Tien (TV series)

Tien is an upcoming drama fantasy series developed by Jeremy Slater for Peacock. An entry in the Dragon Ball Live-action Universe (DBLU), the series stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Awkwafina, Benedict Wong, and Coy Stewart. The series centers on the titular character as he confronts his past while building his own dojo.
The series would met a generally positive reception, with critics praising its performances, action sequences, themes, and visual effects. The series would also earn an Emmy for Best Visual Effects.
== Synopsis ==
After the fight with Majin Buu, Tienshinhan grows corncerned over how only a few people could do anything to fight him. So, he and his friend Chaps choose to create their own fighting dojo, but how can someone whose trauma's come from his childhood in a dojo create one? This is the question Tien must resolve as a face from his past reemerges and seeks revenge, threatening to destroy everything he built.
== Cast ==
=== Main cast ===
* Hiroyuki Sanada as Tienshinhan, a former member of the Crane School who trues to built his own dojo.
* Colleen O'Shaughnessey as the voice of Chaos, Tien's best friend.
* Awkwafina as Yurin, a former Crane School student who seeks revenge on Tien for leaving her vulnerable to Master Shen's abuse.
*Benedict Wong as Master Roshi, a martial arts master and friend of Tien's.
*Coy Stewart as Wakai, a student of Tien's. 
=== Guest cast ===
* Chloe Bennet as Bulma, a friend of Tien's and his benefactor, who is the owner of the Capsule Corporation.
* Anna Akana as Majon, Yurin's teacher.
* Mick Wingert as the voice of Turtle, Roshi's friend and roommate.
==Episodes==
=== Season 1 ===
No. overall 	No. in season 	Title 	Directed by 	Written by
1 	1 	The Dojo 	Kevin Tancharoen 	Jeremy Slater
After the defeats of Kid Buu, Tien creates his own dojo to train people in case a new crisis arises. On the meantime, a new foe rises and has their eyes set on Tien. 	After the defeats of Kid Buu, Tien creates his own dojo to train people in case a new crisis arises. On the meantime, a new foe rises and has their eyes set on Tien. 	After the defeats of Kid Buu, Tien creates his own dojo to train people in case a new crisis arises. On the meantime, a new foe rises and has their eyes set on Tien. 	After the defeats of Kid Buu, Tien creates his own dojo to train people in case a new crisis arises. On the meantime, a new foe rises and has their eyes set on Tien. 	After the defeats of Kid Buu, Tien creates his own dojo to train people in case a new crisis arises. On the meantime, a new foe rises and has their eyes set on Tien.
2 	2 	The Pains from Before 	Jesse Bochco 	Rebecca Kirsch and Craig Titley
In the years before and after the end of the Crane School, young Yurin goes througth a hell that leads her down a path of pain, resentment, and revenge. 	In the years before and after the end of the Crane School, young Yurin goes througth a hell that leads her down a path of pain, resentment, and revenge. 	In the years before and after the end of the Crane School, young Yurin goes througth a hell that leads her down a path of pain, resentment, and revenge. 	In the years before and after the end of the Crane School, young Yurin goes througth a hell that leads her down a path of pain, resentment, and revenge. 	In the years before and after the end of the Crane School, young Yurin goes througth a hell that leads her down a path of pain, resentment, and revenge.
3 	3 	Failed Preparations 	Jennifer Phang 	Lauren LeFranc
Tien must prepare his new students to defend the dojo after Yurin threatens to destroy it, but is he capable of becoming a master? Or will his past derail his chances?	Tien must prepare his new students to defend the dojo after Yurin threatens to destroy it, but is he capable of becoming a master? Or will his past derail his chances?	Tien must prepare his new students to defend the dojo after Yurin threatens to destroy it, but is he capable of becoming a master? Or will his past derail his chances?	Tien must prepare his new students to defend the dojo after Yurin threatens to destroy it, but is he capable of becoming a master? Or will his past derail his chances?	Tien must prepare his new students to defend the dojo after Yurin threatens to destroy it, but is he capable of becoming a master? Or will his past derail his chances?
