Fan Reactions To Hulu’s Interior Chinatown

Hulu’s Interior Chinatown has fans buzzing over its refreshing take on the Asian American experience. The dramedy, adapted from Charles Yu’s award-winning novel, has a stellar cast including Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, and Chloe Bennet. Here’s what viewers are talking about after binge watching the whole series.

***This Article Contains Spoilers***

Interior Chinatown follows Willis Wu, played by Jimmy O. Yang, a struggling background character stuck in a fictional police procedural called “Black & White”. As he dreams of breaking out and becoming a hero, Willis grapples with the limitations imposed by western society on Asian Americans, navigating cultural identity and the rigid stereotypes that define his career and even life trajectory.The show blends sharp satire with heartfelt moments, offering a unique perspective on how stereotypes shape the lives of Asian American. 

Satirizing Hollywood’s Asian American Stereotypes

At its core, Interior Chinatown cleverly dissects Hollywood’s long-standing stereotypes of Asian Americans through its protagonist, Willis Wu. Willis Wu lives as “Generic Asian Man,” aspiring to become the coveted “Kung Fu Guy” without realizing the world he inhabits is shaped by rigid, limiting stereotypes. Interior Chinatown constructs a fictional cop procedural to satirize the absurdity of how Hollywood and western society portray Asian Americans. For instance, Willis can only appear in the precinct or in shots with the lead by posing as a delivery guy or a tech guy—nameless roles designed to blend into the background and fit the stereotypes.

Interestingly, Jimmy O. Yang has firsthand experience with these struggles. One of his earliest roles was “Chinese Teenager #1,” a background character. Reflecting on the industry, Jimmy O. Yang remarked, “We get put in a box,” and Interior Chinatown might be an epitome of this struggle in Hollywood. This time, however, Willis Wu is the one who breaks out —even if it means being thrown out of a window. 

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Daisy Johnson in Interiori Chinatown

Chloe Bennet’s role as Lana Lee in Interior Chinatown also sparked buzz among fans, and it’s not just because of her stellar performance—it’s the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. connection! Her role in the series has fans reminiscing about Daisy Johnson. The series wrapped up four years ago, leaving viewers nostalgic for her iconic character.

Fans are also grieving Chloe Bennet’s absence from screens in the near future because her next movie doesn’t have a release date yet. But, at least we have Interior Chinatown and seven seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep us company while we wait.

One of the Most Inventive TV Shows

Interior Chinatown is earning praise for its fresh approach to storytelling, blending fourth- and fifth-wall-breaking humor with drama in a way that feels completely new. Set within a police procedural, it delivers the intensity and mystery of solving cases while also exploring heartfelt family dynamics with a portrayal that breaks away from stereotypes. To top it off, the show’s lighting and screen language are nothing short of chef’s kisses.

Willis’s mom, for example, isn’t a traditional tiger mom; she’s the one who moves on from the loss of her son before Willis’s dad does. She’s awakened, with goals beyond raising her family—seeking a job to enrich her own life, showcasing a deeply human and TRUE side of Asian American families that Hollywood often overlooks.

A Truman Show?

The most inventive part—and many fans have already noticed—is the similarity between the setting of Interior Chinatown and The Truman Show. Much like Truman, Willis comes to realize that he’s just “a background character in someone else’s story.” Determined to break free from stereotypes, he sets out to take control of his own narrative.

In one of the most memorable moments, inspired by Lana’s advice to “be assertive,” Willis decides that if he doesn’t belong to the world of lead characters, he’ll become one that does—starting as a delivery guy in the background. Once he takes control of his story, the world itself begins to shift. And I think that’s one of the best messages from Interior Chinatown, to take control of your own narrative. 

Can’t Stop Laughing

While Interior Chinatown tackles serious topics like identity and stereotypes, it’s important to remember—it has Jimmy O. Yang and Ronny Chieng in the show, and it wouldn’t be theirs without being wildly entertaining!

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Feel hooked? Good news: all episodes of Interior Chinatown are now available to stream on Hulu. Dive in and experience the fun yourself!