Chief of War season 1 has come to a close, with the finale offering plenty of material to unpack. Jason Momoa’s historical passion project lived up to expectations, with period-accurate costumes, astounding visuals, and all the epic action one could hope for in a series titled “Chief of War.” Momoa leads Chief of War’s cast as the warrior Ka’iana.
The show’s first nine episodes saw Ka’iana struggle with his loyalty to various leaders, eventually returning from time abroad to aid King Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) in conflict with Keōua (Cliff Curtis) for control of the island of Hawai’i. Keōua’s forces are backed by the King Kahekili (Temoura Morrison) of the Maui island.
Much of Chief of War’s final episodes explores a conflict between Kamehameha and Ka’iana, in which they argue over whether to utilize firearms in the battle against Keōua. The penultimate episode also sees the stirring of Kīlauea, a volcano on Hawai’i, which leads other districts to join Keōua’s side, believing the gods favor him.
Chief Of War’s Final Battle & Outcome Explained
The ensuing battle is bloody, violent, and transpires in the shadow of the volcano. Ka’iana taunts Keōua’s forces, causing them to charge with spears as Kamehameha’s men reveal their hidden rifles, beginning the battle with a significant advantage as Keōua’s men are gunned down.
Ka’iana eventually comes face-to-face with Keōua, only for the latter to be killed by nature itself, contradicting his previous belief that the eruption affirmed his right to rule. Keōua’s death confirmed Kamehameha’s rule over Hawai’i, setting the stage for him to begin his conquest of the other Hawaiian islands.
Every Main Character Death In Chief Of War’s Finale
Keōua: As mentioned, Keōua was killed in the conflict. Ka’iana sought after Keōua in the battle, hoping for revenge for his brother, Nāhi, who was killed in the previous episode. As the main antagonist of season 1, Keōua’s death isn’t all that shocking.
Opunui: Opunui was the representative of the Maui sent to lead Kahekili’s forces in the war against Kamehameha, and he proved himself to be a terrifying, violent man following Nāhi’s death. In the final battle, he goes after Heke, nearly killing her before Ka’ahumanu shoots him. Heke then finishes him off, avenging her lover.
How Chief Of War’s Ending Sets Up Season 2
Kahekili has been the central antagonist of Chief of War from the beginning, and he’s the reason Ka’iana was so determined to return to the Hawaiian islands. Ka’iana felt he had unfinished business with the Maui king, who had tricked him into committing war crimes in the name of a self-proclaimed prophetic fulfillment.
This makes it all the more surprising that Kahekili wasn’t present for the season’s final battle, though some of his men were sent in his stead. However, in the show’s shocking, raunchy final scene, we see Kahekili receive the news of the battle’s outcome, swearing that he will bring his powerful navy to conquer Hawai’i himself in the aftermath of Keōua’s failure.
Chief of War has yet to be renewed for a second season, but the finale suggests that more violence is still to come. Ka’iana and Kamehameha’s tentative alliance was built on an agreement of Keōua’s threat, but things may become complicated again by Kahekili’s arrival or the return of the British sailors.
Chief Of War’s Spiritual Themes Explained
Looking back on the battle, Ka’iana finds one of Keōua’s priests and skewers him with a spear. This ties to a consistent theme throughout Chief of War, as Ka’iana had looked to the gods for guidance on who to follow, and believed he would be going against the will of the gods by fighting against Keōua.
As we’ve seen throughout the series from the distressed snippets of the seer, Tala, the gods are angered, but not by the outcome of Keōua and Kamehameha’s war. What unnerves the gods is the integration of foreign tools and the impending arrival of more colonists. Ka’iana has defeated Keōua, but he’s forsaken tradition to do so.
The use of guns is almost like a Faustian pact. It doesn’t matter who unites the Hawaiian islands, as the threat is coming regardless. Ka’iana and Kamehameha have used these weapons to defeat their enemies, but those same weapons will eventually lead to the downfall of Hawaii as an independent nation and the ultimate suffering of its ancient culture.
How Accurate Chief Of War Season 1 Is To Real-Life Events
To put it simply: not very. Chief of War utilizes primarily real historical figures, but the timeline is shifted around for narrative convenience. The closest recorded battle to the one we see in the finale was the Battle of Mokuʻōhai in 1782. However, Keōua didn’t go on to die until 1791. His army was actually destroyed by Kīlauea, but this happened in 1790 and wasn’t during a battle.