Actually that should say, I tried to watch Into the Badlands.

I made it through two and a half episodes.

According to my discord friends, that’s about how far they all made it too.

So, what is Into the Badlands and why did we all watch it? Let’s talk about it.

Into the Badlands is a show on AMC. Basically it’s a martial arts series taking place in a post-apocalyptic world. The world has survived a massive war that left civilization in ruins. Some things have survived (electricity and cars, but only to a point), but most things have been shunned, such as firearms and the like. It’s presumed to take place in the middle of America, but not confirmed.

The show revolves around a feudal system, where seven barons hold total control over the territories. For the most part, at least the first few episodes follow two barons and their compounds. I assume more are shown, but I didn’t get that far, nor will I be trying to (I’ll explain soon).

The main baron followed is Quinn, who holds control over opium poppies, which is harvested for opium. He has a contentious relationship with his son Ryder, who feels that his father has become weak (which he has, because Quinn has a brain tumor). Their soldiers are called clippers, and one of the strongest to follow Quinn is Sunny, who has killed over 400 people on Quinn’s orders.

On the other side is The Widow, who assumed the baroness position upon the death of her husband. She leads a clan of assassin women and controls the oil. Her teenage daughter (adopted?) Tilda, is one of the strongest fighters in the world.

There are other characters as well that appear, but I’m not going to go into them. Within just the first two episodes, there were so many names being thrown around it was hard to keep up with everyone.

What was the problem?

Basically, pretty much everything.

The biggest issue with starting a show, especially with a sci-fi or fantasy show, is that you have to sell the entire world in one episode. If you can’t hook your audience in one show, you’re done. This show… well, it didn’t catch me, but it sure tried. The problem is there was too much world building for 45 minutes. A chunk of history, a massive introduction of characters, a slew of terminology… it felt stuffed. And plot was happening and moving along.

One issue for me is that in two episodes, most characters have changed their loyalties or motivations. Two. Episodes. Almost. Every. Character. It’s a problem. Over the course of the six episode season, I could understand evolving motivations. But most of the characters completely changed sides or loyalties by the end of the first episode, then turned around and did it again. For example, Sunny is introduced as being entirely loyal to Quinn. Within an episode, he’s shown wanting to leave the Badlands (to parts unknown), privately turns his back on the baron, and then publicly questions him. He then backtracks in such a way that Ryder almost gets killed, and then does another about face. In two episodes.

Then you have Ryder, who is played by Oliver Stark and is literally the only reason I picked up this show in the first place. Ryder is not a likable character. He is immediately presented as a character without a path. He has an unlikable attitude, and he’s also stubborn. He goes to a “doll” house (literally a brothel) and gets tricked into an ambush that nearly kills him. It knocks him down a peg, but he still has that same elitist attitude. The big thing is that he isn’t nearly as strong as his father (pre sickness), but he wants to be. It doesn’t really… work, not with the established world rules. 

Another issue I have is that the writing is pretty basic. There’s nothing new or revolutionary. If you take every word that isn’t part of a normal vernacular and use the more “modern” word, it would be stale and boring. I’m not asking for Shakespeare, but I am asking for… variety.

Actually, the biggest issue is the random fantasy element involving the character MK. Apparently, he can go berserker and blast people psychically when he gets angry and bleeds? It doesn’t fit the rules of the universe. Everyone is after this kid. 

The only redeeming quality I saw was the martial arts. Characters use their bodies, swords, knives, other bladed objects, and basically any melee weapon to fight. The choreography is done very well, though several things I saw just didn’t really work. I was able to suspend my disbelief. 

But unfortunately, one good thing does not make a good series. I wanted to watch the show because I love watching my favorite characters and actors get whumped (yes, Oliver, you do hurt so good). Unfortunately, it was so dreadfully boring and poorly done, I just can’t.

I tried. I really did. But I kept just checking the clock or skimming the wiki summary. I didn’t care about what I was watching. And that’s really sad, because it could have been so good. I’m probably going to skip through the show to see the end of Ryder’s storyline (which I won’t reveal here because spoilers) but that’s about it.

And I was just so excited for it too.

Oh well, who knows what might come next.

Until next time!