Collider has published a list of martial arts television series it considers "10/10 masterpieces", arguing that the genre has matured beyond simply showcasing skilled fight choreography. The article contends that modern martial arts shows succeed when personal rivalries, philosophy and character backstory underpin the action, while older classics remain valuable for proving that strong storytelling can carry the genre even without today's flashier fight sequences.

Among the six shows highlighted are Warrior, a series developed from an original Bruce Lee concept set during San Francisco's Tong Wars of the late 1800s, following Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) as he becomes entangled in violent gang politics while searching for his sister Mai Ling (Dianne Doan); and Bloodhounds, a South Korean series about young boxers Kim Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), who are drawn into Seoul's criminal moneylending world and fight back with the help of moneylender President Choi (Huh Joon-ho). Both are praised for grounding their action in character relationships, social context and emotional stakes rather than spectacle alone.