“Interior Chinatown” is a new ten-episode series that is now available on Hulu. This is based on Charles Yu’s award-winning book which goes by the same name. It follows the story of Willis Wu, played by Jimmy O. Yang, who is a background character trapped in a police procedural called “Black & White”. When we first meet him, he sticks to his role of his on-screen job waiting tables. But dreams about the world beyond the realm of Chinatown. Everything changes when he accidentally becomes the witness to a crime. This leads Willis to begin to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown. As well as learn more about his family’s history and to force himself into the spotlight.

Along with Yang, “Interior Chinatown” features Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, Lisa Gilroy, Sullivan Jones, Archie Kao, and Diana Lin. Yu serves on the series as an executive producer along with others like Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore. Taika Waititi also serves as an executive producer and directs the pilot episode.

A UNIQUE STYLE OF STORYTELLING

“Interior Chinatown” takes a unique way of storytelling that takes advantage of every possible stereotype and police procedural trope to differentiate when a character is crossing into the realm of the television show “Black & White” and when they are supposedly in what could be considered the “real world”. Fans of police procedurals will quickly catch on to the change in sounds, shooting styles, lighting, and the ways characters talk to know when they are in the show. This is a clever way of telling the meta-fictional story and reminds us that Willis and the rest of these characters are in a way trapped in these stereotypical roles.

To further make their point, each of the episodes of the series is titled based on different stereotypical characters. For example, “Tech Guy”, “Delivery Guy”, or “Kung Fu Guy”. In each of these we’ll see Willis having to overcome to reach the goal of discovering what happened to his brother, played by Chris Pang. All while hopefully breaking his role of a background character and getting to get a hold of his life.

Interior Chinatown
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“INTERIOR CHINATOWN’S” VARIETY OF CHARACTERS

In “Interior Chinatown” each character offers a different perspective on the current status quo of everyone in this world. For example, Detective Lana Lee, played by Chloe Bennet. She has always been a sidekick and doesn’t seem to know how to take the next step and lead, despite feeling the urge to do so. All while Detective Sarah Green and her partner Miles Turner, played by Lisa Gilroy and Sullivan Jones. They play the part of TV detectives just as you’d expect puns and all. Meanwhile, Willis’ best friend, Fatty Choi is having some trouble breaking free of his role, when his job is suddenly upgraded to being a waiter.

There are other supporting characters as well that we see throughout the season that seem to want to do things differently, but in the end, are afraid to change anything. But in the series, something as simple as a free lunch changes a few character’s perspectives.

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A BIGGER MESSAGE IN “INTERIOR CHINATOWN”

“Interior Chinatown” takes the very well-known tropes and stereotypes about police procedurals and uses them to be able to tell a more universal story about Asian-American identity. One that can also be empathized by other groups of immigrants that have also been put into specific categories. This allows viewers to empathize with the characters without feeling like they are being preached to. This kind of story is vital for the times we live in as it could serve as a bridge between cultures. Perhaps leading some to see some of their peers beyond the labels that have been unjustly put on them. All this while enjoying a very well-done series that mixes a few different genres.

Besides that, I am personally a big fan of police procedurals, I consider it a guilty pleasure. So to see all those tropes that I have seen played over and over again in a more exaggerated comical way was a lot of fun. I thought Yang was great in this role. He was able to balance comedy and drama as he went through his journey. Overall I think it is balanced well and is unique enough to keep the attention of audiences throughout the season.