Chief of War episode 5 , "The Race of the Gods," is the most interesting one to date. Jason Momoa’s historical drama about the unification of the kingdoms of Hawai’i and the opening up of the islands to Europeans has reached a point where the audience knows who is who and what the stakes are.
This episode is the slowest-paced, but that is a good thing. The political intrigue is the best it’s been, and it is the calm before the storm, as this is a story of war and violence.
Episode 5's key moments
The character development has been slow so far, but in episode 5, the key people in the story are now clear. For the first time, the audience gets true insight into Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) and why his uncle made him the Chief of War. It is less about his prowess as a warrior and more about his attitude that if you destroy something, that has to be balanced out with creating something.
In Kamehameha’s case, he is a farmer who tends to taro fields. It is where he finds peace of mind, and he takes care of those in his village.
Ki’iani (Jason Momoa) returns after years of travel on the sea with the Europeans. He is not greeted warmly by Kamehameha’s father-in-law and chief counselor, and while his reunion with his family is joyous, there is an underlying tension. In his long absence, his brother Namake (Te Kohe Tuhaka) and his wife Kupuohi (Te Ao O'Hinepehinga Rauna) fell in love after they mourned for Ki’iani upon his disappearance, and they are living as man and wife.
While Kupuohi is happy at Ki’iani’s return, and doesn’t seem bothered about the change in her life, Namake, who has always loved his sister-in-law from a distance, is very hurt and confused by his brother’s return.
The chiefs surrounding Kamehameha are resistant to Ki’iani’s help. Although Ki’iani left the service of their enemy, King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison), after the latter lied to him about how much of a threat O’ahu was to Maui, many do not trust Ki’iani.
With the Kingdom of Hawai’i split between those who follow Kamehameha and those who follow his uncle, Keoua (Cliff Curtis), Ki’iani understands that they can’t defend themselves against Kahekili. Hawai’i must be united to have any chance against the king Maui and O’ahu.
Keoua, whose father named him King, but only in charge of the administrative aspects of running the Kingdom of Hawai’i, is upset that his father made Kamehameha Chief of War. His unacceptance of the division of powers is what has divided the kingdom.
Another significant change for Ki’iani that he notices upon his return is that Ka’ahumanu (Luciane Buchanan), who saved him in episode two from King Kahekili and hid him in a cave, now has political power. She had been hidden away her whole life, but Kamehameha’s chief counsellor, Moku (Moses Goods), is her father. When Kamehameha is named Chief of War, Moku marries his daughter to Kamehameha, who respects her advice, and she has his ear.
Ka’ahumanu gets Ki’iani a meeting with her husband, one that her father denied the returned warrior. Ki’iani tells Kamehameha how he respects how he leads and how thankful Ki’iani is for the chief for taking care of his family in his absence.
Their meeting leads to a chance for Ki’iani to join the Chief of War’s counsel, but first, he has to pass a test. This leads to the climax of this episode and the sole action sequence. The two men, plus two others, race narrow sleds down a mountain on a long, groomed track made of volcanic rock at high speeds. Kamehameha has never lost one of these sled races, but as the other two men fall by the wayside, Ki’iani and the chief hurtle down the path. At the last second, as both fly high in the air as the track ended on a cliff, Ki’iani passes his chief and won a spot on the chief’s council, and a friend as well.
Episode grade: A
Because of the fascinating political intrigue, and because now the audience is familiar with the characters and situation, this episode of Chief of War is the best so far, earning an A. Look for the pace to quicken soon, as only four more episodes are left.