39/10
At the beginning of the series, Willis (Jimmy O
Synopsis
Willis Wu is a background actor on the procedural cop show Black and White. Relegated to the background, Willis revels in his on-screen work, waiting tables, and dreaming of a world beyond Chinatown. When he unwittingly witnesses a crime, Willis begins to unravel a web of crime in Chinatown, and in the process, he discovers what… Read all. Yang), Fatty (Ronny Chieng), and Carl (Chau Long) see Detective Lana Lee (Chloe Bennet) on TV and discuss her possible ethnicity: Carl states, “She looks Thai,” while Fatty argues, “Dude, she’s clearly Korean.
Meet your Asians” In fact, Bennet is the child of a white mother and a Chinese father
During his acting career, he changed his last name from Wang to Bennet (his father’s first name) after encountering casting agents who said they couldn’t cast him as an Asian or Asian-American character, but his name ruled him out of consideration for white characters either. Inner Chinatown is a bright yet subdued reflection of the world—a mirror that exposes how society often judges people by their cover. The show captures this poignantly in the scene where Willis Wu can’t get into the police department until he proves his mettle by delivering food. It’s a powerful metaphor: sometimes, if you don’t fit the mold, you have to prove your worth in the most humiliating or unexpected ways just to get your foot in the door. Closed neighborhood doors create barriers that The show is about the challenges faced by those who don’t fit the “majority” definition of what’s acceptable or valuable.
It asks: Am I complicit in perpetuating these stereotypes?
While the show focuses on the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community and the stereotypical roles that Hollywood has long relegated to the background—the kung fu fighters—it forces viewers to ask bigger questions. Am I limiting others—or even myself—by limiting how much they’re worth? This isn’t just about the API portrayal; it’s about how society as a whole devalues anyone who doesn’t fit neatly into its preferred narrative. The show can be confusing if you don’t grasp the satirical lens upfront. But for me, knowing the context of Charles Yu’s original book helped it click.
But for Bennett, it was about giving herself space to pursue her dreams
The production team does an incredible job balancing satire with honesty, blurring the line between real life and the over-the-top Hollywood “procedural” format. They skillfully use contrasting visuals and varying camerawork to draw you into different headspaces – the glossy expectations of Hollywood versus the harsher realities of life. The role of Chloe Bennet (real name Chloe Wang) also plays into the show’s themes on a deeply personal level. She famously changed her last name to navigate Hollywood, and found herself stuck in the impossible middle ground of not being “Asian enough” or “white enough” for casting directors. It’s a decision that’s been debated – was it an act of survival, assimilation or betrayal?
The interior of Chinatown doesn’t just ask us to look at the system; it forces us to examine ourselves
This theme is echoed in one of the show’s most poignant scenes, where Lana is told, “You’ll never fully understand. You’re mixed.” It’s a devastating acknowledgement of the barriers that persist even as she tries to bridge the divide. Lana’s story highlights how identity can be both a strength and a hindrance, and the series serves as a painful reminder of the walls society has erected, both externally and internally. Whether it’s Willis Wu at the precinct’s door or Lana trying to connect in a world that sees her as neither of these, the show unflinchingly portrays the struggle to belong.
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