No Chief of War This Week? The Real Reason Behind the Sudden Delay

Quick heads-up if you opened Apple TV+ looking for more Chief of War this week and thought your app bugged out: it didn’t. The season is over.

So, where’s the new episode?

Apple TV+ isn’t dropping a new Chief of War this week because Season 1 wrapped last week. The finale, titled "The Black Desert," hit on September 19, 2025, and that was Episode 9 — the end of the first season’s planned run. No surprise bonus episode, no secret drop. That’s the whole season.

• Premiere: August 1, 2025 (first two episodes)
• Rollout: weekly after that
• Finale: September 19, 2025 — "The Black Desert"
• Season length: 9 episodes total

What the finale actually did (spoilers)

Chief of War is a historical drama rooted in real events, following Ka'iana (Jason Momoa) and Kamehameha as they align to fight off invaders. In the finale, Kamehameha secures the big win, and Kamehameha names Ka'iana the Chief of War, with Ka'iana gearing up the Hawaiian army.

Then the show drops a nasty cliffhanger: King Kahekili orders Lima to assassinate Ka'iana and bring back his bones. That’s one way to end a season.

Behind the scenes

Both co-creators — Momoa and Thomas Pa'a Sibbett — are Hawaiian, which goes a long way toward how grounded the series feels. Momoa didn’t just star and co-create; he also directed the finale. Nice touch for a capper.

Season 2 status

Officially: nothing yet. Apple hasn’t announced a renewal. Unofficially: the creative team wants more — they’re hoping to make not just a second season, but a third as well.

"This is definitely my dream," Momoa said in an interview. "I mean to talk about representation. I’ve never had the opportunity to play anything like an ancestor."

So yeah, no episode this week because the season already ended. If Apple gives it the green light, that cliffhanger sets up a pretty intense Season 2. Until then, it’s rewatch time.