Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Warrior

Warrior is an American martial arts crime drama television series that premiered on Cinemax in 2019 and ended after three seasons in 2023.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Warrior is an American martial arts crime drama series set in 1870s San Francisco. Based on Bruce Lee's original concept, it follows a Chinese martial arts prodigy caught in the Tong Wars.

What it is

Warrior is a Cinemax series that blends action, crime drama, and historical fiction. Its central character, Ah Sahm, is a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China and becomes entangled in the violent rivalries among Chinatown tongs in late-19th-century San Francisco.

Why it matters

The series is notable for being based on an original concept and treatment by Bruce Lee, with his daughter Shannon Lee among the executive producers. It features a largely Asian cast and was praised for its stylized action and period setting. The show became widely available on streaming platforms like Netflix, reaching Canadian audiences.

Key details

Created by Jonathan Tropper, the show aired on Cinemax from April 2019 and ended after three seasons in 2023. It was executive-produced by Shannon Lee and Justin Lin, and later continued under Max/HBO Max branding. The series was cancelled in December 2023.

In short

  • Based on an original concept by Bruce Lee.
  • Set in late-1870s San Francisco during the Tong Wars.
  • Starred Andrew Koji as Ah Sahm.
  • Cancelled after three seasons in 2023.
Canadian angle

The series has been widely available on international streaming services, including Netflix, making it accessible to Canadian viewers.

Quick questions

What is Warrior about?
It follows a Chinese immigrant and martial arts expert drawn into gang conflict in late-19th-century San Francisco.
Who created Warrior?
The series was developed by Jonathan Tropper from an original concept and treatment by Bruce Lee.
How many seasons does Warrior have?
Warrior ran for three seasons, ending in 2023.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_(TV_series)
    Supports: Premiere date, premise, genre, executive producers, cancellation, and series status.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5743796/
    Supports: Series run dates and plot premise.
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80177331
    Supports: Synopsis, cast, creators, and streaming availability.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/warrior_2019
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, release date, and production credits.
  5. TVmaze — https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/20651/warrior
    Supports: Created by Jonathan Tropper, network history, end status, and episode count.