So, you've probably seen the headlines or maybe a clip of Jason Momoa looking intensely fierce in 18th-century Hawaiian gear. Everyone’s talking about the Chief of War rating, and honestly, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster. If you just glance at a single number on Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb, you're missing the real story. This isn't just another action flick where Momoa hits things. It is a massive, $350 million gamble by Apple TV+ to tell an indigenous story on a scale we rarely see.
The numbers are kind of all over the place.
On one hand, critics have been surprisingly high on it. We're talking a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes from some outlets, while others settled around 88% early on. Compare that to the audience score, which dipped to about 74% shortly after the premiere. Why the gap? Well, it’s not because the show is bad. It’s because it’s different.
The Subtitle "Controversy" and the Chief of War Rating
Basically, people are lazy.
A huge chunk of the early audience reviews complained about the subtitles. The creators made a bold choice: the first two episodes are almost entirely in the Native Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi). For some viewers, having to actually read the screen was a dealbreaker. They wanted Aquaman in the islands; what they got was a dense, culturally rich history lesson with a lot of blood.
Critics, however, loved this. Nina Metz from the Chicago Tribune noted that Momoa’s screen presence is basically what holds the whole thing together. And she’s right. If you’re looking at the Chief of War rating to decide if it’s worth your time, you have to ask yourself if you’re okay with a "slow burn."
Is it really the next Shōgun?
Everyone wants to compare this to Shōgun or Game of Thrones.
- Shōgun comparison: Accurate in terms of cultural respect and political maneuvering.
- Game of Thrones comparison: Only in the sense that there are warring kingdoms and Momoa is, well, Momoa.
The Financial Times called it a "grand, ambitious series," and Empire Magazine went as far as labeling it Momoa’s "magnum opus." But let’s be real—it’s not as twisty as Thrones. The politics are a bit more straightforward. You’ve got Ka‘iana (Momoa), a war chief who sees the writing on the wall regarding European colonization. He wants to unite the islands to survive. Simple goal, incredibly violent execution.
Breaking Down the Numbers: What the Ratings Actually Say
If you look at the episode-by-episode breakdown on sites like Rating Graph, you’ll notice something interesting. The pilot, "The Chief of War," holds a solid 7.6/10. But by the second episode, "Changing Tides," the rating actually climbs to a 7.9.
Usually, shows drop off after the pilot.
The fact that the rating goes up suggests that the people who stuck through the "subtitle shock" really started to vibe with the pacing. By the time the series hit the middle episodes, like "City of Flowers," things stabilized. It seems the Chief of War rating is a victim of its own ambition. It’s trying to be a "pre-contact" historical epic, and that’s a hard sell for the casual Friday night binge-watcher who just wants to see a trident get thrown.
The Cast Performance
You can’t talk about the ratings without mentioning the supporting cast.
- Temuera Morrison: He plays Kahekili, and he is terrifying. He brings a "Marvel villain" energy but grounded in real tribal history.
- Luciane Buchanan: As Kaʻahumanu, she provides the emotional weight that Momoa sometimes trades for raw intensity.
- Cliff Curtis: His portrayal of Keōua is being called "impeccable" by most major reviewers.
Why the "Authenticity" Factor Matters
Here is where the Chief of War rating gets complicated.
📖 Related: Anime shows with nudity: Why the line between art and fan service is blurring
A lot of the 10/10 reviews come from historians and people in the Native Hawaiian community. They aren't just rating a show; they’re rating a "watershed moment" in media representation. Common Sense Media pointed out that this is one of the few times a story of this scale has been told from a purely indigenous perspective.
There are some gripes, though. Most of it was filmed in New Zealand, not Hawaii. While New Zealand is stunning (and was a smart financial move for Apple), locals can tell the difference. Does a different island chain lower the quality? Not really, but for a show obsessed with "authenticity," it’s a tiny smudge on the record.
Actionable Insights for Your Watchlist
If you’re on the fence about whether to trust the Chief of War rating, keep these things in mind:
- Don't judge by the first hour. You need to get past the initial subtitled world-building to feel the stakes.
- Expect "Visual" Storytelling. The cinematography is the highest-rated part of the show for a reason. It's meant to be seen on a big screen, not a phone.
- Context is King. If you know nothing about King Kamehameha or the unification of Hawaii, you might feel lost. A quick 5-minute Wikipedia read on Ka'iana will make the show 2x better.
- Look past the 1-star reviews. Most of the negative ratings are literally just people complaining that they had to read subtitles. If you don't mind subtitles, the "real" rating for you is likely much higher.
Basically, the show is a hit for people who like The Last of the Mohicans or Braveheart style epics. It’s a miss for people who want Fast & Furious in canoes. The Chief of War rating reflects that divide perfectly.
🔗 Read more: Why Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula Still Divides Fans Decades Later
To get the most out of your viewing, start with the first three episodes as a single block. This allows the narrative to move past the setup and into the actual "war" part of the title. If you aren't hooked by the end of episode three, the show probably isn't for you, regardless of what the critics say.