‘Everything, Everywhere’ Fans Will Love Michelle Yeoh's New Show 'American Born Chinese' (We're Giving it 5 Stars)

In case you’re unfamiliar with the storyline, the 8-episode series, which is based on Gene Luen Yang’s 2006 graphic novel of the same name, revolves around a shy 10th grader named Jin Wang (Ben Wang). Desperate to “level up” and fit in with his peers, he embarks on a mission to join the soccer team and boost his reputation. However, his world is turned upside down when he meets and befriends the new kid, Wei-Chen (Jim Liu). Little does Jin know that his new pal is the son of a mythological god known as the Monkey King (Daniel Wu). And it turns out that Wei-Chen has a mission of his own—to save​​ the heavenly realm from being destroyed.

Wang is easily relatable as the conflicted Jin, who isn’t quite sure of who he is or where he belongs. Though he delivers quite a few laughs as he struggles to navigate the most awkward moments (like when he tries to chat with his crush). But it’s even more fascinating to see his interactions with Wei-Chen. Liu steals nearly every scene that he’s in, thanks to his unwavering confidence (“Why would I ever doubt myself?”) and impressive Kung-Fu techniques (look out for his battle against the pig-faced man). Jin and Wei-Chen are like polar opposites in the sense that one is self-assured and the other is still unsure of his purpose and true identity. Jin is quiet and introspective. Wei-Chen is a warrior with a heart of gold. Still, they complement each other really well as they get more deeply involved in an intense battle between Chinese gods.

Michelle Yeoh, who plays the delightful Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, is also a scene-stealer. (Just wait until you see her grand entrance in episode one.) She’s wise but playful, and somewhat of a motherly figure for Wei-Chen, who often seeks her guidance while completing his special mission. And as for Ke Huy Quan, he shines as Freddy Wong, a pigeonholed Asian actor who rises to fame after playing a stereotypical character on a sitcom called Beyond Repair. 

Anyone who’s familiar with problematic tropes from classic TV shows will feel a sense of déjà vu as they catch glimpses of Freddy’s show, which doesn’t have a positive effect on Jin. If anything, it makes him even more confused about his identity, which goes to show how harmful it can be when Asian characters are portrayed as shallow caricatures. And it doesn’t help that Jin has to deal with microaggressions from peers and teachers (like when they casually mispronounce his name 26 times). But as cringe-worthy as these moments are, they don’t feel too heavy or melodramatic. They’re thought-provoking, but they’re also balanced with humor really well—whether it’s Jin’s blank facial expressions or Wei-Chen's bold comebacks.

Of course, another major highlight worth mentioning is the action. Jin is a delight to watch during his battles, but Yeoh also proves to be a worthy opponent when she goes up against a mythical being—and makes it look easy while she's at it.

Whether you're obsessed with Everything, Everywhere or a bonafide Marvel fan, you're going to want to add this one to your queue. Stat.

PureWow Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

Fans of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once are in for a pleasant surprise, since it tackles similar thought-provoking themes and features some of the cast. This thrilling coming-of-age tale will resonate with anyone who has struggled to find their identity.

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