The latest episode of The CW’s Kung Fu gave us more information about the newest arrival to the Shen Family and why she’s been in hiding. We also catch up with Zhilan in prison where she gets an unexpected visit from someone from her past. Written by Ryan Johnson & Peter Lalayanis and directed by Joe Menendez, here’s what went down in episode “Year of the Tiger: Part 2.”
RESEARCH | While Henry (Eddie Liu) oversees a lion dance rehearsal for the Lunar New Year celebration, Mia (Vanessa Yao) pores over all the research he and Nicky (Olivia Liang) had collected. Mia reveals to Henry that she had found a photo of her mother and a man whom she believes may be her father. In the photo, the man is wearing a pendant with a panther symbol.
Henry finds this discovery unprecedented. “In all our research, we’ve never found an instance of two bloodlines crossing,” he tells her. “That could explain why Russell Tan is after you. Your mother shared a lot of secrets on those tapes, but nothing about you or your father. She must have known how unique you are.”
At the library, Henry shows Mia more research about where her parents may have crossed paths decades ago, as well as the last known location where her mother had sent a letter to Mei-Li. Mia says that none of this research makes sense, but secretly finds a connection between Hebao Island and the cryptic message written behind the photo.
With that breakthrough lead, Mia flees away from Henry. She’s desperate for answers about her parents and believes Russell Tan (Kee Chan) would be the one to get her that information. Nicky tracks down Mia during the Lunar New Year Celebration and Mia tells her that she’s leaving and she won’t reveal where to. “Tan’s got an army and you can’t stop them,” Mia says.
Nicky pleads for her cousin to stay and that she can help. Mia, however, rejects the offer. “You don’t need to get involved in this. It’s me they’re after.” After a quick tussle with Mia putting pressure on Nicky’s explosion injury, she manages to leave, but not before she gives her an apology.
WAREHOUSE 219 | Nicky infiltrates Tony Kang’s (Tristan Liu) warehouse where she finds a bed and shackles ready for Mia. “The prisoner you’re waiting for is not coming,” she tells Kang and his goons. She offers a deal of freedom, where she can get rid of Tan and get him out of his way, but he is reluctant to work with the warrior. She tells Kang that she would just need proof that will link his boss to Mia’s kidnapping plot. He won’t budge but does share some intel on what Tan has been up to and why he’s been moving into Chinatown.
FIGMENT | In the Women’s Detention Center in Kunming, China, Zhilan (Yvonne Chapman) is greeted by a “figment dressed in white.” The prisoner is convinced that she has been driven mad when seeing visions of her sister Pei-Ling (Vanessa Kai). Zhilan is forced to confront her past and believes the reason why she’s getting this visit is because of what she did to her older sister and to Kerwin (Ludi Lin). “I would do it again,” Zhilan says.
Zhilan shares that her only regret is that she had failed in taking down Russell, who destroyed their home. The toxins from his factory had killed their mother and made Zhilan very ill. “If I had succeeded, if I had used the weapons to strike him down, all of my sacrifices would have been worth it. But I failed. And that, sister, is my only regret.”
Pei-Ling tells her sister that she is well past redeeming. “I have been watching you in here, shrieking, hiding, disappearing into the walls,” she says. “You failed in your mission. But what you are now is worse than a failure. Sister, it is as if you are already dead. Redemption, for you? Perhaps in time. But first, Zhilan, you must decide if you want to live.”
Juliette (Annie Q.) informs Kerwin that she and their father have sent a team to the prison to “take care” of Zhilan. “She’ll be dead by daybreak,” she says. As the team enters Zhilan’s cell, Pei-Ling’s words run through her mind: “You must decide if you want to live.” One by one, she takes the army of men down in an epic battle. Zhilan escapes the prison under a thunderous rainstorm with a big feeling of relief.
What are your thoughts on the episode? What is Zhilan’s next move now that she’s out of prison? Let us know in the comments below!
Kung Fu airs Wednesdays at 9pm on The CW.