Whereas most bizarre TV reveals aren’t too all for introducing new characters into the combination in any respect once they attain their closing season, not to mention characteristic one who turns into a breakout greatest character, “Cobra Kai” is not any bizarre TV present. Presently, the present’s sixth and closing season simply bowed its second of three elements, and it is turn into obvious that the villainess Zara Malik is arguably the ultimate season’s greatest new character. A scholar from the Iron Dragons taking part within the Sekai Taikai match, Zara is a mysterious woman who lets her magnificence, reputation, 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 may develop 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 due to her actually dedicating practically her complete 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, battle choreographer, and content material creator (neé on-line influencer) who’s amassed thousands and thousands of followers on social media.
All of because of this Vallandingham is not simply extraordinarily completed at her younger age, however that she’s poised to be a particularly savvy new presence within the leisure world. Actually, her position in “Cobra Kai” and the way in which she’s breaking out with the character of Zara solely furthers that risk, making her purpose to be “the feminine Bruce Lee” look like not simply empty phrases, however an honest promise.
Vallandingham is aware of the worth of a powerful display persona
On “Cobra Kai,” Zara is (to borrow a cliche) not right here to make buddies. She nearly immediately dubs herself the “Queen of Karate” upon successful 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 Listing) watches. She is, not less than to this point, unapologetic in her actions, and whereas the “Karate Child” franchise has turn into well-known for giving beforehand villainous characters their photographs at redemption, it is potential that Zara will not be on the lookout for any for herself anytime quickly.
Being such a media-savvy individual, Vallandingham probably is aware of the worth of portraying such a vivacious character in a well-liked present, significantly a brand new one throughout its final season. She’s confirmed herself to be picky in her tasks, having turned down gigs earlier than, like one animated sequence that she stated may’ve launched her into stardom quicker. As she advised Muscle and Health:
“As soon as I used to be as soon as provided to do a voiceover for a personality on a present, that it did not align with my values. To me it appeared like sort of a racist tackle a martial arts spin off. I used to be like, I could possibly 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 need to symbolize. So though it had the potential to be big, I needed to flip it down.”
After all, that is to not say that Zara’s actions align along with her values per se, simply that “Cobra Kai” itself does. Provided that Vallandingham has acknowledged that she desires to seem in motion movies, “Cobra Kai” is after all a fantastic place to start out, and showing as a villain on the present has the same impact to Jet Li utilizing his villainous flip in “Deadly Weapon 4” as his breakout position 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 position on “Cobra Kai” implies 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” often is 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.
