After watching Chief of War Episode 7 it is justified to say that Kamehameha is downright naive

Episode 7 of Chief of War, titled Day of Spilled Brains, dropped on September 5, 2025, at midnight (ET) on Apple TV+. The story moves forward with Kamehameha still hustling to pull the Hawaiian Islands together, juggling drama from inside his own ranks and the looming threat of Western colonizers.

For a man who is destined to unify the Hawaiian Islands, his decision to put his faith in British invaders, especially Captain Metcalfe and Marley, cost his people a fortune. This comes despite everyone (particularly Ka'iana) giving him clear warnings.

This episode is a dramatized depiction of the disastrous aftermath of Kamehameha believing in diplomacy and following the traditional legal rules of protection, which misled him into assuming the greed of European colonizers, their cruelty, and brutality. The savage slaughtering that takes place deems Kamehameha as being downright naive during this tense historical moment.

Why Kamehameha’s naivety in the Chief of War Episode 7 is justified

Kamehameha walks right into trouble in the Chief of War Episode 7. He is clinging to traditional laws and trusting the wrong people, even though there are clear signs of impending danger. The episode is titled Day of Spilled Brains, and it leans into a critical narrative arc where he is committed to the Hawaiian law of Mamalahoa.

The law is supposed to protect strangers and forbid any harm to them. But his good intentions just end up making him an easy target.

The storyline shows Kamehameha trying to play nice with the British invaders - led by Captain Metcalfe and his lieutenant Marley - who are interested in snatching up Hawaii’s resources, especially sandalwood. On the other hand, Kamehameha is all about honor and keeping the peace, but that idealism leaves him open to being played by these European colonizers.

Meanwhile, his advisors, particularly Ka’iana, warn him of the dangers of duplicity and betrayal by the British. Being personally familiar with the deceits of European colonizers, Ka’iana urges them to be more wary and advocates a more militaristic approach.

However, Kamehameha just won’t budge. He hangs onto his beliefs and decides to give Captain Metcalfe the benefit of the doubt, probably hoping things won't go downhill. But it's a little heartbreaking how his hopefulness comes off as straight-up naive.

He's not seeing the ugly truth: colonial powers care way more about grabbing land and resources than about the people actually living there. Then, the big moment hits. In the episode’s climax, Metcalfe wipes out an entire village, one that was supposed to be protected by the law of Mamalahoa. Innocent Hawaiians are killed for no reason, and Kamehameha’s whole idea that diplomacy could stop the violence gets crushed right there.

This betrayal flips Kamehameha’s world upside down. You see him get hit in the face with the price of being a little too trusting. Nevertheless, it’s the kick he needs, because that’s how he ends up morphing into a war chief.

Calling him “downright naive” is a fair game for this Chief of War episode. He fumbled the colonial threat because he was playing by the old rules - honor and tradition. But that doesn’t go well. The fallout is brutal, not just for him, but for everyone around him. It’s a classic clash between sticking to your culture and getting a reality check from hard facts.

About the show: Chief of War

Chief of War is a historical drama series on Apple TV+ about King Kamehameha I (portrayed by Kaina Makua), the person who united Hawaii back in the late 1700s. The show is set in the period when the Hawaiian Islands were fragmented, and every island had its own ruler.

That’s when Kamehameha shows up with a bold vision of uniting all islands under one kingdom. Along the way, he has to deal with Western colonizers while fighting fierce tribal rivalries.

Chief of War digs deep into Kamehameha’s double life. He is not just swinging spears on the battlefield; he is also neck-deep in messy politics, social drama, and just trying to keep his head above water in a world that keeps shifting under his feet.

We also have another character named Ka’iana (portrayed by Jason Momoa), who is torn between loyalty and betrayal. And then there is Captain Metcalfe (portrayed by Jason Hood), the British colonizer who is the poster child for greed. The series is packed with tension: loyalty, betrayal, honor, and the collision between indigenous traditional island and foreign ambitions.

Up until Episode 7, Chief of War has shown Kamehameha hustling, trying to stitch together alliances in the middle of this ridiculous political chaos. He follows the Mamalahoa law, which is put to the test when the British invasion intensifies.

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The show puts heavy emphasis on Hawaiian culture. We get to know their indigenous customs, language, and traditions, without sugarcoating the ugly side of war and colonization.

Also: Chief of War Episode 7 recap: Ka'iana's warnings come true as the British strike without mercy

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