Exclusive Interview: JB Tadena Chats Kung Fu Season 3, Growing with His Character and His Journey, and More

JB Tadena has been cooking up quite the performance with his fan-favorite performance as Sebastian in the CW’s Kung Fu.

Now in its third season, the series picks up following the aftermath of an earthquake that hits Chinatown, leaving Nicky (Olivia Liang), her family, and her community attempting to rebuild their beloved city in more ways than one. Nicky, still reeling from her abrupt breakup with her boyfriend Henry (Eddie Liu), and the shocking death of her nemesis-turned-ally Zhilan (Yvonne Chapman), puts on a brave face as she juggles a new job teaching kung fu while fighting a growing crimewave in San Francisco. But she’s thrown on her heels by the introduction of a mysterious vigilante, Bo (guest star Ben Levin) — and the shattering return of a woman who appears to be her deceased shifu, Pei-Ling (Vanessa Kai).

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to catch up with JB to talk about Kung Fu Season 3, growing with his character and his journey, and more.

PC: You helped shape Sebastian’s trajectory in this series, and your creative choices led to his character development. What was the essence of Sebastian that you initially saw that others didn’t during the audition process?
JB: There was a quiet confidence in Sebastian. I think the trap there when it came to the audition was to make him cocky. There was something that I felt was brewing underneath that we ended up seeing come to pass throughout the series, but I think it was evident from the beginning. I think adding more kindness and brokenness to him made a difference.

PC: You’ve also said in other interviews that you didn’t have any idea what was ahead for Sebastian at the end of Season 2. But at the end of the day, you were happy with the work that you put in. How early on did they tell you that they were bringing you back for Season 3 and upping you to a series regular? What was it like getting that call?
JB: Well, you know how there’s always talk—talk with different producers, writers—and they’re like, “We’ll see you in Season 3.” But I was like, “I’m not going to put any stock into that until I’m actually there and doing it.” So it was pretty early into our hiatus when I got the news that I was being upgraded, and then they announced it right before we started shooting.

PC: Ahead of each season, Christina [M. Kim] and Bob [Berens] sit down with each of the actors and they discuss what they want to see from their characters. What did you want to make sure was part of Sebastian’s storyline in Season 3?
JB: It was so open-ended at the end of Season 2. I had no idea where it was going. I know I told them that I wanted to fight again. I was like, “At least let me fight one more time.” Since we were uncovering all this mystery about him in Season 2, I wanted to see new things come at him and see how he would react to these new challenges. When he moved in with Ryan. We saw a new challenge regarding how he would react to joining the Shooby gang and how that ended up. We saw him finally confront his past. It was great to see him tackle that head-on and ask to talk to the family of the man he killed. These new challenges were what I was looking for.

PC: Sebastian has had such an up-and-down season. What has been the most shocking revelation? During those more vulnerable moments he’s had, how did you create the space for yourself to dive into those moments?
JB: I attribute all of that to the imagination techniques that I’ve learned through Warner Loughlin Studios, the place where I studied acting. You have to separate it all out because there’s a lot of heavy material that you get sometimes, especially with his past and having to create the idea that I’m being possessed by a demon. You play with your imagination and ruminate on those thoughts and what it would be like. Because there’s a dichotomy in how we think. It’s never one thing. It was fun and tough to imagine his past and his present and all the things that happened to Sebastian. The most shocking revelation was when I got the call from Christina and Bob and they revealed that I was going to have a fight scene. But they were like, “It’s not going to be what you think.” I was like, “What could that possibly mean?” Being possessed by the big bad was not what I expected.

PC: How fun was that for you to essentially play two different characters?
JB: It was a blast. It’s exactly what you hope for when you’re an actor. Because Xiao is a completely different character than Seb. I got to show a different range because she’s super theatrical with a hint of mustache-twirling, but she’s also grounded in her problems. It was amazing.

As a kid, you watch all these videos of Keanu Reeves going to do training for The Matrix and things like that. So it was a dream come true to work with the stunt team all week on these different fights and being allowed to explore and fight and do all these fun moves. It was a blast.

PC: One of the unexpected fan-favorite relationships that developed in this series is between Sebastian and Mei-Li. What has it been like getting to collaborate with Kheng [Hua Tan] as you brought this dynamic to life? Did you ever expect that the relationship would resonate the way that it has with the fans?
JB: I think it crept up on all of us. There was a scene in Season 2 when we were trying Melody Dumplings where there was this real connection. It was one of those moments as an actor where you’re like, “Wow, this actually feels like I’m doing it as opposed to acting.” She’s a dream scene partner. She’s super giving. She’s always emotionally full and present. She’s definitely one of the best scene partners I’ve ever had in my life. Working with her, it’s like going to play every day.

