, I hope for more productions that show the culture of a people so well. Jason is the boss Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/06/25 Full Review Smiling D The cinamintography is exsquisite and submerges the veiwer in the splendid beauty of Hawaii and it's indigenous people. I am not a historian so I have no way of knowing what this story's acuracy is. However, I realize in writing a screen play, leberties must be taken to pull us into it, otherwise it would most likely be stale. What, no Tom Cruise The Last Hawain or Tom Hanks droping a girlfriend into a valcano? Oh well, it was great to have so many polonisians getting rolls. The series shows the strength, fragility and brutalness of that bygone time. Again, kudos to the cameraman and director. I had to laugh with the wild ride down the hill, I'll have to fact check that one. I've lived on Oahu several years in the 60s, it is an enchanting and magical place. I wish it had less developement and wish the remaining natives well and hope they can recover back some land. Overall, an entertaining series fill with terror, happiness and sadness. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/05/25 Full Review Harry v Starts out strong and has an interesting story to tell with an interesting setting. Unfortunately it gets lost in the modern interpretation of good and evil and romanticising the culture. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/03/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Chief of War — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 1, 2025 The Chief of War Ka'iana is summoned back home to Maui where he must decide whether to join King Kahekili in war. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 1, 2025 Changing Tides Fearing for their lives, Ka'iana and his family flee Oahu; an ally emerges with a promise of safe passage. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 8, 2025 City of Flowers Ka'iana arrives in a strange land; Ka'ahumanu takes her place beside Kamehameha. Details Episode 4 Aired Aug 15, 2025 City of Flowers Part ll A dangerous power struggle emerges in the Kingdom of Hawaii; Kamehameha wrestles with his new responsibility; Ka'iana searches for Tony. Details Episode 5 Aired Aug 22, 2025 The Race of the Gods Hawaii's four kingdoms are divided by war; to prevent further bloodshed, a Hawaiian war chief embarks on a mission to unite his people as an existential threat approaches their shores. Details Episode 6 Aired Aug 29, 2025 The Splintered Paddle Kupuohi tries to keep the hope of peace alive as the drums of war grow louder; Ka'iana questions Kamehameha's leadership. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 5, 2025 Day of Spilled Brains A disagreement erupts about how to deal with the arrival of outsiders. Details Episode 8 Airs Fri Sep 12 The Sacred Niu Grove Hawaii's four kingdoms are divided by war; to prevent further bloodshed, a Hawaiian war chief embarks on a mission to unite his people as an existential threat approaches their shores. Details Episode 9 Airs Fri Sep 19 The Black Desert Hawaii's four kingdoms are divided by war; to prevent further bloodshed, a Hawaiian war chief embarks on a mission to unite his people as an existential threat approaches their shores. Details

Season Info

Executive Producer
Molly Allen, Brian Andrew Mendoza, Jim Rowe
Network
Apple TV+
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 1, 2025
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