Martial Law is an American-Canadian crime action comedy television series starring Sammo Hung as Sammo Law, a Chinese law officer and martial arts expert who comes to Los Angeles in search of a colleague and remains in the United States
. The show aired on CBS from September 26, 1998, to May 13, 2000, and ran for two seasons
- Plot Sammo Law is transferred to America from China and works for the Los Angeles Police Department, where he experiences a culture clash
. He is also the mentor of Grace "Pei Pei" Chen, an undercover officer
. When American techniques fail, Sammo uses Chinese police work to solve cases
- Season 1 Sammo is sent to the United States to apprehend an old nemesis, Lee Hei, and discovers that Pei Pei has infiltrated Lee Hei's criminal empire
. Assisted by Grace, Det. Louis Malone, and Lt. Benjamin Winship, Sammo aims to capture Lee Hei and dismantle his criminal organization
. Halfway through the season, Lt. Terrell Parker joins the team as Sammo's partner
. The first season concludes with an unresolved cliffhanger, though the death of Lee Hei is alluded to in the second season's premiere
- Season 2 Following the previous season's events, Winship retires, and Louis transfers to the NYPD
. Law decides to stay in Los Angeles and is partnered with Grace
. The department gets a new captain, Amy Dylan, who questions the effectiveness of Chinese police methods
. Revelations about a secret society, including Law's long-lost son, come to light
. Although Law considers returning to China in the final episode, the possibility of a follow-up is left open
The show was canceled due to high production costs and Sammo Hung's dissatisfaction with the writing in season two
