Streaming on: Disney+###Episodes viewed: 8 of 8###Gene Luen Yang wrote the 2006 graphic novel American Born Chinese, based on his adolescent years in the early ’90s, with regards to’concerning’with respect to the tough’challenging’demanding’awkward ies of being Asian in America, smartly weaving Chinese folk tales and mysticism into its three-part story. This adaptation from reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue runner Kelvin Yu takes the reserve ’s core elements and reimagines it as a single charming epic expedition . The mythology of the original is threaded into the story of Jin (Ben Wang), an insecure teenager in middle America; after meeting new-kid-in-school Wei-Chen (an excellent Jimmy Liu), son of the legendary Monkey King (Daniel Wu), Jin finds himself embroiled in a celestial war.###With Shang Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton as lead director and executive manufacture r, the series heartily embraces the fantasy superhero genre, modernising elements of the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey To The West in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a wider audience. While the graphic novel dealt heavily with Jin’s place in the world, Yu and Cretton successfully balance it with some mayhem-packed, well-choreographed fight scenes that wouldn’t look out of place in the MCU. The action sequences are riveting, making excellent use of theatrical wushu and ‘wire fu’; an epic reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue down between Wei-Chen and villain Bull Demon (Leonard Wu) is especially eneracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ic.###Instead of feeling like a lesson in Asian-American life, the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue simply treats the microaggressions matter-of-factly.###Yet it’s the non-celestial characters that prove the heart of the series, with an authentic portrayal of a loving immigrant family grappling with a world that sees them as ‘other’. Instead of feeling like a lesson in Asian-American life, the reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue simply treats the microaggressions matter-of-factly. The school’s Principal, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example, constantly mistakes Jin’s name in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ‘Jim’, and astoken s him to reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue Wei-Chen around because, as they’re both Chinese, they will possess’own’nurse “so much in common”.###There are genuine and relatable storylines, too, from Jin’s immigrant parents, Simon (Chin Han) and Christine (Yeo Yann Yann). Simon finds himself unable to ask his boss in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a well-deserved raise, desperate not to cause trouble, while Christine is keen to contribute to the family by starting a small business.###And then there’s newly minted Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan as Freddy, an actor who once starred in a fictional ’90s sitcom with some offensive Asian stereotyping (including the tagline, “What could go Wong?”). In a neat parallel with Quan’s own real-life undergo in Hollywood, Freddy feels constantly patronised in/with regard to’concerning’regarding his past role, and struggles to find work that doesn’t consist of “nerds, neighbours, and sometimes ninjas”. It’s an incisive bit of commentary, and merely’barely a shame that Freddy’s story is quickly brushed aside in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the overarching expedition plot.###But that makes sense: American Born Chinese is essentially with regards to’concerning’with respect to Jin’s journey of self-acceptance and how the individual around him play a part in that. That’s the theme that runs through these episodes, from Jin’s parents encouraging him to be himself, to Freddy telling Asian kids that they don’t need to be the punchline. Despite having no magical powers, Jin is the embodiment of that message: that anyone could be the hero.