Whereas most atypical TV reveals aren’t too considering introducing new characters into the combo in any respect once they attain their closing season, not to mention function one who turns into a breakout greatest character, “Cobra Kai” is not any atypical TV present. Presently, the present’s sixth and closing season simply bowed its second of three components, and it is grow to be obvious that the villainess Zara Malik is arguably the ultimate season’s greatest new character. A scholar from the Iron Dragons collaborating within the Sekai Taikai match, Zara is a mysterious woman who lets her magnificence, recognition, and particularly her fists do the speaking for her. As “Cobra Kai” wraps up its varied storylines earlier than the ultimate episodes drop on February 13 of subsequent yr, Zara might change into a fairly harmful and dramatic wild card.
What’s much more thrilling than that’s the accomplishments and potential of the actress behind Zara: Rayna Vallandingham. The 21-year-old Los Angeles native is formally the youngest black belt martial artist ever to win 13 world taekwondo titles, and that achievement is because of her actually dedicating almost her whole life to martial arts, having began working towards and competing on the age of two. If that already sounds too prolific for you, then buckle up: she’s additionally a martial arts teacher, combat choreographer, and content material creator (neé on-line influencer) who’s amassed thousands and thousands of followers on social media.
All of which means Vallandingham is not simply extraordinarily completed at her younger age, however that she’s poised to be an especially savvy new presence within the leisure world. Actually, her function in “Cobra Kai” and the way in which she’s breaking out with the character of Zara solely furthers that chance, making her purpose to be “the feminine Bruce Lee” seem to be not simply empty phrases, however an honest promise.
Vallandingham is aware of the worth of a powerful display screen persona
Netflix
On “Cobra Kai,” Zara is (to borrow a cliche) not right here to make buddies. She virtually immediately dubs herself the “Queen of Karate” upon profitable her first occasion, insults Samantha (Mary Mouser) and Devon (Oona O’Brien) in regards to the state of Miyagi-Do, after which seduces Robby (Tanner Buchanan) whereas Tory (Peyton Record) watches. She is, not less than to date, unapologetic in her actions, and whereas the “Karate Child” franchise has grow to be well-known for giving beforehand villainous characters their photographs at redemption, it is doable that Zara will not be searching for any for herself anytime quickly.
Being such a media-savvy individual, Vallandingham seemingly is aware of the worth of portraying such a vivacious character in a preferred present, notably a brand new one throughout its final season. She’s confirmed herself to be picky in her initiatives, having turned down gigs earlier than, like one animated sequence that she mentioned might’ve launched her into stardom quicker. As she informed Muscle and Health:
“As soon as I used to be as soon as supplied to do a voiceover for a personality on a present, that it did not align with my values. To me it appeared like form of a racist tackle a martial arts spin off. I used to be like, I may very well be into rewriting the story of what it takes to be a feminine martial artist, however the unique just isn’t aligned with who I’m and who I wish to signify. So although it had the potential to be enormous, I needed to flip it down.”
In fact, that is to not say that Zara’s actions align along with her values per se, simply that “Cobra Kai” itself does. On condition that Vallandingham has acknowledged that she desires to look in motion movies, “Cobra Kai” is after all an amazing place to begin, and showing as a villain on the present has an analogous impact to Jet Li utilizing his villainous flip in “Deadly Weapon 4” as his breakout function in America, letting viewers sit up and take discover of such a dynamic presence.
Given Vallandingham’s accomplishments in martial arts, she’s a pure to be tapped by an 87North manufacturing or maybe a brand new Lionsgate motion thriller, and her function on “Cobra Kai” signifies that she’s not going to be immediately typecast as only a love curiosity or “attractive badass” inventory feminine motion character. Whereas season 6 of “Cobra Kai” will be the final time we see Zara, it appears like we’re solely simply starting to see Rayna Vallandingham on our screens.
“Cobra Kai” is streaming on Netflix.
