Put him onstage and give him a lovelorn ballad, and Eric Chou—one of his generation’s biggest Mandopop stars—would feel right at home. But what if you hand him a wok and ask him to take charge of a riotous kitchen staff in his first starring role on television?
Sure, the Taiwanese singer-songwriter is no stranger to acting, but leading the HBO Original “Fired Up!” is a different proposition.
“I really enjoy acting, and after reading the script, I felt it was an incredible story and a great opportunity”
“I definitely felt conflicted, but I always try to push myself beyond my comfort zone,” Chou tells Lifestyle Inquirer during a set visit. “I really enjoy acting, and after reading the script, I felt it was an incredible story and a great opportunity.”
The best of both worlds
Based on the popular Kakao Webtoon comic “Itaewon Class,” the 12-episode coming-of-age series follows Lu-yung (played by Chou) as he tries to uncover the truth behind his father’s tragic demise. Driven by vengeance, he takes over Jin Lai Hao, the modest family eatery he inherited, and toils to grow it enough to take on a powerful restaurant empire.
“What resonated with me most was his determination to make something of himself,” he says of his character.
But that’s as far as their similarities go. Offscreen, his appearance and personality couldn’t be more different, he stresses—but that only made the role more appealing and the experience more rewarding. “It challenged me to step into the shoes of someone so different from myself”
“With acting… it’s an opportunity to explore new emotions and different sides of myself,” Eric Chou says. “I enjoy both worlds in very different ways”
And in doing so, he discovers what else he’s capable of, leading to growth unlike the kind he enjoys from being onstage. “Performing at a concert is about creating a sense of connection and togetherness with the audience. People see their own emotions and experiences reflected in the music, and I find that incredibly powerful and meaningful.
“With acting… it’s an opportunity to explore new emotions and different sides of myself,” he says. “I enjoy both worlds in very different ways.”
Teamwork and chemistry
But if there was any pressure at all, the good news was that he didn’t have to deal with it by himself. After all, no restaurant thrives on food alone, no matter how good.
At Jin Lai Hao, Lu-yung gets by with a motley crew of misfits he has met over the years. Yu-li (Cosmos Lin), a former classmate bullied by the same person he believes killed his father, helps out in the kitchen and in the dining area. Chin-nan (Akira Huang), the green-haired server, met Lu-yung when they were in prison.
And then there’s Yi-hsuan (Angela Yuen), a big-time, no-nonsense food influencer who joins the team later as the manager—and Lu-yung’s unlikely love interest. Like her character—who enters the picture unaware of the others’ shared history—Yuen is from Hong Kong, primarily speaks Cantonese, and finds herself working with a Taiwanese cast in a Mandarin-language series.
Thankfully, extensive rehearsals during pre-production allowed Yuen to immerse herself in the local language and culture. “It helped all of us get to know each other, adapt to everyone’s acting style, and build real team chemistry,” she says.
As “Fired Up!” nears its midway point, we see that chemistry starting to play out. After identifying the issues holding back Jin Lai Hao, Yi-hsuan sets in motion her overhaul plans, which include cutting slow-selling, albeit sentimental, menu items, correcting service lapses, and adapting to social media.
And in a move that’s a tad draconian, she recommends firing Yu-li due to her fear of flames—something Yi-hsuan finds ridiculous for a cook.
Fighting chance
But in one of the series’ first moments of honesty and vulnerability among the squad, Lu-yung does the exact opposite: He lets Yu-li stay and doubles her pay. For Lu-yung, skills can be learned, but the people he considers family aren’t so easily earned.
As it turns out, Yu-li fears flames because her bullies used to torment her by burning her hair. “As an actor, I have always been a little intimidated by crying scenes, but in that moment—looking into everyone’s eyes, listening to Lu-yung deliver those powerful lines, the emotions came naturally,” Lin says.
“It all felt incredibly real, and for a moment, it genuinely felt like we were one family,” she adds.
“I think our charm is definitely teamwork. Each of us has our own story, but we come together to build something and support Lu-yung’s dream,” Eric Chou says
And that, more than its mean lap cheong chow fan, may just give Jin Lai Hao a fighting chance against the industry’s top dogs.
“I think our charm is definitely teamwork. Each of us has our own story, but we come together to build something and support Lu-yung’s dream,” Chou says. “Every time the restaurant is on screen, it’s funny, light, and happy. I think that’s something the audience will really enjoy.”
“Fired Up!” streams on HBO Max, with new episodes every Friday