Pick of the Week
Chief of War
An epic history lesson, courtesy of the mountainous Jason Momoa. When we first meet Ka’iana (Momoa) he is something of a loner, capturing a shark with his bare hands and some rope. But he is coaxed back into armed service by the prophecy of an invasion that will lead to the unification of Hawaii. The drama is based on true events and great care has evidently been taken to present an authentic version of this undertold story. It is steeped in Polynesian cultural practices but it is also full of universal, action-adventure staples – namely, political machinations that periodically dissolve into prolonged outbreaks of expertly choreographed, frequently blood-curdling violence. Phil Harrison
Apple TV+, from Friday 1 August
