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Kung Fu star Jon Prasida on season 2, Asian and queer representation, and ‘racist-ish’ Australia
- Australian actor Jon Prasida, who plays gay medical student Ryan Shen, is excited to see how people react to his character’s romantic developments
- He hopes his portrayal of Ryan helps those facing homophobia from their own family or community, especially those from Asian backgrounds
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When the American martial arts TV show Kung Fu returns for its second season on March 9, it’ll kick off with the first of a two-part pair of episodes dubbed “The Year of the Tiger”.
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Kung Fu, which premiered in April 2021, is an adaptation of the 1970s TV show of the same name, which has been long accused of whitewashing its martial arts and cultural roots, and of stealing Bruce Lee’s ideas. But the new show, airing on American network The CW – best known for Gossip Girl and Riverdale – is not just an adaptation but a rectification: it is an Asian-fronted, culturally focused drama that, in its second season, gives its characters and stories room to grow on their own terms.
“This season seems a lot more fun,” Australian actor Jon Prasida tells the South China Morning Post. “It’s as if we’ve found our footing.”
Prasida plays medical student Ryan Shen, the older brother of the show’s lead, Nicky Shen, played by Olivia Liang. He remains tight-lipped on spoilers for season two, though says he’s excited to see how people react to Ryan’s romantic developments.
It’s ironic he plays the academically inclined Ryan, Prasida says, as he decided when in high school to pursue the life of an actor.
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