Although in recent years we have seen several Asian cultures gaining more representation on screen, be it the one led by Michelle Yeoh Everything everywhere at the same time or the HBO adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen The sympathizerAsian American storytelling is still an area not explored often enough. With Charles Yu Inner ChinatownNot only does it finally shine a light on this community, but it does so in such a surreal and meta way that it often overcomes some of its shortcomings.
Based on Yu’s acclaimed 2020 novel of the same name, Inner Chinatown centers on Willis Wu, a waiter at a Chinese food restaurant who yearns for a more intriguing life while also struggling to find out why his brother disappeared a decade earlier. When he witnesses a crime, he finds himself driven to investigate both the crime and the criminal underworld of Chinatown, teaming up with a detective equally ignored by her colleagues to investigate the crime and a series of other crimes. As the investigation continues, however, they discover that the world they live in is not as simple as it seems.
The format-jumping narrative is invigorating and keeps us guessing
One of the most attractive aspects Inner Chinatown is the fantastic world it takes place in, with Willis not just being a waiter but actually the “Generic Asian Man“secondary actor in a variety of projects, ranging from a Law and Orderfrom a stylish crime drama, which is the main focus of the story, to a seltzer commercial. This proves to be a really engaging way to keep us hooked as the show progresses, as it not only adds to its overall eerie atmosphere, but also the thematic exploration of racial blindness often prevalent in the real world.
Whether it’s Willis’ failed attempts to get into the police station to meet with Detective Lana Lee, or Lana having to frequently repeat herself to other detectives when her original answers seemingly don’t fit the script she’s supposed to be working with. Very similar WandaVision and Everything everywherethe change in formats and tones offers a more surreal touch to the story Yu is trying to tell. Instead of simply watching an Asian-American actor move from project to project and be mistreated, we’re intrigued to see if Willis and Lana can break the mold and become heroes.
Jimmy O. Yang shows incredible range in his performance
Chloe Bennet is also an attractive foil
The other area where Inner Chinatown Where it really shines is in its casting, with Jimmy O. Yang in particular showing off his range of acting skills as Willis very well. Though he’s certainly explored the dramatic genre before, especially with the Mark Wahlberg-led film Patriots Dayhe is arguably known exclusively for his work in the comedy sphere, whether for his time at HBO Silicon Valley or Netflix Space Force. With the Hulu show, Yang has the chance to act on both the serious and comedic fronts while also showing off some solid fighting skills.
Even though Yang is at the forefront, Chloe Bennet is a wonderful foil as Lana. The first few episodes generally present her as a potential love interest for Willis and a no-nonsense detective, but as we spend more time with her, we can see a better vulnerability in her that draws us further into her arc. It also fits nicely into some of the show’s meta-comedy, as she feels equally confused by the limits of their world and why neither she nor Willis are able to get through to people.
But even beyond the two protagonists of the show, Ronny Chieng also proves to be a real delight. Similar to Bennet, the Daily Program the veteran is ultimately a little closer to his typical range of performances, focusing mostly on the comedic side of things, acting as the wild card to Yang’s straight man. However, it’s a role he plays well, and Yu’s writing feels different enough from Chieng’s other comedy work to still keep his turn as Willis’ friend Fatty feeling generally fresh.
The mystery of Chinatown’s interior never feels as engaging as its concept
The show never finds the right balance between its bizarre atmosphere and story
Ultimately, although most Inner Chinatown is a thought-provoking take on Yu’s themes, the show falters a bit when it comes to its central mystery. Willis’ search for his brother and how it relates to Lana’s investigation into a variety of deaths in Chinatown progresses at a snail’s pace. The answers never seem to come quickly enough, and the focus is kept a little too much on its mind-bending formula.
Very similar to Marvel WandaVisionI found the back-and-forth between delivering a compelling mystery and exploiting its central gimmick to be something of a mixed bag. If I hadn’t decided to introduce the mystery, Inner Chinatown could have navigated in a similar way to people like The Truman Show and Free Guy eliminating our uncertainty about what world the story is based on. Instead, the story never feels like an effective enough distraction from its concept, which is thankfully captivating enough that, when combined with great performances, it makes the show a generally enjoyable ride.
Inner Chinatown begins streaming on Hulu on November 19. The series consists of 10 episodes.
- The show’s central concept is a wonderfully surreal and atmospheric ride.
- Yu’s writing also addresses the lack of better Asian-American representation on screen well.
- Jimmy O. Yang presents great variety in his performance, while Chloe Bennet and Ronny Chieng are excellent supporters.
- The show’s central mystery is never compelling enough to overshadow its central contrivance.