SPOILER ALERT:This story accommodates spoilers for Season 6, Half 1 of “Cobra Kai,” now streaming on Netflix.
Whereas Kim Da-Eun — Alicia Hannah-Kim’s character in “Cobra Kai”— was one of many primary antagonists final season (and gave the impression to be achieved for good), you shouldn’t have counted her out. Kim is again, and teaming up with Kreese (Martin Kove) to take their new era of Cobra Kai fighters to the subsequent stage within the worldwide karate championship, the Sekai Taikai.
The pairing are going up in opposition to all of Miyagi-Do, lead by Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). “Cobra Kai” originated in 2018 as a scripted authentic on YouTube, and detailed the story of what occurred a long time after the 1984 “The Karate Child” movie. (To learn an in-depth interview with “Cobra Kai” showrunners Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg — breaking down Half 1 of Season 6 — click on right here.)
Within the 40 years that the franchise has been round, Hannah-Kim is the primary ever feminine sensei within the “Karate Child” universe, one thing that she says she’s “hyper conscious of.” Her character was launched within the fifth season of the collection, by which she was introduced in by Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) to coach his cohort of Cobra Kai karate children. She can be the granddaughter of Grasp Kim (C.S. Lee), a karate knowledgeable who skilled Silver and Kreese, and basically laid the muse for Cobra Kai’s vicious, win-at-all prices values.
Episode 5 of Season 6 noticed Tory (Peyton Record) —which is the finale of the primary batch of the collection — depart Miyagi-Do after her mom died. Tory’s return to Cobra Kai to battle for Kim Da-Eun and Kreese within the Sekai Taikai in Barcelona was the episode’s gasp-inducing closing second.
In a latest interview with Selection, Hannah-Kim talked about Kreese and Kim’s “friendship,” not watching “The Karate Child” till after filming the fifth season of “Cobra Kai” — and what’s subsequent for her mentor-mentee relationship with Tory.
What was it like so that you can discover the evil, villainous persona your character has?
It’s actually very satisfying. If you consider all of the instances in life that you just’ve needed to maintain again in your mood or be socially acceptable, I don’t suppose Kim Da-Eun has any of these safeguards in place. She’s very free to specific her rage or disappointment. Any emotion that involves the floor, I can see that she simply lets it out, and that’s actually satisfying to vicariously reside by way of.
Did you will have any inspirations that helped you channel that evil inside rage Kim Da-Eun has?
All of us have a darkish facet. The continuing work is to course of that in a wholesome manner, and be a suitable member of society. However, it’s not tough for me to entry in any respect. I don’t know what that claims about me.
I really like watching villains. I took a whole lot of bizarre inspiration from Kylo Ren, Adam Driver. There’s this very Adam Driver high quality of simply letting go, and I discover that actually thrilling to look at.
Earlier than becoming a member of the collection, had been you a fan of the “Karate Child” universe?
I had truly not watched “The Karate Child” as a baby — it’s kind of simply missed my family. I after all knew who Ralph was, and Billy and I knew that “Cobra Kai” was a very large present. However I wasn’t very conversant in the universe, which I believe was good for me.
I confirmed up throughout COVID, it was the tail-end of the pandemic. I had been dwelling in Canada for the higher a part of that yr. It very a lot felt like popping out of a cocoon, and I used to be very unaware, so I didn’t have a whole lot of strain. I took each expertise because it got here and I didn’t have any premeditated nervousness or intimidation about becoming a member of this huge franchise universe with 40 years of historical past behind it. I met them very a lot as individuals, as themselves. It was a very pure introduction. Then, after all, as soon as I wrapped Season 5, I went house and binged every little thing, and had a belated starstruck response.
What has it been like carrying on that legacy alongside “Karate Child” legends like Ralph Macchio, Billy Zabka and Martin Kove?
I’m hyper conscious that I’m the primary feminine sensei; I’m the one lady of shade amongst the senseis. In 40 years of “Karate Child” lore, to take that place is thrilling and unprecedented. I very a lot really feel that power after we’re all standing in a scene collectively — it’s a very welcomed change. It’s an awesome steadiness of feeling actually honored, and simply excited to infuse it with one thing completely different.
What does it imply to you to be the primary feminine sensei within the “Karate Child” universe? Since there are such a lot of sturdy girls featured on the present, how do you hope to advertise feminine illustration throughout the franchise?
