One Of The Best Martial Arts Actors Ever Starred In This Must-Watch TV Show For 2 Seasons

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As a lifelong fan of martial arts films, I always get excited when a true star takes on a TV series. I stumbled upon Martial Law back when it aired on CBS in the late ’90s, and while it didn’t really catch on with a wide audience – sadly, it was cancelled after just two seasons – I genuinely enjoyed it. It was a fun show, and definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre.

As a film buff, I remember when kung fu was huge – the ’70s were its golden age! By the ’90s, though, that initial craze had definitely faded. While kung fu films still had a following in the ’80s, the energy just wasn’t the same. It was cool to see, though, that a lot of the original stars who made those classic ’70s and ’80s movies were still working and keeping the martial arts spirit alive on screen.

Sammo Hung is a well-known actor, primarily recognized for his work in Hong Kong films. However, he also starred in a television series in the United States.

Sammo Hung Starred In Martial Law For 2 Seasons

After spending over twenty years making kung fu films alongside stars like Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, Hong Kong’s Sammo Hung moved to American television. He starred as Sammo Law in Martial Law, a comedy series about a police officer that aired on CBS.

In the movie Martial Law, Sammo Hung plays an older Chinese police officer sent to Los Angeles. His mission is to help the LAPD dismantle a criminal organization run by a former rival, while also partnering with Kelly Hu’s character, Grace Chen, who is working undercover.

Throughout the series, his primary partner was Terrell Parker, portrayed by the well-known comedian Arsenio Hall. Terrell joined the police team at the beginning of the first season and became a regular character, working alongside the main character to solve mysteries in each episode.

Each episode of the series featured Sammo Law solving a new case, but many of those cases were connected to a larger story about the criminal who originally brought him to Los Angeles. However, the show shifted focus in its second season, introducing a new storyline centered around a secret society and its ties to Sammo’s long-lost son.

Martial Law Was An Underrated Martial Arts TV Show Akin To Rush Hour

Although it might seem like just another police procedural, Sammo Hung’s Martial Law stood out because it cleverly used his signature blend of martial arts skill and comedic timing, helping it avoid being seen as just another typical cop show.

Okay, so watching Martial Law really brought back memories of Rush Hour. It’s got that same vibe – a straight-up police story mixed with the hilarious chemistry you get from a buddy cop pairing. Think Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, but this time it’s Sammo Hung and Arsenio Hall playing off each other. It really leans into that funny dynamic while still trying to be a solid procedural.

Similar to the movie Rush Hour, the show’s action sequences heavily feature the martial arts skills of its main character from China. While the series is primarily a police show involving guns, solving cases frequently leads to hand-to-hand combat.

I really enjoy how Martial Law constantly delivers exciting fight scenes. It’s awesome to watch Sammo Hung demonstrate his incredible kung fu skills, whether he’s taking on a single opponent or battling a whole bunch of bad guys. He just really gets to show off what he can do!

The action scenes are better than typical American TV shows from the 1990s because the producers hired fight choreographers with experience from Hong Kong martial arts films. This allows Martial Law to feel like a project Sammo Hung would be involved in, despite being quite different from his other work.

Just because Martial Law only lasted two seasons doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to watch. The series finale hints at further adventures for Sammo Law, but it also successfully concludes his time in America, providing a resolution to the main storylines from both seasons.

Sammo Hung Is One Of The Best Martial Arts Star Of All Time

While Martial Law blends the familiar structure of police dramas with exciting Hong Kong martial arts action, its main draw is undoubtedly the presence of Sammo Hung.

Throughout his extensive career in Hong Kong cinema, Sammo Hung appeared in countless films, primarily action-packed comedies. He’s well-known for movies like Pedicab Driver, Mr. Vampire, Warriors Two, and Magnificent Butcher, many of which have become beloved cult favorites.

While some directors have much bigger reputations, his work includes incredible martial arts films. He famously collaborated with Jackie Chan on classics like Project A and Wheels on Meals. However, his talent wasn’t limited to working with Chan; he also directed popular martial arts movies such as Knockabout.

He also appeared in and directed Ip Man 2, a film widely considered one of the best martial arts movies of the 2010s.

While Sammo Hung is much more famous for his martial arts films, the television show Martial Law did allow him to make a mark on TV as well.

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2025-10-31 01:19