Kenny Payne's transformation in only one season has been jaw-dropping. HL spoke EXCLUSIVELY with Dallas Dupree Younger about Silver's betrayal, Kenny vs. Anthony, and season 6.
Cobra Kai season 5 ended with Terry Silver lastly getting his karma, however what does this imply for the Cobra Kai dojo? What about Kenny, the teenager Silver took beneath his wing and mentored? After the epic season 5 finale, Kenny Payne is at a crossroads.
Cobra Kai breakout Dallas Dupree Younger spoke EXCLUSIVELY with HollywoodLife in regards to the highs and lows for Kenny in season 5. From Silver’s “gut-wrenching” betrayal to taking up Hawk on the mat, there are such a lot of layers to peel again on Kenny. The younger actor additionally appeared forward to a attainable season 6 and his hope to discover extra of Kenny’s dwelling life and a face-off with Anthony LaRusso.
After the reality is revealed about Terry Silver, Kenny is the primary one to take off his shirt and throw it at Silver. How do you suppose Kenny goes to deal with this? That is fairly the betrayal and a shock for him.
Dallas Dupree Younger: I personally imagine that Kenny goes to battle for a minute on. You recognize, simply the sensation that his mentor and his good friend actually betrayed him. And the best way that he did it, too. He cheated on the All Valley. Kenny actually felt like his workforce received, like he lastly received at one thing… I believe he’s going to really feel that heartbreak for a minute. You noticed that within the final scene with Robby, [he said], “I want you to offer me a second.” So I believe it’s going to take a while to regulate. However in the long run, I believe he’ll come again to karate and have a brand new mild and a brand new perspective on life. However I believe that scene with Terry Silver was heartbreaking and gut-wrenching for him.
Kenny’s the one which throws the primary punch with the children. That's fairly an evolution from the primary time we met Kenny. Do you suppose that second actually solidified him as a pacesetter of no matter form of pack he finds subsequent?
Dallas Dupree Younger: I really feel as if that second actually did solidify his spot as a pacesetter. It confirmed that he was not going to take anyone’s crap. Actually, he was able to get into the motion and battle the most important man, the All Valley champion, in Miguel. I bear in mind seeing the script that day and I used to be like, “Oh my gosh, I’m throwing the primary punch. I’m so excited for that.” After which it got here out nice on digicam, so I used to be simply actually grateful simply to see that. It’s actually cool simply to see my evolution develop as Kenny.
How do you suppose Kenny, given what he is aware of now, views Robby? There was loads of anger there.
Dallas Dupree Younger: There may be positively loads of anger. There’s loads of resentment. However on the similar time, he’s feeling a little bit extra compassion for Robby, and he’s listening a little bit bit extra to what Robby is saying. All through the complete season, he didn't wish to hear something that Robby stated simply because he felt as if Robby betrayed him as properly. I really feel as if he listened to him a little bit bit, despite the fact that he wasn’t prepared to point out it to Robby. I believe we might be able to see that and develop upon that in later seasons.
I really feel like Kenny goes to go dwelling and begin doing that math meme and attempting to determine, okay, who can I belief? Who can I be allies with? This sort of turns his entire world the wrong way up.
Dallas Dupree Younger: It positively turned his entire world the wrong way up. At this level in season 5 episode 10, Kenny doesn’t know who to belief. He doesn’t know who to be buddies with. He doesn’t know who to like. I imply, Kenny is struggling to determine who his individuals at the moment are, and I believe that’s going to be actually thrilling to see in later seasons.
I used to be going to the touch on Anthony. Clearly, they [Anthony and Kenny] have a protracted historical past. Each side positively have carried out issues that perhaps have hindered them from working issues out. Do you view that dynamic as one thing like Tory and Sam or Robby and Miguel the place finally they may see eye to eye? Or do you suppose we’re nonetheless in it for the lengthy haul that these two can’t make it work?
Dallas Dupree Younger: Me personally, I believe there will probably be a time the place they see eye to eye and so they respect one another. However for now, I believe they’re simply going to attract it out, actually. There’s going to be a rivalry and a long-life feud between the 2, so I’m to see what occurs between their relationship.
In episode 8, when they're competing for the Sekai Takai, that silver bullet was soiled. Had been you stunned that Kenny went that far figuring out what it may do?
Dallas Dupree Younger: I bear in mind studying the script, and I used to be actually being attentive to the silver bullet and all the things that was taking place between the scene between Terry Silver and Kenny. Going into that battle towards Hawk, I actually was not anticipating him to go that far. Actually, I wasn’t actually positive that he was going to win the battle at first. The way in which he received it, I used to be a little bit not sure about it. However in the long run, Kenny did win. I used to be actually hype, however I used to be positively shocked to see that Kenny went that far, particularly seeing the child who he was in season 4. He’s utterly modified his mindset.
Do you suppose there’s a chance that he would be a part of Daniel and Johnny, or may he discover his approach again to Cobra Kai? I imply, Kreese is out of jail.
Dallas Dupree Younger: I believe there’s at all times a chance that he can go to Daniel and Johnny’s dojo simply due to the truth that he doesn’t have a dojo in the intervening time. Though there are such a lot of completely different dojos within the valley. They're simply those which are highly regarded within the valley. I believe there's at all times an opportunity that he may go to Miyagi-do, however Kenny has that Cobra Kai mentality. He has the Cobra Kai mindset. If he has the chance to return to Cobra Kai, I believe he'll go sooner or later. However we’ll see what occurs within the later seasons.
Season 6 hasn’t been greenlit but, however is there something you wish to perhaps contact upon extra of with Kenny that we haven’t gotten to previously two seasons? Perhaps a romance?
Dallas Dupree Younger: There are two issues that I might like to see in future seasons. I might like to see the connection between Kenny and Anthony develop if that may evolve a little bit bit extra, after which additionally get it a little bit bit extra into Kenny’s dwelling life. We haven’t talked about Kenny’s mother, dad, or brother in any respect in season 5. Nicely, we did brush up on it for a little bit bit. However I’m to see if they will go a little bit deeper into that storyline in season 6.
There was loads of karate this season. Clearly, it’s about karate, however the physicality was actually there this season. Did you are feeling that you simply needed to do extra coaching than regular?
Dallas Dupree Younger: For season 5, I really feel I positively needed to do much more coaching. It was much more intense, and the stakes have been as excessive as they’ve ever been in season 5. I really feel as if the battle between Miyagi-do and Cobra Kai, this was the ultimate one, this was the large hurrah in the long run. I felt as if for my character Kenny to execute the best way I needed him to, I felt as if I wanted to coach lots more durable and ensure my method was nice and take into consideration the origins of karate all on the similar time. We talked about character improvement with the stunt coordinators, however I positively labored lots more durable in season 5 than season 4 with coaching.
Kenny and Anthony have come face-to-face, whether or not it's at a waterpark or the college, are you attempting to manifest a battle between these two on the mat? I really feel prefer it’s inevitable.
Dallas Dupree Younger: Sure, we have to make it occur. That is what I’m enthusiastic about. I must see an actual enormous karate battle between Anthony LaRusso and Kenny Payne. I don’t know once we’re going to see it, however I must manifest the fitting now. That will be a dream come true for me.