Kung Fu – The Complete First Season

  • Title: Kung Fu – Season One
  • wiki: link

The CW’s reboot of Kung Fu casting Olivia Liang as Chinese-American Nicky Shen provided a solid 13 episode arc as Nicky discovers a destiny in a Chinese monastery of protecting sacred artifacts. Leaving, Nicky reengages (and discovers secrets about) her family as she returns to her home to California, while seeking to avenge the death of her mentor (Vanessa Kai) and putting her skills to use week to week in San Francisco helping those in need.

All episodes are collected on DVD and Blu-ray. The Blu-ray also includes digital copies of the episodes. Highlights of the First Season include the exploration of the motives of villains Kerwin Tan (Ludi Lin) and Zhilan (Yvonne Chapman), Althea’s (Shannon Dang) bachelorette party, Nicky’s search for her aunt, and the season finale big showdown between Nicky and Zhilan. 

While never great, Kung Fu was consistent and improved over the season exploring Nicky’s place in the world, both in reconnecting with her family and friends who she abandoned years before, and coming to terms with what she is meant to do. The search for the weapons and for her mentor’s killer provides the larger arc to the season while the exploration of Nicky’s relationships and helping out various weekly guest-stars, in danger from an assortment of troubles, provides the week to week drama of the season.