By Takuma Okada
AsAmNews Intern
The first season of Into the Badlands was too short. Most of its problems stemmed from the length, including badly-paced scenes and not enough development for the large cast of characters. But if the season two premiere is anything to go by, we’re in for a much better second season.
Tiger Pushes Mountain, technically the seventh chapter of the series, made Badlands the number one returning cable series on television among the 25-54 age group. Total viewership was up 37% increase in viewers over the season one finale, but overall a 55% decrease from the original premiere. However, there’s higher potential for viewer retention this time, and here’s why:
First of all, the ten episodes the series has to work with should help create a better narrative arc, and more screen time for the fight scenes that are far and away the best part of the show. Season one needed to introduce viewers to the characters and explain their motivations, leading to too many tedious dialogue scenes. With the main characters scattered across the Badlands and beyond, it’s pretty clear that Sunny and co. will need to find their way back to each other, taking down anyone that stands in their way.
The most tedious dialogue award for season one would have to go to the Barons. But again, since we now understand how the Barons operate and the ongoing conflict between them, we can watch their forces clash instead of listening to more exposition. The Widow took back her oil refineries from Ryder in the premiere in a gloriously bloody fashion, and there’s sure to be more to come.
The cast has expanded as well, with Nick Frost providing some comic relief that the first season certainly lacked. But I’d like to point out that the Master is played by Chipo Chung, a half Zimbabwean, half Chinese actress. Black Asians in particular are almost invisible in mainstream media, and the fact that an important and powerful character in the series is played by one is just another good casting choice that Into the Badlands has made.
Into the Badlands airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. on AMC.
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