First airing back in the spring of 2009, Deadliest Warrior was a science fiction/history show that answers the most important question: who would win in a duel to the death. Could a Apache take down a Gladiator? Would the Sicilian Mafia survive a shootout with the Japanese Yakuza? The show attempted to answer these questions through scientific tests of a selection of the weapons that the combatants used in their lifetime, and put the data they gathered into a computer program, which would then process the data and determine who would win the battle. The show even comes with some acted scenes, including the final fight between the two warriors. The DVD of season 1 came out in the late spring/early summer of 2010, about 1 month after season 2 started airing.
To start the positives off, we have the actual matches themselves. Each of them are all quite interesting, as you have a mix of low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech encounters. The weapons that they bring to the table are taken from the diverse arsenals that they had during their lives are also interesting, with some being well known, and others that many may have never heard of before. Although there were only 9 matchups, they formed the basis for what the 2nd and 3rd seasons would build upon. As for the matchups themselves, just take a look below:
1) Apache vs Gladiator
2) Samurai vs Viking
3) Spartan vs Ninja
4) Pirate vs Knight
5) Mafia vs Yakuza
6) Green Beret vs Spetznas
7) Shaolin Monk vs Maori Warrior
8) William Wallice vs Shaka Zulu
9) I.R.A. vs Taliban
No, you’re not reading that last one wrong. They actually went ahead, and aired it (except in England). It was the most politically incorrect episode of season 1...and I liked it!
Secondly, the cast of Deadliest Warrior was another plus. For starters, you had a professional doctor that described the damage done by the weapons, a biomedical engineer that also described some of the damage and setup the tests for each weapon, and a computer expert that would put all the data into the program that ran the fights. In addition to the main three, would also had two (sometimes three) experts come in to support their respective side. Although some of the experts weren’t who they say they were, or they didn’t completely know the subject matter (more on this later), they did attempt to at least appear legitimate. The banter between them was often hilarious, but there were occasions where they would buckle down and get serious.
Unfortunately, season 1 of Deadliest Warrior (as well as seasons 2 & 3, but they’re for later) had bigger things going against it than for it. For starters, some of the warriors in the matchups were from very different sections of the timeline. Pirate vs Knight, as an example, pitted a blackpoweder wielding warrior against a warrior that had no blackpowder weapons. Although the knight was wearing armor, it really didn’t help him in the end. I understand putting two warriors together from different eras, but at times the distance between the two would sometimes determine the outcome before the actual testing did.
Next negative of the show was the experts. Although many of them were quite legitimate (Barry Jacobson rules!), there were also some experts that were either total crocks of shit, or legit experts that didn’t completely know what they were talking about. The experts that somewhat knew their warrior’s past I’ll crossover, but the fact that the show brought on people who not only didn’t know what they were talking, but disguising them to appear as real experts is a example of pure laziness.
This also extends to the editing within the show. There’s a scene within Pirate vs Knight, in which the pirate’s hat is knocked off his head, then it reappears, then it disappears again. That’s just sloppy filming, plain and simple.
The final negative of Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 is a big one, and it involves the history and weapons. There are certain cases in which the weapons they say, aren’t the weapons used in the quick showings. Case in point, when they show off the “Walther P38” used by the Yakuza, they’re actually showing off a Luger PO8 pistol, which is a completely different weapon. In Pirate vs Knight, the “Morningstar” they show off for the knight is actually a flail. That’s just completely mixing up weapons, when a show like this should be perfectly accurate with it’s information.
The occasions when the screw up a piece of history are even worse. Thought some episodes don’t have as many historical hiccups, some of the others have more bumps in the road than others. This is even more unforgivable than screwing up the weapons, and it shows the lack of effort that can be seen not just in this season, but in the others as well.
Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 gets a 5 out of 10. It has a interesting array of matches, and it has a fair cast, but the time distance between certain warriors was massive, some of the experts weren’t who they say they were, and they sometimes screwed up the weapons and history.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
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