The fourth episode of Jason Momoa’s Chief of War picks up right where episode 3 ended. Ki’iana is in Zamboanga, a Spanish East Indies port (The Philippines), rounding up guns to help in the Hawaiian Civil War.
In the Kingdom of Hawai’i, the old king has passed away, and King Kahekili of Maui and O’ahu sees an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Some of Kahekili’s chiefs aren’t happy with the plan, but they fall in line with their king.
Upon his passing, the old king of Hawai’i gives instructions about his successor. His son, Keoua, is to be king and in charge of the day-to-day administrative duties on the throne, but Kamehameha, the dead king’s nephew, is to be the Chief of War. Keoua is incensed and believes it is his right to be in charge of war, as well.
Kamehameha reluctantly decides to accept the role on the counsel of his wife, Ka’ahumanu, much to the chagrin of Keoua.
Another developing plot line is that love has grown between Ki’iana’s wife, Kupuohi, and his brother Namake. Both have been mourning Ki’iana, and they are doubtful he will ever return. As time passes, their feelings for each other become too powerful to resist.
Ki’iani sets Zamboanga on fire in Chief of War episode 4
In Zamboanga, Ki’iani is searching for his friend Tony, who has disappeared. Marley, a former shipmate, turned Tony over to slave traders when he stole the maps to the Hawaiian Islands.
During his search, Ki’iani discovered women, children, and even babies, shackled and locked in cages. He is outraged by something foreign to him. He tries to free the people, but he is stopped by a slave trader. Ki’iani beats the trader before running off. The Spanish soldiers start a manhunt for him.
Via, the stranded Hawaiian woman Ki’iani meets in Zamboanga, has procured the guns she’s promised in exchange for a stake in the sandalwood trade. Ki’iani’s ship captain is uneasy about the search for Ki’iani. He is afraid the Spanish will prevent him from leaving port. He decides that he will be leaving Zamboanga that night, with or without Ki’iani and his guns.
Via pleads with Ki’iani to abandon his search for Tony and to get on the ship, but he refuses to leave his friend behind. Via tells Ki’iani that there is a warehouse where traders kept slaves penned up until they could be shipped out.
Ki’iani finds the warehouse, takes out a few of the guards, and starts opening the cages, ushering the captives out. In the melee, a lantern gets knocked down, and a fire starts. Ki’iani finally locates Tony and carries him out as the ramshackle wooden building goes up in flames.
They make it to the ship just as the captain is ready to set sail, and they pull away from the docks and watch the night sky light up from the fire in the distance.
The episode starts slowly but picks up speed as it goes along. The romance between Namake and Kupuohi bogs down the narrative somewhat and seems unnecessary. The audience should assume there is a payoff for this story arc in future episodes.
Episode 4 grade: B-
Chief of War episode 4 earns a B- for the uneven pace and the romantic developments. It is still a good episode, but not quite as good as the third episode.