A campy, charming Hulu series

Curiously, Charles Yu’s 2020 bestseller is difficult to adapt for the screen due to its clever script structure. His novel, Interior Chinatowntells the identity crisis of an Asian man who longs to be a Kung Fu star instead of a background actor in a cop show. Only when thrust into the limelight, having lost his wife and child over this ambition, does he understand the true value of his culture and society. Through a subversive style, Yu cleverly and empathetically unpacks the challenges of assimilation and challenges Hollywood stereotypes. The crackling wit isn’t quite present in his TV show, but Hulu’s take stands strong on its own merits.

While the series’ narrative differs from the novel, Yu, Interior Chinatown‘s showrunner, translates his unique scripted formula into something of a visual treat. The lighting, background score, and camera angles shift depending on the POV, while the Taika Waititi-directed premiere sets the tone. The immersive production design further establishes the world of Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang) – both the parts that shape his personality and the parts he wants to escape. Based on five of the 10 episodes seen for review, Interior Chinatown converts his struggles into a relatable feeling: How do you become the hero of your life?

Willis is lethargic and dejected when the show starts. His older brother’s disappearance has left his family devastated. His grief-stricken parents (played by the underused Tzi Ma and Lily Wu) mostly ignore him while he quietly works at his uncle’s Chinese restaurant as a waiter. Willis soaks up the desire to venture out of his bubble and do something that matters. Maybe others will notice his existence if he does. He gets his opportunity when he witnesses a potential abduction, which inspires him to dig into his sibling’s disappearance. Through this investigative arc, Willis transforms from being virtually invisible to leading the charge.

This does not happen overnight. Willis is torn between sticking to a safe, mundane routine and taking risks that could tear the lives of his loved ones apart. Despite the dangers, he learns to take a chance on himself and is done to be a sidekick. Yang imbues Willis with naivety, cautious optimism and determination. It’s so satisfying to see the character (and the actor) come out of the shadows and into the limelight. Known for his roles in Silicon Valley and Crazy rich AsiansYang takes advantage Interior Chinatown to show much more of its range.

In an attempt to infiltrate the area to gather evidence, Willis adopts the personas of “Tech Guy” and “Delivery Guy”. Through this gimmick, the writers make a subpar effort to poke fun at genre clichés that put minorities in a box. For example, the senior police officers only notice Willis when he’s their computer sucker and don’t even know he’s taken over from another Asian guy. While it’s funny how Willis becomes an expert at “zooming in” and “enhancing” crime scene photos as soon as he puts on glasses, that’s the extent of the satire.

Interior Chinatownunlike the book, doesn’t have many insightful, biting, or even detailed critiques of Asian representation in the industry. Instead, they are painted in broad strokes. The show ends up parodying Law and order: SVU-type dramas more because it’s all about building the tension around Chinatown, which has everything from organized crime and police corruption to murder and hidden tunnels. This cop aspect feels flimsy until the series focuses on Lana Lee (Agents of SHIELD‘s Chloe Bennet).

Like Willis, Lana is an underdog. She is a budding detective carving out her place at work, but despite her talent, she is overlooked by her peers and superiors. Why? Racism, duh. Lana secretly teams up with Willis to help find his brother, though she seems to have a hidden agenda and connection to the case. Together, Bennet and Yang make a formidable duo, with Lana as the yin to Willis’ yang. Meanwhile, comedian Ronny Chieng adds levity with his no-holds-barred performance as Willis’ best friend who goes viral for his sassy attitude.

There’s plenty to enjoy here, even if the first five episodes are still fine-tuning the show’s voice and commentary. The augmented reality aspect is especially fun, with day quickly turning to night, Chinatown lighting up as Willis feels comfortable with his neighborhood, and doors literally opening for him as he begins to accept himself. This distinctive storytelling style is well suited to a TV show. But maybe Interior Chinatown‘s greatest achievement is that, through all the imaginative flourishes, it becomes an authentic character study.

Interior Chinatown premieres November 19 on Hulu