“I get the sense that I’m just a supporting player in another person’s narrative.”

This reflects the internal thoughts of Willis Wu (portrayed by Jimmy O. Yang), the main character of *Interior Chinatown*. Willis operates as a waiter in Chinatown, and while his reflections might appear to embody common existential dilemmas, they are incredibly accurate.

Why? Because this Chinatown is not actual. It exists within the crafted town of Port Harbour, the backdrop for a police drama titled *Black & White*. Willis, along with everyone else in his vicinity, are simply minor participants in a broader storyline — they are just unaware of it.

This conflict between Willis’s individual existence and the preordained realm of *Black & White* is central to *Interior Chinatown*, a series crafted by Charles Yu based on his National Book Award-winning book. Similar to the novel, the show examines the representation of Asians in media, investigating the clichés and stereotypes that frequently position Asian characters in subordinate roles. The outcome is a smart, self-aware commentary presented through a blend of police procedural elements, establishing it as one of the most ambitious shows of the year.

### What is *Interior Chinatown* about?

Willis Wu finds himself unknowingly ensnared in a police drama, and ironically, he is also an admirer of cop shows. Yet, he never envisioned himself as the protagonist of one. In his perspective, individuals who resemble him typically receive roles as waiters, witnesses, or victims. It is rare for them to assume the role of a hero. The sole exception he has witnessed is his elder brother (depicted by Chris Pang), who achieved notoriety as “Kung Fu Guy” before vanishing without a trace.

However, upon witnessing a crime, Willis begins to move closer to the heroic role he once deemed unimaginable. Partnering with the effortlessly composed Detective Lana Lee (Chloe Bennet), Willis embarks on a mission to crack the case. Along the journey, he uncovers a far more significant and peculiar occurrence in Chinatown — potentially linked to his missing brother.

### *Interior Chinatown* merges style with essence

As its title implies, *Interior Chinatown* adopts a profoundly self-referential method of storytelling, drawing its name from screenplay structure. The show’s fabricated opening sequence for *Black & White* — featuring the Black detective Turner (Sullivan Jones) and the white detective Green (Lisa Gilroy) — serves as a flawless spoof of *Law & Order SVU*. When Turner and Green appear, the cinematography shifts to a frigid, blue tone, indicating that we’re engaged in an episode of *Black & White*. Once they exit, the show transitions back to a warmer palette.

This constantly altering visual approach — reminiscent of genre-defying series such as *The Afterparty* and *Kevin Can F**k Himself* — is not the only aspect where *Interior Chinatown* manipulates perspective. Willis is in the spotlight when Turner and Green aren’t in frame, but as soon as they step in, they seize the focus, relegating Willis to the background or even making him invisible. Turner and Green will carry on extensive dialogues with Willis standing right next to them, completely ignorant of his existence.

This astute visual allegory emphasizes how Asian narratives are frequently sidelined or erased in American media. Willis must contend to be included in the *Black & White* storyline, but the only pathway in requires him to don stereotypical roles, transitioning from “Generic Asian Man” to “Delivery Guy” to “Tech Wiz.” In this universe, residing in Chinatown implies being distilled to an archetype — and only by embodying the “appropriate” one can one aspire to blend in.

### The show confronts identity and representation directly

Willis is not the sole character wrestling with the roles they have been conditioned to uphold. Detective Lana Lee, the unique Asian American on the police squad, is relegated to the position of the “Chinatown specialist,” even though she possesses little knowledge of the area. Willis’ companion Fatty Choi (Ronny Chieng), another waiter, discovers that his irritation with white patrons can be commercialized and celebrated as “authentic” by those same patrons. Meanwhile, Willis’ mother Lily (Diana Lin) aspires to become a thriving real estate agent, although those around her doubt her capabilities.

While these subplots sometimes risk diverting focus from the show’s primary enigma, they also serve to enrich the narrative, adding depth to characters who might otherwise remain in the background. By doing so, *Interior Chinatown* counteracts what *Black & White* does: it carves out space for its Asian characters to transcend being mere props.

### *Interior Chinatown* is an exhilarating, thought-provoking experience

Even though viewers are aware from the outset that the realm of *Interior Chinatown* is a television program, that understanding does not diminish the enjoyment. The characters themselves are oblivious to the fact that their reality is a scripted illusion, and witnessing their gradual realization adds an extra layer of fascination. Moreover, there are plenty of other mysteries to explore.