Pop-Culturalist.com

Warrior makes its highly-anticipated return on June 29. Inspired by the writings of Bruce Lee, this action-packed series set in the ruthless world of late 19th-century San Francisco follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who emigrates to the city under mysterious circumstances and becomes an enforcer for one of Chinatown’s most powerful tongs.

We had the opportunity to speak with standout star Chen Tang about Season 3, how he’s created the space for himself to dive into his character’s darkness and vulnerabilities, and where Hong’s journey takes him in Season 3.

PC: Warrior is one of the most underrated shows on television. What was your initial reaction when this project came across your desk?
Chen: I was so excited when I got to audition for Hong because it was actually the second time that I read for this show. I feel like every Asian actor that had the right fit probably auditioned for Ah Sahm. I had auditioned and didn’t hear anything, but they remembered me enough to bring me back for the second season as this different character.

I grew up with Bruce Lee. He was my idol. I was really excited that they were doing this show based on his original pilot. I was thrilled to be a part of it, and I’m grateful that they were doing this project justice.

PC: One of the benefits of television as a medium is the opportunity to grow with a character over an extended period of time. Often, you’re learning more and more about them as you get each episode. What’s been the most surprising part of Hong’s journey?
Chen: This isn’t the most surprising, but I think it’s the most exciting for me. I had this certain vision for the character, but you find out more as the writers give you more. There are things that you add to it that you didn’t expect. Hong is this happy-go-lucky guy, but I was excited for audiences to see more of what flowed underneath. I’ve gotten to peel back the layers and see that darkness. There’s a rage that comes out when Hong fights, and I was excited to learn where that came from.

PC: There’s so much physicality that goes into a role like this. How has that preparation changed from Season 2 heading into Season 3? How has it allowed you to tap into Hong’s essence?
Chen: Jason Tobin said something that really touched me. I was so amazed that he picked up on it. Hong comes off on his boat in Season 2. He’s still in this Chinese outfit—he’s in this garb that is very Chinese. After I got into a suit, Jason was like, “You know what I like about your performance? You stand differently in the suit than you do in your robes. It’s a really nice subtle touch.” In America, Hong has this fancy suit and these nice boots, and he walks differently. There’s this swagger that is very American. I started to incorporate more of that into the performance in subtle ways and also in some of the fights. It feels more direct, more American in a way.

PC: As the season progresses, we’re able to see the different sides of your character. You’ve handled that journey with so much nuance. How have you created the space for yourself to dive into those darker moments?
Chen: A lot of it was done organically for me because of the circumstances that they wrote out. So much of what triggers us is our relationships. We meet people, and we start to care more about people. All of a sudden, we get more vulnerable. That’s true for any human being. It starts to touch on raw nerves. That’s what pulls out these old traumas in Hong, and he’s not prepared for that.

PC: While this show is fictional, it tackles a lot of universal themes that are very relevant today. Was there a theme or moment that hit home for you?
Chen: This is fictional, but there’s so much truth in the historical facts that it’s based on. I would say it’s the discrimination of not only Chinese Americans, but also the AAPI community. That’s something that hasn’t changed because stereotyping still exists and there’s still this lack of understanding between people. That really hits home for me. There’s this lack of understanding of people that goes beyond race, especially since Hong is an LGBTQ+ character. This show tackles the desire to connect with each other.

PC: This industry has made really slow progress in terms of representation, but this series is a much-needed step forward where we can have diverse characters and their storylines aren’t tied to their ethnicity or sexuality; it’s a part of who they are, but not all of who they are. What has it meant to you to play such a huge role in that evolution?
Chen: I’m honored. That’s what we do as artists. If we’re lucky enough for people to see our art and have that experience with our art and be affected by our work, that’s all you can ask for. We’re really lucky that we get to come back for a third time and continue to share these stories. I’m so grateful.

PC: We know that you can’t say too much, but what can you tease about Hong’s arc in Season 3?
Chen: I can’t say anything. [laughs] I’m excited for audiences to see Hong experience new things. He’s always experiencing new things because he’s always felt like a foreigner in an alien land. There’s this sense of wonder because everything is new. Everything is different. But I’m excited for audiences to see Hong perhaps meet someone new and perhaps see a new side of him.

PC: This is such an exciting time in your career. As you look ahead, is there a dream role that you’d love to bring to life? What’s left on that bucket list?
Chen: I would love to do a biopic of someone important in the AAPI community and show our rich history. In American media, there’s still a lack of that. The more that people can see, “Hey, these are our people. These are real people. These are important people,” then more people will know our stories.

My other answer is that I’m a huge sci-fi nerd. I’ve done a lot of roles in the 19th century. I want to go to the future. I want to be in Star Trek. Send me to the future!

To keep up with Chen, follow him on Instagram. Watch Warrior on Max today.

Photo Credit: David Christopher Lee