Is Elodie Yung the Perfect Elektra?

A while back we posted the trailer for the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil season, and that season is now up online. While the response hasn’t been quite as universally positive as that for the first season, critics and fans alike have largely been pleased with the effort. In particular, a plot line focused largely on questions of morality has proven to be intriguing, and the presence of Jon Bernthal in the role of Frank Castle (aka The Punisher) has been very well received.
But one of the big question marks about the second season has arisen with regard to Elodie Yung, the French-Cambodian actress who’s stepped into the role of Elektra. Most seem to agree that Yung’s performance is strong, and indeed she looks to be something of a rising star coming out of the season. The question is not so much about her ability as her having been cast in the role in the first place.
The most notable objection came from Frank Miller himself, who created Elektra along with a slew of additional comic book heroes and villains. As stated in an account by Bleeding Cool, Miller essentially dismissed Yung’s validity in the role before even giving her a chance. In fact, he hadn’t even watched the first season before declaring that Yung wouldn’t be the real deal.
In part this may have been connected to the fact that Miller is famously territorial about his characters. His comments made it sound as if he would have rejected anyone in the role. However, other objections to Yung’s casting have arisen from those who believe Marvel and Netflix are stereotyping Asian culture by only including actors and actresses of Asian descent in the roles of crime bosses and ninjas. There’s certainly some validity in this claim even going back to season one, and it’s clear that at least in recent appearances before this series, Elektra has generally been white (though it’s worth noting that the comic character is actually of Greek descent).
The most famous instance of the character being adapted before this series was in the 2003 Daredevil movie and subsequent Elektra spinoff. In both films it was Jennifer Garner who took up the role. Following those films, there was the regular offerings of merchandise featuring Elektra. T-Shirts, toys, soda cups and more featured the character. We also saw an Elektra casino game gain some popularity online, and the character was essentially presented in the image of Garner. It’s available among the offerings at the Betfair Casino, and it consists of Elektra and various symbols attached to her (such as her ninja-like weaponry) taking up places on a slot reel. And the prevailing image, again, is a white Elektra.
Given these recent depictions, it’s understandable that the sudden casting of a partially Asian actress in the role would raise some eyebrows. However, when assessing Ms. Yung’s fit in the role, we would also be wise to look beyond race or heritage and also consider the actress herself, and the traditional character of Elektra.
In these regards, Yung appears to be about as perfect a fit as you can get. Simply put,
Elektra is meant to be a brutally intelligent femme fatale who’s as sharp with her mind as she is deadly with her martial arts and weapons. And according to a profile by Vanity Fair, that pretty much describes Elodie Yung as well. Evidently, she holds a law degree from La Sorbonne, as well as a black belt in karate. Furthermore, she claims to have turned the comics into her “Bible” after taking on the role. She also speaks about Frank Miller with nothing but respect.
That’s not to say Yung has developed the character in the precise image of the comic version (she hasn’t) or that we can disregard the issue of Marvel’s tendency to stereotype Asian culture (we probably shouldn’t). But to take issue with Yung specifically would be a shame, because she’s a wonderful fit who’s delivered a great performance.