"Into the Badlands" first episode, "The Fort", is an acceptable introduction to the characters and the story. A story that reeks a little bit of laziness.
We are in our average end-of-the-world scenario: few survivors, the survival of the fittest, blood and death and no one cares, and a secret that the hero, with us as companions, has to uncover.
Sunny is an amazing fighter under Quinn's orders. He rescues a boy (with a secret) and returns to the fort where we get introduced to some of the characters of the series.
As an introduction to the characters, it is OK. Sunny is your average hero, with lots of skills, obedient to his lord but not very sure of doing the right thing and, deep down, a good chap. Around him we get the ruthless lord, the lover, the kid, the one that seems to be willing to betray the lord... Nothing particularly original. Sadly, the show also falters in bringing a spark to this story line, and the pace is also too slow and contemplative (except in the fights).
The purpose of the show, though, at least in this pilot, is in the action. And here, it delivers. The fights, for anyone that has seen wuxia films, are not particularly memorable, but are well choreographed and good fun. However, let's see if it can keep the level and offer more than just your million-times-seen fight under the rain.
"The Fort" is a middling effort, but entertaining enough.