At the start of the episode, Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) and Rosalita Vega (Maria-Elena Laas) travel to the border town of Rooker’s Mill. Rosalita explains that it isn’t even a town. It is a private property owned by a man named Elijah Rooker. He is rich and obsessed with fighters so he hosts a tournament every year. The cash price is $2,500 minus Rosalita’s cut. Hong (Chen Tang) and Young Jun (Jason Tobin) tag along. As they walk along, Hong tells Young Jun that he likes certain men but not him. Hong tries to explain that to him before Ah Sahm asks Rosalita about Rooker. Young Jun doesn’t want to give up his blades but Ah Sahm tells him he should learn to fight with his fists.

He agrees to give up the blades when he sees how the other stubborn man is punished. After the intro, Ah Sahm and the others are taken to their room and Rosalita tells them to get some rest. Andrew is asked about his relationship with Vega but he claims it is only professional. Ah Sahm doesn’t want to talk about his past relationship with Penny so he decides to go for a walk. He walks through the streets and enters a pub where Dolph (Michael Bisping) tries to give him a hard time. They get into a scuffle until Vega enters and confirms that they’re dealing with Dolph Jagger. Before all is said and done, Dolph tells Ah Sahm he is a dead man.

Ah Sahm learns that Rosalita has business in town and he offers to go with her but she wants him to stay out of trouble and get some rest. Later that evening, Ah Sahm and his men meet up with Rosalita Vega who is dressed up. Ah Sahm learns he can relax since he won’t be fighting until the next day. Everyone sits down to enjoy Mexican food. Dolph passes by and makes eye contact with Ah Sahm. Hong is obsessed with their cowboy boots and wants a pair to call his own. Before long, Elijah (Conor Mullen) and Marisol Rooker (Maria Elisa Camargo) emerge and join everyone else. Elijah interrupts and addresses the crowd.

He tells everyone about his history and trying to find his fortune. He explains that the intimacy and honesty of hand-to-hand combat were lost to gunpowder. He explains he started the tournament to celebrate warriors and one person is going to go home a lot richer. Then, he introduces everyone to his wife Marisol. He explains they’re going to celebrate their anniversary before the celebrations begin. Ah Sahm asks Vega if something is wrong while Dolph fights another day. Ah Sahm watches as Dolph brutalizes the man. After the celebrations and fight, Ah Sahm approaches Vega. She tells him it is nice to get out of the city every so often. They chat about the formation of California and Ah Sahm’s childhood in China. Vega confirms she has a sister too and she is the only thing she has left.

Their conversation continues and turns into a kiss but Vega says they’re not going to do this. Ah Sahm apologizes and admits it felt like they were going to do it. He agrees to walk her to her room. Meanwhile, Dolph continues beating people up. Ah Sahm watches and tells Vega that Dolph is strong. Ah Sahm learns he will be fighting Dolph next. Young Jun makes sure he is ready since he lost last time. He reminds Ah Sahm that they need the prize money bad. The fight begins and Ah Sahm takes Dolph down with a kid in seconds. Then, he fights a man with long fingernails and beats him too. Ah Sahm fights another guy after that. He takes the man down and beats him up. Another fight and another win. Elijah, his wife, and his comrade talk about something. Then, Ah Sahm learns that the fights have finished for the day.

Elijah’s buddy Smits approaches Ah Sahm and introduces himself. Elijah wants to invite Ah Sahm and Vega to join him and his wife in the main house. Ah Sahm accepts that offer but it seems to upset the other men. Three men follow them as they walk the streets but Hong appears behind them. Hong takes care of the three men easily. Ah Sahm and Vega chat before Vega gets close and kisses him. They head inside and have sex. Hong returns to Young Jun who has found a way friend. Hong is asked to wait there while Jun entertains his lady friend. Meanwhile, Vega tells Ah Sahm he is not a gangster. Then, she asks if he ever thinks about going back home and he says no but Vega thinks about it every day.

In the morning, they join Elijah and his wife. Elijah tells Ah Sahm he is too good to be fighting in the pits. Elijah believes they both have a taste for American women. Then, Elijah makes his pitch by telling Sahm he could use someone with his skill set. He wants him to stay around and teach his men how to fight. Smits asks Ah Sahm if he has a technique to stop a bullet. Elijah admits it took him a while but he won his wife over in the end. He tells everyone about the gun that was made specifically for him by Juan de la Estacion who is the master gunsmith in Northern Mexico. It is the last gun he never made. Rosalita asks a question that confirms she knows guns. Elijah confesses he has to make his own bullets. He passes the gun down so Vega can test the weight.

Smits removes the bullets first as Elijah explains he has made enemies getting to where he is today. Vega says she has seen a gun like this before and that her family was there when this was part of Mexico and Americans came insisting they sell them the land. Her father refused but one man didn’t want to take no for an answer. That man and his people slaughtered their farmhands and children while they slept. Vega’s father was forced to his knees at gunpoint before the man made him sign the deed of sale. Then, her father was shot in the head right in front of her daughters using a gun like the one Elijah has. Vega pulls the bullet from around her neck, loads the gun, and shoots Elijah while Ah Sahm takes care of Smits. Once that is taken care of, they try to escape. Smits tells everyone that there is a $2,000 reward on their heads.

Ah Sahm and the others find themselves surrounded before a fight begins. After a long fight and shootout, they are cornered in an alley. Smits approaches with Elijah’s wife and they are put into a cage moments later. Smits tells them what he wants to be done with them but Mrs. Rooker doesn’t have the stomach for it. They intend to ship them to Sacramento for trial. Smits believes they’ll hang after that. As they’re transported back to Sacramento, Ah Sahm complains to Vega that she threw their lives out like they were nothing. Ah Sahm is worried that they’re going to die when they reach Sacramento so Vega says they shouldn’t go there then. The wagon stops and they’re freed. Marisol meets up with them and we learn that she is Vega’s sister and they planned everything. Rosalita tells Ah Sahm that Rooker’s Mill was her father’s land until Elijah murdered their father.

Rosalita says they’ve taken their home back. His wife will now inherit all of it. Rosalita apologizes for using them but says she figured they’d all get what they wanted. Their weapons are returned and they’re given the prize money. Young Jun says they’re good before Marisol encourages them to leave before the real marshals come. Rosalita tells Ah Sahm it doesn’t have to be goodbye before Smits shoots and kills her. He turns his attention to Marisol before Ah Sahm nods to Young Jun. Jun throws his knife and hits Smits in the throat. Marisol calls for the doctor in town but Rosa says there is no time for that. When asked, Ah Sahm tells Rosalita he would’ve stayed. She passes before they give her a proper burial. They return to town after that.

When they step inside, Father Jun tells them they have some serious explaining to do.

 

Warrior Review

Overall, this was a great episode of Warrior. Although it was more of a sidestep, it was still one of the best episodes of the season. I am saying that it didn’t do much to contribute to the main story besides getting rid of Rosalita and helping Young Jun get the money he needed.

The only problem is that the latter didn’t matter since Father Jun has learned the truth anyway. I am glad they’re starting to weed out some of the characters that may not matter in the bigger scheme of things but I was surprised Rosalita got the axe so quickly.

I’ll say that I would’ve rather have seen Ah Sahm fight the big bad Dolph a bit longer and continue with the tournament. Still, I think what they did with the episode was entertaining. At the very least, it completed a side story and that should help them focus more on the main storylines from here on out. The episode scores an 8 out of 10. Previous recaps of Warrior can be found on Reel Mockery.