Dan Jiang (Bodhi Anatta)

I had a lot of hopes for this show as a Chinese immigrant. Wow, a teenage TV show? Sounds lovely. They are trying to relate the ABC experience to people and the cultural/familial environments, but they are inevitably made a decent teenage drama with some forgettable cringy stereotypes. The saving grace of the show was Ke Huy Quan's speech later in the show that showed meta-cognition of the conflict between the financial rewards of playing into the cheaply designed stereotypes and the personal aspiration of wanting to be oneself. It is almost a self-acknowledgement that the show tried to show the ABC experience, but its entry into the broader market depended on the same well-known Asian cast and static stereotypes. They had their own refreshing take on the well-known cultural stories of Suwukong. However, the integration of high school life and the battles between gods need better work in stitching it together to establish a steady emotional tone and pace. The later part of the show went too much into the cultural lore and introduced a frantic pace that honestly disrupted our perspective on Jin or the relationship between his parents. It is a good effort and an easy binge. More Asian American characters/actors always need to be applauded. 3 stars seem fair.