Things get surreal in Inner Chinatownthe new crime comedy series adapted from Charles Yu’s 2020 novel of the same name. The meta-mystery show premiered November 19 on Hulu and follows Willis Wu (Silicon ValleyJimmy O. Yang) as he unwittingly evolves from “Generic Asian Man”, a bit player in police procedurals like Black and white and a waiter at the Golden Palace, as a material witness to a kidnapping and possible murder in his city. His on-screen personas blend with real life as he navigates the role set for him by his parents and community while breaking into new territory.
Inner Chinatown features a cast full of great talent, including Chloe Bennet (Agents of SHIELD as Detective Lana Lee, who informally recruits Willis for the case, and Ronny Chieng (M3GAN) as Fatty Choi, who has the opposite view of Willis when it comes to identity. Tzi Ma (Mulan) and Diana Lin (The farewell) also star as Willis’ parents, hard-working immigrants who grieve the disappearance of their eldest son, who rose to the rank of Kung Fu Guy before disappearing. Finally, Archie Kao (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) plays Wong, Willis’ uncle and owner of the restaurant where he works.
TelaRant interviewed Ma and Kao about Inner Chinatownthe themes of identity and family — which are universal despite the specificity of the show’s Asian American cultural landscape. Ma also explained how his character Joe deals with the disappearance of his eldest son, while Kao recalls his time as Kai Chen in Power Rangers Lost Galaxy.
Tzi Ma’s Country Chinatown Character Has a Lot to Learn From Her Son’s Disappearance
“Should I have been a better father? I should have been someone better; a better person?”
Screen Rant: Tzi, can you talk about how the sense of loss affects Joe Wu after the disappearance of his oldest son and how it affects his relationship with his wife and Willis?
Tzi Ma: I tell you, he is lost in that sense. He didn’t have the chance. There are two things he feels. First, he didn’t do his job as sifu. Secondly, it is the unknown. He doesn’t know if he’s alive or dead, and [human beings] do this constantly. You say, “What is my disability? What should I have done? Should I have been a better son? Should I have been a better father? Should I have been a better person; a better person?”
I think that’s important for Joe himself, to look at his oldest son, because that’s my guy. This is my favorite student. And I think that’s life. Let’s deal with it.
Screen Rant: Archie, how does Uncle Wong’s management style at the Golden Palace restaurant reflect your relationship with Willis and your efforts to keep him in line?
Archie Kao: It’s a tough love, actually. I am a character who has a foot in every metaphysical story world this [show] is happening. I know what dangers exist outside Chinatown’s borders, and I worry about them. The initial one is obviously the most obstinate, like I think you would do with your children when you want to instill some fear in them. But that’s because I care about the bigger picture.
Screen Rant: Can you two talk about the themes of family, culture, identity and past traumas that run through both of your characters?
Tzi Ma: It’s real life, right? “Everyone has a sutra that is difficult to recite.” This is a Chinese proverb and it is true to form. These ancients know what they are talking about after thousands of years of going through these things. And it’s something that, as a culture, we have to face.
We also have to understand that there is a universality to this. We are not the only culture or the only people going through this. Many people are going through the same thing, no matter what culture, color or creed.
Archie Kao reflects on his time on Power Rangers and addresses the possibility of a reboot
“I would love for younger generations to be able to share in the joy that we hope we were able to bring 25 years ago.”
Screen Rant: Archie, this is a full circle moment for me because I started [in pop culture] with Power Rangers. I introduced my daughter to her season, and Kai was her favorite Ranger. It’s one of the oldest shows of all time. Do you think the show should be rebooted or continued from this 30-year period?
Archie Kao: Wow, that’s a great question. Well, it’s had its stops and starts over the years, actually. There was a period when Saban sold it to Disney, and Disney moved it to New Zealand. So I believe Saban brought it back and Hasbro, so there’s been several incarnations of it, and I’m thrilled.
At the time they cast me in it, I didn’t really want to do it because I didn’t know what it was. I was like, “Am I running around in blue spandex saving the world from rubber monsters?” I was trying to do serious scenes and acting classes and stuff like that. [Laughs] But I have to say I never had much fun and we are still good friends. I’m in a group chat with all the Rangers right now.
We were actually texting with them a few days ago because I would love for the younger generations to be able to share in the joy that we hope we were able to bring to people 25 years ago. Hasbro recently released new action figures of us. It has my birthmark and everything.
Tzi Ma: Are you collecting money from this? Let’s kick off this show!
More about the interior of Chinatown, season 1
Based on the award-winning book of the same name by Charles Yu, the show follows the story of Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a police procedural called Black & White. Relegated to the background, Willis does his job on screen, waiting tables, dreaming of a world beyond Chinatown and aspiring to be the protagonist of his own story. When Willis inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, he begins to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown, while uncovering his own family’s buried history and what it’s like to be in the spotlight.
Check out our others Inner Chinatown interviews here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus