There was sad news for Kung Fu fans as the CW canceled the series after three seasons. Based on the 1970s TV show starring David Carradine, the show starred Olivia Liang as a young woman who spent years training in China to be a martial artist. Returning to her home in San Francisco, she uses her skills to help others while tangling with darker forces.
The show had a good fanbase who enjoyed not only the action but the focus on Liang’s family and a great supporting cast. It’s sad to see it ending, but for fans of the show, there are a few other TV series that can appeal with not just martial arts action but a good storyline too.
Not sure what to watch? These five shows should be up the alley of any Kung Fu viewer and worth checking out.
5 shows like Kung Fu
American Born Chinese
Oscar-winning action movie icon Michelle Yeoh highlights this terrific Disney+ series. She fittingly plays a goddess who comes to Earth to help a wayward teen from another dimension. Said teen befriends a young Asian-American classmate who finds himself thrust into a battle between worlds. The supporting cast includes Yeoh’s fellow Oscar winner, Ke Huy Quan, and Daniel Wu, among other great performers.
While the action is fantastic, there’s also a warm saga of Asian-Americans in today’s world, and that, combined with the gorgeous fight scenes, makes for a wild story to be embraced by Kung Fu fans.
American Born Chinese Season 1 is streaming on Disney+.
Wu Assassins
This underrated Netflix series stars Iko Uwais as Kai Jin, a chef who discovers he’s the last in a line of supernatural protectors of the world. He’s soon fighting off other super-powered baddies in some crazy action sequences. He’s aided by a good cast that includes Big Sky’s Katheryn Winnick as a cop and other allies while contending with a force that can manipulate various elements.
While it was canceled at the end of its first season, it did get a movie, Fistful of Vengeance, that did a good job carrying on the plotlines. For a mix of supernatural combat and martial arts mayhem, this is a good show.
Wu Assassins Season 1 and movie streaming on Netflix.
Into The Badlands
This AMC series takes place 500 years after an apocalypse destroys civilization. A feudal society has taken up what used to be America, which relies on hand weapons and motorcycles. Daniel Wu is a wandering warrior who first gets involved in the power struggles of the clans before becoming a mentor to a young boy and a hero.
The martial arts action is stunning, from massive battles to one on one combats, and Orla Brady and Emily Beecham shine as female fighters. Sadly ending after three seasons, it deserved more life for its wonderful martial arts and post-apocalyptic storytelling.
Into the Badlands Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Netflix.
Warrior
Formerly on Cinemax, this drama moved to Max for its third season. Based on a story from Bruce Lee, it’s set in 1890s San Francisco as the various Tong gangs are going to war. Andrew Koji is a Chinese immigrant searching for his sister who gets involved with the Tongs.
It tackles the rough times of immigrants in this period with some of the most brutal fight scenes on television today. Olivia Cheng is a highlight of the supporting cast as it’s less fantastic than other shows on this list but more than enough kung fu brutality for fans to enjoy.
Warrior Seasons 1-3 streaming on Max.
Warrior Nun
It may not be a pure martial arts series, but this Netflix show has the same mix of action and a great female-led cast. Alba Baptista is a young woman who finds herself suddenly exhibiting super strength and fighting skills. She’s recruited by a pack of female fighters working for the Vatican to stop demons and other evils.
The action is wild, as is the conspiracy they have to fight, even as there’s a great bond of the “sisters” to back it up. Canceled after two seasons, a massive fan campaign is leading to a coming revival, and thus a good time to get into a show with one of the most passionate fan bases around.
Seasons 1-2 are streaming on Netflix.
Kung Fu Season 1-3 are now streaming on Max.