Into the Badlands-Article

This will be an extension to my previous post on Daniel Wu. I decided to write an article for AO (Asian Outlook) further examining Daniel Wu's lead role in AMC's new show, "Into the Badlands." Enjoy!

Daniel Wu: Breaking Down Stereotypes

         Does the name Daniel Wu sound familiar to you? Well, it should! He is a Hong Kong-based Chinese American actor who has been featured in more than 60 films and is now the main lead of AMC’s new show, “Into the Badlands.” The martial arts drama, inspired by the classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West,” takes place centuries into the future in a feudal society called the Badlands where seven Barons compete for access to the Badland’s resources. In the midst of their struggle for power, Daniel plays Sunny, a regent to the Badlands’ most powerful baron, Quinn. They also rescue a teenage boy, M.K. from captivity and gradually understand the importance and value of him.

          There was some hype prior to the premiere of “Into the Badlands” due to the fact that an Asian American was chosen as a main lead for a show. Not since ABC recently launched a new comedy series called “Fresh Off the Boat,” which featured an all Asian American family cast, has there been another Asian American as the main lead. Although there was more publicity behind “Fresh Off the Boat” than “Into the Badlands,” the latter is just as important in terms of the overall portrayal of Asian Americans in media.  

         “Fresh Off the Boat” was a comedy series that mainly exaggerated and poked fun at Asian American stereotypes, such as the well-known “tiger mom” stereotype. “Into the Badlands,” on the other hand, is a show with a much more serious tone that incorporates realistic martial arts and Kung Fu. In order to get a true understanding of this art fighting, the actors had to undergo intense training sessions led by martial arts coordinator, Master Dee Dee, who has contributed to many popular martial arts films including “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “The Matrix.”

          To some, “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Into the Badlands” represent a step forward in the much needed progress for Asian American portrayal in media. However, recently on the social media site Twitter, someone by the name of Victoria tweeted, “#intothebadlands looks great. Pivotal mistake is that lead actor, Daniel Wu’s character has no Chinese accent. Bad choice. Too American…” Daniel Wu responded perfectly, “Not all people who do Kung Fu speak like fortune cookies.” This encounter raises the question why Victoria believed that Daniel needed a Chinese accent or what “too American” even means. Ironically enough, Daniel was born and raised in California. Whether Victoria’s remark was ill-intentioned or not, such an example goes to show that despite what progress we make and continue to make towards breaking down such well-built barriers and stereotypes regarding race, it will be a long and slow process.

          It is important to note that Daniel Wu’s character in the show “Into the Badlands” did not necessarily have to be Asian American as the script did not call for such. AMC choosing to go with an Asian American male as the main lead is undoubtedly a huge step forward in Asian representation in media and television shows. The character Sunny is also not a stereotypical Asian role that has been so often portrayed in the media ranging from the Asian nerd to the Kung Fu master. Yes, Sunny does know Kung Fu (and is very good at it, for that matter), but his Kung Fu does not define his character.          

          The portrayal of Asian Americans in the media has come a long way. It is refreshing to see more Asian Americans as the lead characters in various shows, but there is still much progress to be made. Hopefully with the help of Daniel Wu and his lead role in his new show, the stereotypes that have so often constrained Asian Americans in the media, can finally be dismantled, leading to more diverse roles for Asian Americans.