We didn’t expect any of that to happen, but I think the producers, when they saw that scene in Season 2, they were like, “This is a thing.” I remember Olivia telling me when she saw the early screener of that episode, she was like, “Y’all were like a couple in that scene.” They built a beautiful relationship out of it over the past two seasons. They’re soulmates in a way. They get along so well, and they each have similar dreams. It naturally came to pass.

PC: This is the longest that you’ve lived with a character. Has anything surprised you about the experience? What have you learned about yourself and your craft?
JB: It’s definitely been the longest character that I’ve worked with. It’s been great. You always dream of being able to build a character through these wonderful arcs. It’s funny because when you do that for so long, you see the ups and downs of the arc. It feels like a natural progression and natural growth for Seb. I love being part of his journey.

PC: The fans of Kung Fu have really gravitated towards Sebastian. What has it been like for you as the actor who gets to play him to see the response on social media?
JB: I love the fans. Our fans are so passionate about the show. I’m very honored and flattered that they embraced the character. I know, being Filipino American, that it’s meant a lot to members of that community that have approached me about it. That’s wonderful. He gets to be Filipino American and he gets to be in this gay relationship with Ryan. It’s never treated like, “Oh, this is a thing.” They just get to live their lives as a happy couple with some crazy-ass problems.

PC: You’ve also said in previous interviews that while you were growing up your parents said that a career in the arts was off the table if you wanted to have a happy life. Have they come around?
JB: My mom, after seeing me on TV for the first time, was a little on board with it. But she could tell that it was really hard because it was sporadic when I was getting these roles. But she’s definitely come around. When I’m at home and buying dinner for everybody, she’s like, “Oh, okay.” I’m like, “I’m good for now.”

PC: Behind the scenes, you can feel the love and friendship between the entire cast. We have to know the backstory behind that spicy chip challenge and how long it took you to recover.
JB: I was driving to work and Gavin was like, “I’m doing the spicy chip challenge.” I was like, “You’re in the same scene as me today. I might join you.” He was like, “All right, we’re doing it in Althea’s bedroom. After you go to costume, come to Althea’s bedroom.” When I got there, there were a bunch of crew members there. Gavin was there. Olivia was recording. Eddie was sitting there watching.

They bring out the chip. It’s a tortilla that has so much dust on it. It’s blue because when you take a picture, you can tag Takis and be like, “I did the challenge.” It’s proof or whatever. But yeah, I’ve done some hot food challenges before like hot wings, ramen, but I thought, “This will be comedic for a bit.” It’ll be funny to watch me be like, “It’s so hot like on that Hot Ones show,” and that’ll be the end of it.

We’re eating this chip. I’m sweating. I have snot coming out of my nose. My throat is on fire. I’m like, “This is going to be fine.” Fifteen minutes in, I feel like someone’s burning a hole in my chest. I’m doubled over. I’m wiggling around and they’re trying to talk to me. They’re like, “Are you okay? Do you need anything?” I can’t speak.

People grabbed cream and bread and they tried to feed it to me. As I’m putting it in my mouth, it’s coming right out because I can’t function properly. But I knew in my head that all I needed to do was vomit. Let me expel this from my body and I’ll be fine. I still can’t really talk besides getting some whispers out. They take my pulse and it’s 48. My resting heart rate is 50. But they think it’s super low. They’re like, “You need to go to the hospital.” I couldn’t decline. The AD, Chris, was like, “It’s been twenty minutes. Legally, we have to send you to the hospital.”

I went and I’m struggling in the car the whole time. Then finally when we get there, they sign me in. They’re like, “It’s probably going to be a few hours before you get seen.” I’m like, “I’m not going to need that much time. I’m going to throw up while I’m here,” because they gave me a bag. I finally vomited like eight times. But every time it came back up, it felt like my mouth was on fire. It was the worst. But as soon as I got that last one out, I was like, “I feel good.”

I called the driver Tim who was on the bridge right by the hospital and it was a five-minute drive. I was like, “Don’t go back. Come pick me up. I’m going back to work.” Tim picked me up. I went back to work. I hit up hair and makeup. I jumped into the scene like an hour later and we shot it. They sent a memo afterwards like, “No more spicy chip challenges.”

PC: You got to show off your musical talents on Instagram Live recently. Is music in the cards for the future?
JB: I’m always down to do a musical episode on the show. I usually just sing for fun. I’m very thrilled that I’m part of a Disney soundtrack now because of the cartoon. I had to sing in a completely different voice, but I still got to sing. I’ve done that a few times now. There are a few more episodes coming out where I sing for that show.

To keep up with JB, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Kung Fu every Wednesday at 9/8c on the CW.

Photo Credit: Lindy Lin