I believe it was a incredible choice from the showrunners to introduce this character, as a result of it’s twofold: It’s Korean illustration, and feminine illustration. I’m attending to characterize these two issues, and in addition simply be a beacon for younger Asian women which are watching the present that may see themselves in me. I do know the opposite feminine characters, positively the scholars, after which additionally with Vanessa [Rubio] and Courtney [Henggeler], we have now a whole lot of very sturdy feminine characters on the present. So I didn’t really feel that I used to be bringing one thing that completely different in that sense, as a result of we’re all sturdy on the present. However it’s very emotional to suppose that there are Korean or Asian women on the market that can be capable of spot me on display and really feel seen.
What was it like working with Martin Kove, who performs Kreese?
I used to be trying ahead to that, as a result of clearly in Season 5 we alluded to the truth that Kim Da-Eun had come to America on Kreese’s behalf. And, after all that went awry. So we lastly get to discover what their relationship entails. They’ve this actually pure mentor-mentee friendship. We get the perception into that relationship and historical past, that Kreese had actually advocated and guarded her when she was a baby together with her grandfather.
Marty is simply form of the legend on set. His character within the authentic “Karate Child” was the supply of many a nightmare for a lot of a “Karate Child” fan. I obtained a whole lot of texts from pals going, “Oh, my God, you’re working with Marty Kove! What’s he like?”
Marty may be very entertaining. Between takes, he likes to joke round. He has a whole lot of resilience and fortitude. In these early scenes after we had been in Korea, it was throughout a very chilly snap in Atlanta. We had an arctic blast, and it was 20 levels Fahrenheit exterior, and we had been capturing effectively into the evening. It was about 12 hours in extraordinarily chilly temperatures, and Marty didn’t complain as soon as. I used to be so impressed by that, as a result of he was giving quite a bit.
In Episode 3, Kreese overhauls your authentic educating model at your dojo. How do you suppose that can have an effect on your college students on the Sekai Taikai?
It’s form of that factor if you get along with a good friend, and then you definately simply preserve kind of one-upping one another. Clearly, they’re aligned with their objectives. After which they kind of — I don’t wish to say they bring about out the worst in one another — however they simply preserve taking it up a notch. Kreese is hell-bent on his purpose to get to the Sekai Taikai with Cobra Kai, and that appears like a protracted, ruminating ambition for him.
You’ll have to attend and see. It’s fairly catastrophic.
We all know that Peyton Record’s character Tory had gone to coach with Miyagi-Do after what occurred final season, however now she’s again to Cobra Kai. What’s up subsequent in your guys’s relationship, particularly after your character pushed her so onerous final season?
Having Tory come again to Cobra Kai feels tumultuous for the entire forged. All of the Miyagi-Do children, and particularly for Kim Da-Eun, they’ve a really difficult relationship. It’s contentious, however it’s additionally virtually a mentor-mentee relationship as effectively, as a result of I believe that Kim Da-Eun sees all that potential and similarity. She sees herself in Tory, and is aware of precisely the best way to harness these feelings to win and to mildew her right into a kind of mini model of her.
What can I say that’s not spoilery? We get to discover their relationship in new methods this season, and that was actually satisfying to me as an actor.
What was it like working with Peyton?
I really like Peyton. She’s so spectacular. I do know she’s been on this enterprise a very long time; she’s been working since she was a baby. The factor that struck me after I met her was how easygoing she was, but additionally how extremely skilled and exact she is. That basically speaks to her expertise within the business. She’s simply such a formidable actor, and a deep and real particular person.
As a result of we’re on this very contentious relationship, between takes, we’re attempting to make it as mild as doable. I bear in mind many a time of singing Taylor Swift songs in between takes with Peyton.
Wait, I really like that. What songs would you guys sing?
“22,” after which we’d like do the floss. As a result of if we’re yelling, I’m yelling at her a lot, and he or she’s form of observing me with these large, lovely eyes. Then they yell reduce, and we’re each Swifties, in order that’s the place we’re connecting, and getting the levity in between takes.
What’s it like filming a few of these intense karate scenes?
That’s essentially the most enjoyable. That’s the most important pleasure about being in “Cobra Kai” — if you’re midway by way of a battle scene, and also you’re spinning and simply utterly within the second. Particularly should you and your scene associate nail it in a single take, that’s thrilling. That’s actually my favourite half, actually.
What can viewers anticipate in your character throughout the subsequent two components of the season?
Kim Da-Eun goes by way of life-changing moments in all three components of the collection. Half 1 may be very a lot a setup for what’s to return. Keep tuned for Half 2: It’s gonna be insane and humorous and surprising. And surprising!
This interview has been edited and condensed.
