As the karate Kid films that preceded it, Snake Kai depends on delicate tension. And crane kicks, of course. The Netflix show in a charming retro style introduces a new generation of martial arts beginners, led by Miguel, now an adult during the third season. We need to like him. His rival Robby, however, is Miguel’s sweet sour. It is not perfect, it is not hateful.
Except that this season Robby can be a little, well, a little hateful. He accidentally sent Miguel off a school porch at the end of season 2, leaving his fellow regular dojo in the hospital fighting for his life. That, in the grand scheme of Cobra Kai, is to be expected.
Although the actor who plays Robby, Tanner Buchanan, still seems nervous about what’s to come. Maybe it’s because he’s from rural Ohio. Maybe it’s because he does everything that his trainer tells him to do. Or maybe it’s because he really cares about Robby. Whatever it is, we talked to Buchanan about his concerns and why he was labeled “that guy” in the 90s revivals.
Your character Robby has disappeared. How was that?
I read this and was worried. I had several conversations not only with the writers [and] creators, but with stunt coordinators. – Hey, I want to make sure Robby is not seen as a bad guy. This is an accident, right? ‘I bothered them so many times.
Robby’s life seems very uncertain. How did he get back?
For me, it’s like Robby has a bad hand after all and he’s trying to figure out a way to get out of it. He is trying his best to be a good person and not follow the path his father did and now he kind of ran away and doesn’t know if he really killed this boy or not. It is all about redemption for him. He created all of these incredible relationships that he never thought he could and he doesn’t want to screw it up.
I hope Robby and Miguel can be friendly again.
Well, hey, who knows? I mean, it took Johnny and Daniel 36 years or more, so it can take the same. We will have to wait and see
This show goes in wild directions. How is it getting these scripts?
It’s definitely fun. We will be halfway through filming and receive the scripts – we can’t wait until lunchtime. Next, we are pulling out our phones trying to read the new script. “What fights are we going to do?”
You’re an Ohio boy. How did you end up doing this?
Yes, I am from a small, small town in Ohio. It is basically an agricultural community – hectares and hectares of fields and farmers. It’s a little bit different [from Los Angeles]. You practice sports.
I grew up with many women in my life. I admired them a lot and they danced. I saw them and I was like, ‘hey, this is what I want to do, I want to dance.’ I started when I was five and went to a competition in New York around nine. Over there [were] agents and managers there. At that time I had a bowl cut, large glasses and protruding teeth. I was the Jerry Maguire kid. In a friendly way, the agents and managers said that I had a “character look”.
“We can do something with this.”
They said, ‘Have you tried acting yet?’ My mom was not happy with her job, she was going to try to find a new one. My dad was like, ‘He really wants to try, why don’t you take him out for six months?’ We never ended up going out.
You had the mandatory role of “Boy No. 2” in Modern Family.
[Laughs] You get a line and they don’t give you a name. But you take that phrase and do it all day and act like it’s the best phrase ever.
How old is Robby? He looks a little older than the other kids.
I had a conversation with someone … I can’t remember how old Robby is. However, I know that there is a specific chance with your license. I should go back and look at this to see how old he is.
Growing up in the 90s, karate Kid it was essential. The show is so smart about calling back to these movies. What is your relationship with them?
I had seen the original film when I was probably five years old. My mother was a black belt in karate in the 80s. When I left for Cobra Kai, I didn’t want to watch movies. I wanted to bring my own touch. After I got the part, I talked to the creators and they said, ‘Did you see? There are many references. Why don’t you watch all three films before you get here to actually start shooting? ‘I thought,’ Yes, it’s probably a good idea. ‘
Was it intimidating to occupy that world?
Well, that’s the big thing. [The older actors] also adapted. First [Ralph Macchio and William Zabka] are two of the coolest guys ever. Ralph is extremely cool. He’s very good at times. I’m like, “Can you just say something bad?” They are super respectful and stuff in terms of treating us as equals. We are there to do the same job and be actors too and they understand that and we understand our characters as well as they understand their characters. They let us do our own thing.
They give us some advice. I had a surreal moment in the first season. I should start, finish. I was like ‘wait, how do I do this’, and Ralph said, ‘let me show you.’ I walked away. In fact, the Karate Kid is showing me how to put and remove the wax. People would pay you to show them how to apply and remove the wax.
It is wonderful to know that Daniel has a heart as pure as we all imagine. It looks like your rival Miguel has grown up.
[Laughs] I feel like he looks like the oldest of us all now.
Has your exercise routine evolved?
Mine definitely has. I’ve always tried to stay a little in shape and work out to stay healthy. I was never very big at being that kind of super strong guy. First, I only have 5’8 ”. I’m not Chris Hemsworth, who is about 6’4 ”, weighs over 90 kg of pure muscle. It is not me and it will be impossible for me to reach that height or weight. Specifically for the 3rd season, I ended up losing a lot of weight just for reasons of character. Now, in fact, I started to increase a lot, but I still try to stay very thin because the character asks for it. I want to be ready for my character when I get there to film the fourth season.
What are your favorite workouts?
Honestly, anything my coach tells me to do.
Right answer.
Yes. It took me a while to choose a coach, and we had a lot of conversations about where I want my character to be. It basically shaped my training to be what I want my character to have.
I suppose a lot of the fights we see are stunts, but you’re definitely doing some of them.
[The stunt coordinators] work hard with us to take us to a place where we really do 90 to 95% of all fights. So, we are there all the time and they are working hard with us to make it as real as possible. It just makes it that much better. I think the most difficult part of anything is stretching because we have to be very loose. It is definitely necessary and we are all trying to work as hard as we can so that we can really make these fights and they can get better pictures.
I can’t help asking you about being next He is all that [a reboot of She’s All That]. Are you the male version of the idiot undergoing a transformation?
Yes, I’m basically playing the role of Rachael Leigh Cook in the original.
So you are two ugly losers that we found to be really attractive.
Yes. [Laughs]
Did they put the glasses back on you?
We stay away from the glasses. We didn’t think that glasses were necessary in the sense that you can’t just put them on and take them off and say, ‘Oh, they were so ugly and now they are so attractive.’ [Laughs] We all agreed to try to stay away from it and then do some other major makeover to make a bigger change, instead of just putting on and taking off the glasses.
You were also in Girl Meets World and Fuller House. Are you aware of having an 80’s and 90’s revival brand?
I am aware of that. I do not know what it is. I must be the king of remakes. I must have a 90s look or something.
Your look is talking to Generation X and the millennium generation.
I’ll take. I’m not mad about that.
This interview was condensed for content and clarity.
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