American Born Chinese
American Born Chinese is playing on Disney+ at the time of writing. Rated TV-PG. Common Sense says 9.
STORY: B+
American Born Chinese is a compelling mix of the mystical and the mundane. It’s got magical weapons, shapeshifting warriors, and wars in the clouds. It’s also got soccer tryouts, tenth grade science class, and parents who argue too much.
Within this jumbled patchwork sits a decidedly accessible coming of age story. Is there anything more relatable than teenagers trying to figure themselves out? I think not. This story may have been told countless times before, but the show approaches it with a fresh take, shapeshifting a worn out cliche into a story filled with intrigue and curiosity.
PEOPLE: A-
You know the feeling you get between a bully embarrassing you in front of the entire school and the moment seven hours later when you come up with the perfect comeback? That uncomfortable mindset was pretty much my default mood throughout my entire high school career.
High school would have gone a lot smoother if it had worked more like the movie Groundhog Day. I wouldn’t want to live the same day on infinite repeat, but I wish I could live each day twice. Like a rehearsal. That way I would get more than seven hours to plan how best to deal with the many annoying and frustrating moments I encountered each day.
I see that sensation in Ben Wang’s performance of Jin. I see it in the way his shoulders sag with the weight of indecision. I see it in the way his eyes roll when situations don’t work out the way he wants them to. I see it in his grimace each time someone gets the best of him. He’s one of the realest TV teenagers I’ve seen in a long time. Jin is gold.
FILM NERD STUFF: B+
Speaking of eye rolls, my eyes do just that every time a TV teacher takes a moment to explain to the class what they’ll be learning this year. They’re always, always, always dropping a huge clue to what the show is “really” going to be about. But it’s the same eye roll I rock whenever I hear a solid dad joke. Because deep down inside, I love it.
Near the end of the episode, two very different battles take place. Magic-tinted kung fu combat floods the hallways of Jin’s high school. But a more brutal battle takes place in his house. His parents’ incessant screaming forces Jin to hide in his room. We bounce back and forth between the two fights. The editing style creates a flashlight, highlighting the things the battles have in common. It makes it a fantastic sequence.
WHO AM I?: A
Here’s why I’m so excited to keep watching..
As I mentioned before, we’ve all seen “Who am I?” teenager stories before. But even in this first episode, the writers are piling on layers of depth. Jin isn’t just wrestling with who he is. It’s also “Who am I supposed to be?” - a question that takes into account all kinds of pressures: parental, peer, and societal.
Pushing it that far would be impressive enough, but American Born Chinese goes further. The story also makes Jin consider, “What could you be?” Finding the answer requires pushing yourself far beyond your current, (sometimes) comfortable boundaries. The show asks Jin to conduct a more nuanced investigation of himself than most shows ever ask of their main characters. It’s what makes this kung fu fantasy feel so real and so watchable.
FINAL COMMENTS:
American Born Chinese had every opportunity to be basic and commonplace. Its casting, its craft, and its dedication to deeply examining the life of a teenager ensures it will be anything but.