4 	4 	The Way of the Masters 	Kabir Akhtar 	Matt Owens and Jeremy Slater
Corncerned over his inability to train his students, Tien goes to an old friend for guidance as Yurin prepares her next move. 	Corncerned over his inability to train his students, Tien goes to an old friend for guidance as Yurin prepares her next move. 	Corncerned over his inability to train his students, Tien goes to an old friend for guidance as Yurin prepares her next move. 	Corncerned over his inability to train his students, Tien goes to an old friend for guidance as Yurin prepares her next move. 	Corncerned over his inability to train his students, Tien goes to an old friend for guidance as Yurin prepares her next move.
5 	5 	Scars 	Karyn Kusama 	Beau DeMayo and Rebbeca Kirsch
Tien goes on a journey of healing and self-discovery as Yurin begina her next move, only to doubt her plans. 	Tien goes on a journey of healing and self-discovery as Yurin begina her next move, only to doubt her plans. 	Tien goes on a journey of healing and self-discovery as Yurin begina her next move, only to doubt her plans. 	Tien goes on a journey of healing and self-discovery as Yurin begina her next move, only to doubt her plans. 	Tien goes on a journey of healing and self-discovery as Yurin begina her next move, only to doubt her plans.
6 	6 	Master Tien 	Gina Prince-Bythewood 	Sabir Pirzada and Jed Whedon
Returning from his travels, Tien prepares his students for a final confrontation against Yurin... but first, hus students must prepare him. 	Returning from his travels, Tien prepares his students for a final confrontation against Yurin... but first, hus students must prepare him. 	Returning from his travels, Tien prepares his students for a final confrontation against Yurin... but first, hus students must prepare him. 	Returning from his travels, Tien prepares his students for a final confrontation against Yurin... but first, hus students must prepare him. 	Returning from his travels, Tien prepares his students for a final confrontation against Yurin... but first, hus students must prepare him.
7 	7 	Showdown 	Elizabeth Hestridge 	Jeremy Slater
Tien and his students gave a final fight against Yurin, where wounds will be healed and peace will be restored. 	Tien and his students gave a final fight against Yurin, where wounds will be healed and peace will be restored. 	Tien and his students gave a final fight against Yurin, where wounds will be healed and peace will be restored. 	Tien and his students gave a final fight against Yurin, where wounds will be healed and peace will be restored. 	Tien and his students gave a final fight against Yurin, where wounds will be healed and peace will be restored.
=== Season 2 ===
No. overall 	No. in season 	Title 	Directed by 	Written by
8 	1 	The Hardships of Teaching 	Antonio Campos 	Jeremy Slater and Rebbeca Kirsch
As he heals from his past wounds, Tien learns that being a mastee conveys more than just teaching people to fight. 	As he heals from his past wounds, Tien learns that being a mastee conveys more than just teaching people to fight. 	As he heals from his past wounds, Tien learns that being a mastee conveys more than just teaching people to fight. 	As he heals from his past wounds, Tien learns that being a mastee conveys more than just teaching people to fight. 	As he heals from his past wounds, Tien learns that being a mastee conveys more than just teaching people to fight.
9 	2 	Bombs 	Lee Toland Krieger 	Nora Zuckerman and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
After a series of bomb assaults result in the temple being heavily damaged, Tien must help his students recover and find the culprits. 	After a series of bomb assaults result in the temple being heavily damaged, Tien must help his students recover and find the culprits. 	After a series of bomb assaults result in the temple being heavily damaged, Tien must help his students recover and find the culprits. 	After a series of bomb assaults result in the temple being heavily damaged, Tien must help his students recover and find the culprits. 	After a series of bomb assaults result in the temple being heavily damaged, Tien must help his students recover and find the culprits.
