The pace of action in Jason Momoa's Chief of War on Apple TV+ has slowed over the past couple of episodes, but the political intrigue and drama have ramped up. In episode 6, "The Splintered Paddle," Kamehameha continues to try to patiently broker peace with his uncle Keoua.
Keoua is angry that his dying father split the Kingdom of Hawai'i by leaving the administrative responsibilities of the kingdom in Keoua’s hands, but making Kamehameha the mantle of Chief of War. He has no interest in putting aside his differences with his nephew to unite the Kingdom of Hawai'i so everyone can better defend the island from Maui's King Kahekili's lust for power.
Chief of War episode 6 key moments
Despite a bevy of councilors surrounding him, Kamehameha tends to listen to the advice given to him by his wife, Ka'ahumana, and K'iani's wife, Kupuohi. Hawai'i, at this time, is entrenched in a patriarchal society. The men make the decisions, and while they might listen to their mothers or wives privately, women usually do not speak up in councils.
Both of these women influence Kamehameha, and he openly seeks their advice in public. In episode 6, Ka'iani doesn’t believe there is any peace to be made with Keoua, but both women think he can be swayed. Kamehameha sends Ka-iani and Kupuohi to meet with Keoua in a last effort to unite the kingdom and to prepare defenses against the aggressive Kahekili.
Ka-iani does not believe this meeting will bear fruit, so he has the Englishmen waiting on their ship to deliver his guns. His friend Tony begins to train some men on their use.
The meeting with Keoua goes about the way Ka'iani predicts, though Ka'iani's attitude in the meeting does nothing to mend the hurt feelings. Kupuohi tries to convince Keoua that their kingdom cannot survive if it is divided.
Once the tense meeting is over, Keoua betrays his people by meeting secretly with King Kahekili of Maui and asking for his support in defeating Kamehameha. Kahekili treats Keoua as a supplicant rather than as an equal, yet he makes the alliance. Kahekili promises Keoua his best warriors to defeat Kamehameha.
Despite the power Kahekili earned by defeating O'ahu, many in Maui are not in favor of their king's aggressive behavior. Kahekili's own son Kupule has doubted his father's behavior, agenda, and methods. When some Maui chiefs reach out to him, asking him to consider taking the throne from his father, whom they think is going mad, Kupule listens. Kahekili, however, suspects his son and doesn't trust him with leading warriors into battle.
While this episode highlighted Kamehameha's efforts to go against the ingrained patriarchal attitudes toward women, the story stalled somewhat. There was never going to be a peaceful solution for Keoua to put aside his anger toward Kamehameha.
The twist of Keoua's willingness to bow down to Kahekili's authority is intriguing, though. Audiences are smart enough to realize this can't work out well for him. Even his mother doesn't think he will succeed as he hopes.
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Episode Grade: B-
All of the episodes so far have been good, but this is one of the weaker ones, primarily due to the lack of forward movement in the story. It serves as a preamble for what is to come, but it earns a B- for its slower pace and occasional predictability.