American Born Chinese, now streaming on Disney+, is an action comedy series that's packed with as much sweetness as it is sucker punches. Based on Gene Luen Yang's highly-acclaimed 2006 graphic novel of the same name, it takes the coming-of-age story of one introspective teenager and spins it into an epic tale of mythic proportions. Of course, doing so means spinning more plates than it can sometimes handle, but showrunner Kelvin Yu and director Destin Daniel Cretton (who helmed the premiere and finale) keep things on track by combining a very pleasing aesthetic with warmhearted performances by a star-studded cast.
Much of the initial charm and fascination of American Born Chinese comes from its depiction of Heaven, which is filled with iconic figures of Chinese mythology such as the "Monkey King," Sun Wukong (played by Daniel Wu), and appearances by a large chunk of the Everything Everywhere All At Once cast in important roles. But the majority of the action takes place on Earth — specifically in high school — and that is where the show's secret weapon lies. All the mythological backstory sets the stage for mild-mannered Jin (Ben Wang), whose current goals are to join the soccer team and ask out his lab partner, to take action in his life and unleash his full potential.
The key to unlocking Jin's "destiny" is transfer student Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), who secretly hails from Heaven itself and has come to town searching for a way to save his homeland from a destructive coup d'etat that could take out both worlds. The two leads seem to be opposites in every way except their love of manga, but they only scratch the surface of characters in American Born Chinese that embody the dual themes of confidence and caution.
The contrast is seen even in the gods and goddesses, as elements from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West are reinterpreted once more through the show's lens. Sun Wukong rashly took the Dragon King's (Jimmy O. Yang in a hilarious cameo) throne in his days of youthful bluster, and now he finds his kingdom under attack due to his past actions — not to mention his son Wei-Chen rebelling against him in a way that seems all too familiar. The interplay between these characters and the nuance of their family bonds is what propels American Born Chinese forward in both realms. The goddess Guanyin (Michelle Yeoh), in particular, bridges the gap in a way that emphasizes the glamor of the mythical world with the sweetness of the domestic storylines.
Another Everything Everywhere All At Once alumni has a tertiary role in American Born Chinese that nevertheless ties disparate stories together and drives home the show's themes. Ke Huy Quan plays Jamie Yao, an actor who portrays the stereotypical role of Freddy Wong in the fictional '90s sitcom Beyond Repair. If that sounds a bit complicated, that's because it is. In the first few episodes, Freddy Wong exists solely as an internet meme or a face in television reruns, clearly paralleling how audiences see him with how classmates see Jin, but without going much further. But as the series progresses, Wong's role deepens.
American Born Chinese's biggest strength, however, is also its only weakness. Because it doesn't neglect any of its revolving storylines, progress can seem slow on many of them. This is especially frustrating given that the premiere sets up an epic confrontation that demands Jin step up, but he very realistically requires much more time to do so than any viewer might expect. Thankfully, despite countless characters being introduced and interconnected, the show manages to make audiences care about all of them. Even if season 1 ends somewhat abruptly thanks to the accumulation of various plots, the groundwork is solid enough to guarantee that American Born Chinese season 2 will hit the ground running with plenty of goodwill.
All 8 episodes of American Born Chinese season 1 are now streaming on Disney+.