Will Prince Kūpule turn against his father’s will to conquer the Hawaiian kingdom in Chief of War? Speculations explored

Chief of War has already proven itself to be more than just another historical and cultural drama. With its brutal battles, prophecies, and fissured loyalties, it's the kind of show that keeps fans asking "what's next?"

One question in particular is burning hot: Will Prince Küpule turn his back on King Kahekili's bloody quest to rule the Hawaiian islands?

The short answer for this? Yeah, that is a bit too complicated - he is sometimes uncertain, he hesitates, but his choices? they mostly remain covered in duty and tradition.

Prince Kūpule’s loyalty under fire in Chief of War

From the very first episodes of Apple TV's Chief of War, King Kahekili is set up as a ruler whose thirst and hunger for conquest knows no limits and has no bounds. Played by Temuera Morrison, Kahekili manipulates, deceives, and uses prophecy to tighten his grip on power.

His son, Prince Kupule, played by Brandon Finn, is caught in the conflict of that ambition. On one hand, he is the dutiful and obedient heir, raised by his father's vision of uniting the islands...but with bloodshed.

On the other hand, the show makes it clear that Kupule does not fully share in his father's cruelty and ideas and ambitions.

The prophecy complicates matters further. A Seer claims that Kupule is destined to stand with the "Prophesied One." At first, this seems to validate Kahekili's authority, but the longer the story moves forward, the more blurred that destiny becomes.

Is it truly Kahekili who represents the prophecy, or someone else entirely? That uncertainty is what shakes Kupule's faith.

Even as Kahekili turns into a tyrant consumed by drugs, excess, and violence, Küpule doesn't openly rebel. His silence, however, speaks volumes. We see a son wrestling with inner conflict, uncomfortable with the brutality yet unwilling or perhaps unable to detach or cut off ties with his lineage.

That quiet discomfort is where fan speculation brews. Could this silence be the ground for betrayal, or will loyalty to family overcome his doubts?

Speculations on a possible break from tradition

For many fans, the big question is whether Chief of War will give Kupule the courage to take his own path. The series constantly reminds us of the weight of tradition. In Hawaiian culture, loyalty to family and kingdom is not just expected, it is sacred. This is why Kupule's struggle feels so intense-he's not only questioning his father, he's questioning centuries of duty.

But there are cracks in his armor. Kahekili's descent into tyranny creates moments where Kupule's discomfort is obvious, particularly during the war against O'ahu, where his father's ruthless tactics disturb him.

Brandon Finn himself, in the production notes, hinted at this tension by saying that working along with Morrison brought depth to their dynamic as father and son, which made Kupule's loyalty feel "tested at every turn."

While Chief of War hasn't shown him outright defying Kahekili, the prophecy looms large. If Kupule is truly meant to align with the Prophesied One, that could mean breaking from his father's will. And Ka'iana, the warrior who sees through Kahekili's lies, might be that figure.

Fans are buzzing about the possibility of Kupule eventually standing against his father in Chief of War not necessarily with open rebellion, but perhaps with a quieter shift of allegiance that changes the course of the kingdom.

This speculation is driven and fed by how the show tries to play around with Kahekili's madness. A king who murders brutally and endlessly manipulates his people cannot hold the power of his kingdom forever, and it quite literal history that tells us no empire that is being built and brought up on fear lasts for long.

Kupule's decision, whether to take up after his father's brutality or step into the meaning of the prophecy, may be the deciding factor in how this story line in Chief of War might eventually unfold.

Prince Kupule's storyline in Chief of War sits at a junction of duty, destiny, and to some extent, also rebellion. While he has not yet betrayed King Kahekili, the seeds of doubt have been carefully planted in the minds of the viewers watching at home.

Whether or not he stands by the tradition or takes upon a new future is what will likely shape the fate of the islands. For fans, that uncertainty is the hook and Kupule's silence could turn into the loudest decision of the series.

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