Recommendations & Reviews

Published June 24, 2025

By Fairlane Raymundo

Let’s be honest: Wu Assassins likely wouldn’t be on most people’s radar if it weren’t for Iko Uwais.

Known for his breakout performances in The Raid and The Raid 2, Uwais brings real martial arts credibility to the screen.

The Raid (2011) & The Raid 2 (2014) – These Indonesian action thrillers follow Rama, a rookie SWAT officer played by Iko Uwais, as he battles his way from a gangster-infested high-rise to the violent heart of Jakarta’s criminal underworld.

He’s not just the lead actor — he also choreographs many of his own fight scenes and practices pencak silat, an Indonesian martial art that takes center stage in the series.

An image depicting the traditional martial art of Pencak Silat in practice.
Source: anak-harimau.at

And when Uwais fights, you watch. He’s fast, brutal, and captivating. His movements have a raw elegance that make you forget you’re watching fiction. Even when the plot falters, Uwais’s action sequences pull you right back in. It’s clear that the martial arts backbone of the series exists because of him, and honestly, without him, the show might have faded into obscurity.

Action First, Everything Else Second

From the very beginning, it’s obvious that the fight scenes are the main event. Almost every episode follows a similar rhythm: a bit of story setup, a brief emotional moment, and then — bam — another high-octane showdown. The choreography is slick, fast-paced, and visually appealing. If you love watching hand-to-hand combat with a modern twist, Wu Assassins is worth your time.

But with so much attention given to the action, the rest of the show often feels like an afterthought. Major plot developments happen quickly and sometimes without proper buildup. You don’t always understand why characters make the decisions they do because you barely get to know them. It’s like watching a music video on loop — stylish, energetic, but emotionally thin.

Character Connections That Don’t Quite Land

This lack of emotional depth is one of Wu Assassins’ biggest weaknesses. On paper, the show has a diverse and interesting cast of characters: a chef-turned-hero, a loyal friend with a dark side, estranged siblings, and morally grey villains. But in practice, the chemistry between them feels off. Relationships develop too quickly, without the tension or bonding moments needed to make them believable.

Even Uwais’s character, Kai Jin, has an arc that feels undercooked.

The idea of a humble chef being chosen as a mystical warrior is intriguing — it sets up a classic reluctant-hero narrative. But his transformation into the “Wu Assassin” happens so abruptly that you’re left wondering if a few episodes got lost in editing. We don’t get to sit with his confusion, fear, or resistance. It just happens — and suddenly he’s throwing punches like he’s been training his whole life.

Superpowers with Little Payoff

Adding to the muddled storytelling is the show’s mystical element. At the heart of Wu Assassins is a supernatural force passed down through chosen warriors — an ancient power that grants Kai Jin the ability to tap into centuries of knowledge and strength. Sounds cool, right? In theory, yes. In execution? Not so much.

While the show explains the origin of this power, it doesn’t go very deep into its implications. There’s little exploration of how it truly works or how it affects the people who wield it. Instead, it’s often reduced to a flashy plot device that pops up when needed and disappears when it’s inconvenient. The mythology has potential — but it never feels fully realized.

The Cultural Blend: A Missed Opportunity?

With a cast that includes actors of Chinese, Indonesian, and other Asian backgrounds, Wu Assassins had the potential to be a landmark series in terms of Asian representation in Western media. And in some ways, it is — it’s refreshing to see an action series led by an Asian cast that doesn’t rely on stereotypes or white savior narratives.

But the show also stumbles when it comes to cultural depth. For example, Kai Jin is hinted to be half-Indonesian and possibly Muslim — but this is mentioned once and never explored again. His identity becomes a background detail rather than a meaningful part of the narrative. Meanwhile, the story leans heavily into Chinese mysticism, which could have been a great opportunity to explore Taoist or Buddhist philosophies, but those ideas are mostly used as decorative elements rather than driving forces.

With such a rich cultural backdrop to draw from, the show could have delved deeper into heritage, belief systems, or identity conflicts. Instead, it plays it safe — and loses an opportunity to stand out even more.

Overediting the Action

There’s no denying that the action scenes are the highlight of the series. They’re fast, fluid, and often thrilling. But they’re also sometimes overedited. The quick cuts and constant camera shifts make it hard to appreciate the full range of Uwais’s martial arts skills. And that’s a shame, because pencak silat — with its grounded stances and lightning-fast strikes — deserves to be seen in all its raw power.

Sometimes, less really is more. Letting the camera linger, allowing the audience to absorb the movements, would’ve done more justice to Uwais’s talent. Instead, some of the fight scenes feel like a music video: stylish, yes, but a little too busy.

So, Is It Worth Watching?

That depends on what you're looking for. If you're in it for the martial arts, Wu Assassins absolutely delivers. Iko Uwais is a force, and his action scenes alone are worth checking out. Fans of The Raid will find comfort in the familiar style — sharp, brutal, and precise.

But if you’re hoping for a rich, emotional story with well-developed characters and a fully fleshed-out world, this series might leave you a bit underwhelmed. The writing often feels rushed, and some plotlines are introduced only to fizzle out before they reach their full potential.

Still, Wu Assassins deserves credit for trying something different. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction for Asian-led, martial arts-driven stories on global platforms. For viewers hungry for something outside the usual superhero or crime drama formula, it’s a fun — if flawed — ride.