American Born Chinese (ABC)

G, Adventure, Fantasy | Created by Kelvin Yu | Available on Disney+

An American Chinese teenager navigating questions of identity, finds himself in a mythological battle when a mysterious new Chinese boy arrives at his high school. Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese is unapologetic in its use of Chinese folklore, referencing the classic 16th century novel, Journey to the West, and expecting unfamiliar audiences to learn as they watch. It highlights the uncomfortable ‘otherness’ that main character Jin experiences, as teachers get his name wrong and pair him up with new Chinese student Wei-Chen because they ‘have so much in common’. The fantastical elements of this show are impressive (the fight scenes!) and beautiful (the costumes!), but the interpersonal highs and lows are what make this show shine. (Reviewed by Holly Morton-Chong)