10 	3 	Vengeance 	Kevin Tancharoen 	Beau DeMayo and Steve Blackman
Tien discovers the culprits behind the bombs, and discovers things are far worse than what he thougth, and he and his students must now run from an enemy who's searching revenge on an old friend.	Tien discovers the culprits behind the bombs, and discovers things are far worse than what he thougth, and he and his students must now run from an enemy who's searching revenge on an old friend.	Tien discovers the culprits behind the bombs, and discovers things are far worse than what he thougth, and he and his students must now run from an enemy who's searching revenge on an old friend.	Tien discovers the culprits behind the bombs, and discovers things are far worse than what he thougth, and he and his students must now run from an enemy who's searching revenge on an old friend.	Tien discovers the culprits behind the bombs, and discovers things are far worse than what he thougth, and he and his students must now run from an enemy who's searching revenge on an old friend.
11 	4 	Will the Sun Ruse Again? 	Bill Barretta 	Lauren LeFranc
Tien and his stufents try to find a new place to hide, but will that be enough with their spirits down and secrets coming to the light? 	Tien and his stufents try to find a new place to hide, but will that be enough with their spirits down and secrets coming to the light? 	Tien and his stufents try to find a new place to hide, but will that be enough with their spirits down and secrets coming to the light? 	Tien and his stufents try to find a new place to hide, but will that be enough with their spirits down and secrets coming to the light? 	Tien and his stufents try to find a new place to hide, but will that be enough with their spirits down and secrets coming to the light?
12 	5 	Growing Pains 	Brad Turner 	Marco Ramirez
Yurin's growimg guilty over her actions against Tien worsen while the students oreoare to track down the new leader of the Red Ribbon. 	Yurin's growimg guilty over her actions against Tien worsen while the students oreoare to track down the new leader of the Red Ribbon. 	Yurin's growimg guilty over her actions against Tien worsen while the students oreoare to track down the new leader of the Red Ribbon. 	Yurin's growimg guilty over her actions against Tien worsen while the students oreoare to track down the new leader of the Red Ribbon. 	Yurin's growimg guilty over her actions against Tien worsen while the students oreoare to track down the new leader of the Red Ribbon.
13 	6 	The Drums of War 	Adam Kane 	Lauren LeFranc
As Tien grows into the guide his students need, the war against the Red Ribbon griws worse and they are forced into an offensive, 	As Tien grows into the guide his students need, the war against the Red Ribbon griws worse and they are forced into an offensive, 	As Tien grows into the guide his students need, the war against the Red Ribbon griws worse and they are forced into an offensive, 	As Tien grows into the guide his students need, the war against the Red Ribbon griws worse and they are forced into an offensive, 	As Tien grows into the guide his students need, the war against the Red Ribbon griws worse and they are forced into an offensive,
== Production ==
=== Writing ===
For the series, Slater wqnted to avoid the "6 hour film" format used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seroes Moon Knight, wanting to create a series that "looked like a high-budget series and felt like a television series" while also being directly tied to the wider DBLU. Slater described the friendship between Tien and Chaos as "tye heart and center of the show", as the series explores how is each other's friendship what helps them heal from their wounds. He was also interested in exploring Tien as a master as depicted in Dragon Ball Super in spite of his film counterpart's new backstory. Slater used tge manga and anime as a "jumping off point", drawing inspiration from both without being a dirrct adaptation.
Moon Knight episode "Asylum" was an inspiration for the episode "Scars". For the climax, Slater originally planned something "quieter, more emotional", but ultimately changed it to the demon fight because those ideas "didn't felt lije Dragon Ball". However, he also wanted to prevent the episode from failing into "a generic monster fight" and implanted symbolism in it to keep the series' emotional focus.
== Music ==
TJ Hill composed the series' score. Hill would reincorporate themes from previous DBLU projects, as well as Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z themes by Shunsuke Kikuchi, througth he would alter Tien's theme to reflect his arc througth the series. Hull would also use a variation of Tien's tje as his dojo's theme. He would also compose a theme for Yuji that "explore[s] her rage and focus, but also showcase[s] her inner pain and tragedy".
==Trivia ==
*Elements of the show's plot were inspured by a filler episode from Dragon Ball Super.
*The way Yurin holds Tien hostage in episodes 1 and 2 calls back to the fight between Goku and Majin Vegeta in the anime.
*Elizabeth Hestridge and Chloe Bennet previously worked together on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; the scenes featuring Bulma in the series were added after Hestridge was hired to direct the episode as a reunion for the two.