AMC’s Overlooked 3-Season Martial Arts Series Is the Perfect Weekend Binge

The streaming boom has given us a treasure trove of TV shows that would never would have been made in the decades prior, but many of them were cut tragically short. These shows can be heartbreaking when you dwell on how much potential was squandered, but if you accept them as they are, they make for a perfect weekend binge-watch. Into the Badlands is a perfect example. The show aired just 3 seasons — 32 episodes — between 2015 and 2019, and fans grieve for the extra seasons that couldn’t be made. Tragic as it is, the short run of the series does make for an incredible 32-hour binge.

Into the Badlands was created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and it aired on AMC. It’s a post-apocalyptic action-drama set about 500 years in the future, at a time when modern governments have collapsed and technology has regressed. It is set in the region between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River, known colloquially as the Badlands. It explores martial arts, politics, and even touches on spirituality. The series is streaming now on AMC+, and it’s definitely worth the watch.

‘Into the Badlands’ is the Original Premise You’ve Been Craving

Image via Entertainment One

It’s often said that “Hollywood is out of ideas,” and that the industry relies too much on reboots, remakes, and adaptations. For those who feel that way, Into the Badlands is the cure. This show was not adapted from anything, though it did take some narrative views from the classic Chinese legend Journey to the West. Of course, the scribes who set that story down in the 16th Century knew nothing about the Rocky Mountains, cars, or electrical grids, so it’s safe to say this show goes in its own direction.

The main characters here are Sunny (Daniel Wu) and M.K. (Aramis Knight). Sunny is a hardened warrior and the right hand the Badlands’ most powerful Baron, Quinn (Marton Csokas.) M.K. is a teenage boy who seems to have a mysterious power hidden beneath the surface. The two travel through this wasteland together, navigating a world that has descended into ruthless feudalism despite the inhabitants’ yearning for peace.

The Badlands are ruled by a wary alliance of “Barons,” who control all trade between communities. They enforce their dominance with warriors known as Clippers — young men and women who are forbidden from marrying or having children. Clippers are led by another class of warrior known as Regents, such as Sunny. This brutal society has other classes — slaves known as “cogs” and “dolls” — while those outside the baronies are generally known as Nomads. These include individuals, tribes, and even religious groups.

The show builds an amazingly vast fantasy world within a relatively small territory by today’s standards. The characters often wonder and fantasize about what’s going on beyond their borders, but the societal collapse means they have no global communication. Some technology remains, such as ground vehicles and limited electricity, but firearms are strictly taboo. This gives the setting its distinct martial arts aesthetic, as clippers must rely on melee weapons and crossbows.

The Highs and Lows of Binge-Watching Canceled Shows

Image via AMC

The greatest drawback of watching a canceled show is the question of how it ends, but Into the Badlands is fortunate in this regard. Without spoiling anything, the show has a relatively satisfying ending, even if fans wished it had gone on longer. Without spoiling anything, the characters developed a lot over the course of the series, and they aren’t left in some heartbreaking, unresolved place. The story could have gone on, and some might describe the ending as a “cliffhanger,” but in truth it’s a lot more satisfying than many shows get in today’s day and age.

That said, it can be hard to look back at an older show with new titles premiering all the time — especially with social pressure to keep up. Into the Badlands is worth it, and its 32-hour run-time makes it easy to schedule. The show is ideal for a lazy weekend or two at home, with no need to wait for a new episode to drop. It’s all available on one subscription, and it’s presented without ads. It’s refreshing to enjoy a piece of media after the dust has settled, with no pressure to feel a certain way about it.

Perhaps the best part of watching a canceled show is belatedly joining a strong fandom, and Into the Badlands provides that as well. The show inspired thoughtful fan art and discussion that is a joy to jump into after watching. It opens up a whole new world of references, and before long you’ll be catching allusions in other works wherever you look. The show is relatively popular for cosplayers as well, so if you attend conventions you may have seen it already without realizing. Into the Badlands is streaming now on AMC+ in the U.S.

Release Date

2015 – 2019-00-00

Network

AMC