Kung Fu (2021): Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	Your Score
6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

The CW | Season Premiere Date: April 7, 2021

Summary: Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang) drops out of college to go to a Shaolin monastery in China. When she returns home to San Francisco, she finds crime running rampant and begins using her skills to help her community in this reimagining of the 1970s series of the same name.

Creator: Ed Spielman and Christina M. Kim and Hanelle Culpepper

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E15. The Bell
Air Date: March 23, 2022
tbd
S1:E14. Year of the Tiger: Part 1
Air Date: March 9, 2022
tbd
S1:E13. Transformation
Air Date: July 21, 2021

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Robert Daniels

Apr 7, 2021

In a premiere brimming with melodrama, the visceral fights are imbued with grounded emotion. ... Liang, the relative newcomer, holds together the odd mix of modernity, mysticism, soapy arcs, and acute action with intuitive ease. Indeed, she and Kim make a formidable creator-star duo. Read full review

John Anderson

Apr 6, 2021

The cast is attractive and committed; the storyline has multiple avenues to pursue; Ms. Liang can carry the show. And the thrust of the pilot, at least (the only episode made available), is not Asians against the world, but good against evil. From what one can tell, the production itself makes a political statement, but the storyline won’t. Read full review

Daniel D'Addario

Apr 7, 2021

In all, “Kung Fu” presents a compelling heroine, ably played by Liang, who feels obligations to community and family both generally relatable and specifically drawn. The mystical element of Nicky’s skills is treated matter-of-factly and with engaged interest — nothing here feels rote. Read full review

Rob Owen

Apr 2, 2021

Representation matters, so the existence of an almost all-Asian cast on a broadcast network series is a welcome development even as the show’s format and themes feel overly familiar. Read full review

Daniel Fienberg

Apr 7, 2021

If a pilot is your opportunity to establish premise and put your best resources forward, Kung Fu is a mixed bag anyway. ... There are definitely characterizations that are trope-y here, with the difference being the variety of representations and the likelihood that, given more than an episode or two to play out, even the things that look like stock types in the pilot will evolve and add depth. That's where Kung Fu has me interested, if not hooked. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Apr 7, 2021

An uninspired series whose action and key narrative device owe at least as much to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" as its half-century-old namesake. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Apr 7, 2021

The pilot — the only episode available for review as of this writing — is a busy, busy thing that packs in a mess of cursory exposition, introductions, family business, romantic groundwork, an operation for a subdural hematoma and a game of ping-pong, at the expense of subtlety and character. Read full review

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6.6

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User Reviews

langkwan

Apr 9, 2023

Who cares about the original series where it's about white savior. This is an awesome show about chinese americans.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

manningn15

Aug 16, 2021

Kung Fu's first season was excellent, one of my new favorite shows can't wait for season 2. The fight choreography was outstanding, some of the best I've ever seen. Olivia Liang gave a superb performance with portraying a perfect balance between the character Nicky's strength andKung Fu's first season was excellent, one of my new favorite shows can't wait for season 2. The fight choreography was outstanding, some of the best I've ever seen. Olivia Liang gave a superb performance with portraying a perfect balance between the character Nicky's strength and vulnerability. Kheng Hua Tan, Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang, Tzi Ma, Eddie Liu, Gavin Stenhouse, Tony Chung, Yvonne Chapman, Françoise Yip, Fiona Fu, and Vanessa Kai gave phenomenal performances as well. The costumes were spectacular especially ones wore by Olivia Liang, Shannon Dang, and Françoise Yip. An A+ first season.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

LoveChillblaine

Apr 14, 2021

A funny and exciting dive into a fun world of drama and action. The struggles of the characters are relatable and expansive.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

MarcDoyle

Apr 29, 2021

This is one hell of a show! Impeccable casting, great writing, and we're only 4 episodes in, and it's already covering some incredibly important issues. I love it, and can't wait to dig in further.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Skeletor71

Apr 11, 2021

At least the fights were really well choreographed, grasshopper. And I will probably watch it again. The first episode had enough to keep me interested, but it was nothing like the original. This is more like a low level CW superhero show. The acting was quite bad at times, but I do likeAt least the fights were really well choreographed, grasshopper. And I will probably watch it again. The first episode had enough to keep me interested, but it was nothing like the original. This is more like a low level CW superhero show. The acting was quite bad at times, but I do like some of the characters. Give it a chance if you're into martial arts movies.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Klebart

Apr 7, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. OK, I've only seen the pilot, and pilots can be bad sometimes. However, this new show was boring and cliché. Gangs beating up her parents so she has to fight back - seen this before. She can hack into computer accounts - like every other unbelievable show. Token gay guy - check. So something about a magic sword that wasn't holding my attention either. It was boring. Very snooze-worthy, I won't be watching episode two. I expected better CW.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

screenplayhouse

Apr 9, 2021

Completely ignored the source material. The lead was interesting, the fights KILLER, but KUNG FU is about a person of Peace in a savage world. If the CW didn't feel like making that show, fine, but you've already lost this viewer. Expect steeeep drop offs for episode 2.

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

Seasons & Episodes

65

Series Overview
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: October 5, 2022
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: October 5, 2022
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: March 9, 2022
Season 1

65
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 7, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E15. The Bell
  Air Date: March 23, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E14. Year of the Tiger: Part 1
  Air Date: March 9, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E13. Transformation
  Air Date: July 21, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E12. Sacrifice
  Air Date: July 14, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E11. Attachment
  Air Date: July 7, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E10. Choice
  Air Date: June 30, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E9. Isolation
  Air Date: June 23, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E8. Destiny
  Air Date: June 2, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E7. Guidance
  Air Date: May 26, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E6. Rage
  Air Date: May 12, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E5. Sanctuary
  Air Date: May 5, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E4. Hand
  Air Date: April 28, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E3. Patience
  Air Date: April 21, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E2. Silence
  Air Date: April 14, 2021
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: April 7, 2021