Into the Badlands is such a strange show, but I can’t help but be enthralled by it. On paper, it really shouldn’t work. Hell, I have no idea how this even made it past the green lighting process. But it’s basically set in the future, where guns have been banished, and instead, we are reverted back into a feudal landscape where violence and swordplay reign supreme. On top of that, you have some martial arts action, and viola, you are in the Badlands.

The show stars Danny Wu as Sunny, who makes his way with a young companion through the Badlands to find enlightenment. Honestly, beyond that, there isn’t much of a plot. In fact, that is my biggest gripe with the show; everything is so surrounded in mystery. The questions keep piling up, but the answers don’t come as we’d like them to. They never have a chance to really breathe and explore the characters, or their motivations, which is unfortunate, because it’s something we want to see.

That said, everything else is fantastic about the show. It’s wonderfully acted, and it looks great. Think of a stylized music video, and viola, you’d have it. The fight scenes have to be seen to be believed, too, because they are incredible. Like, seriously, better than most anything I have seen.

The action comes at you fast and furious, so that is a big reason why the plot development isn’t really there. However, since they are coming for a second season, I hope they will carry on down that road, so we have something to root for.

In addition to the show itself, the blu-ray also features some cool stuff on it. There is an “Inside Into the Badlands” feature, that explores the nature of the show. They also explain how the set up some of the fights in the “Anatomy of a Fight” feature.

The world is explained a bit more in the “Building the World of Into the Badlands” feature, and you get to learn more about some of the characters and locations in some of the others.

Overall, it’s a decent show that just needs to find its heart.

About the Author

Jeff Heimbuch writes. A lot. On a variety of things and in different mediums. He also created the fiction podcasts LIGHT HOUSE and RETURN HOME (of which you can find both on all podcasting platforms), loves all things horror, works in social media, and is probably writing something right now. You can find him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at @jeffheimbuch.