Kung Fu Season 3 showrunners Christina Kim and Bob Berens dish on what fans can expect in Kung Fu season 3 and more.
During an exclusive interview with Mama’s Geeky and Kung Fu showrunners Christina Kim and Bob Berens, we learn what fans can expect from Kung Fu season 3, and if it gets easier or harder to write for long running shows.
What Can Fans Expect In Kung Fu Season 3
Kung Fu season 3 is just around the corner. Fans were left with many unanswered questions at the end of Kung Fu season 2, so without spoilers, the showrunners dish on what they can expect in the upcoming season.
Bob Berins says that previous seasons have had great small family and personal stories, as well as big epic adventures, but Kung Fu season 3 is a little different. “This season is a little more intimate and will hit a little bit closer to home. It all involves this magic of the return of Pei-Ling — or is it Pei-Ling — and that’s very close to Nicky’s heart. Pei-Ling’s death was her greatest regret, and the moment that really kicked off the present tense narrative of our whole show. And so the stakes really couldn’t be higher and more personal for Nicky. Our larger story really affects our characters more personally, and it’s very exciting.”
He also teases that they got to go to some dark and surprising and emotional places as a result of that.
Yvonne Chapman (who plays Zhilan Zhang) will also be back in Kung Fu season 3, in one way or another. When asked to talk about that, the showrunners couldn’t say too much without giving a lot away. However, Berins says that even though they want to keep in mysterious, she will return in episode 2 of Kung Fu season 3. “We’ll come to understand where she is and why she’s there and it gives us a little bit of a chance to check in with Zhilan free in the context of the heroes of our show.”
He adds that “She’s a conflict villain. She’s done some very evil things. She has a lot to atone for mistakes in her life. But in this context, she gets to play the hero a little bit in a way that we haven’t seen her to before. And it’s really exciting journey for her to play.”
Is It Easier Or Harder To Writer For Multiple Seasons?
Both Christina Kim and Bob Berens have written for long running shows before. Mama’s Geeky inquired if it gets easier or harder the longer a series goes on. Is it difficult to come up with new and unique situations for the characters to go through?
Berens explains that yes, sometimes trying to come up with fresh ideas can be a challenge, however the truth of the matter is the longer they work on a show, the more they see what the cast and characters are capable of.
“It’s just been a constant process of discovery. There’s always more stories to tell. If anything, I say our struggle was really fitting them into the show because it’s challenging when you have ten amazing series regulars, and between four and eight amazing recurring characters. All are wonderful actors and actresses, and it’s like, how do you tell this story that has a strong lead in a strong hero story, while still keeping all these other potlucks coming and giving all these other wonderful actors and characters moments to shine. And that’s the challenge and also the joy of working on the show.”
Representation On Screen
When asked about the importance of representation on screen, which Kung Fu has a lot of for both the Asian community and the LGBTQ+ community, Christina Kim says “We’re lucky because we’re on free television. Anyone can turn on the television on Wednesday nights and see our show.”
She confesses that growing up she really wishes she had a show like this with inclusion on TV. “Someone who looked like me and was doing really cool stuff and was strong and smart, and has a full life, romantic life, life with their family and all of that. For me, the happiest moments are when my younger nieces and nephews, or even my own children, watch the show. And I see that they’re seeing themselves in some way. And that’s something I didn’t have.”
Kim says that is makes her incredibly happy. “With the LGBTQ community, the character Ryan was really important too, because there’s so many stereotypes about Asian families having gay children, and we wanted to show a healthy relationship. And I’m really proud of those stories, as well.”
Be sure to tune in to Kung Fu season 3 when it premieres on October 5th at 9/8c on The CW!
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About Kung Fu Season 3
A quarter-life crisis causes a young Chinese-American woman, Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang), to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to San Francisco, she finds her hometown is overrun with crime and corruption and her own parents (Tzi Ma and Kheng Hua Tan) are at the mercy of a powerful Triad.
Nicky will rely on her tech-savvy sister (Shannon Dang), pre-med brother (Jon Prasida), Assistant District Attorney and ex-boyfriend (Gavin Stenhouse), and new love interest (Eddie Liu) as well as her martial arts skills and Shaolin values to protect her community and bring criminals to justice … all while searching for the ruthless assassin (Gwendoline Yeo) who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her.
