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American Born Chinese

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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73

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Ratings

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4.6

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4.6	Your Score
4.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Ratings

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American Born Chinese: Season 1

Now Playing: American Born Chinese: Season 1

American Born Chinese

Series Details & Credits

Disney+ | Release Date: May 24, 2023

Summary: Jin Wang's (Ben Wang) average high school life is changed after meeting a new foreign student (Jim Liu) and the arrival of Chinese mythological gods in this adaptation of Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel of the same name.

Genre(s): Comedy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction

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Stream On

Recent Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. The Fourth Scroll
Air Date: May 24, 2023
tbd
S1:E7. Beyond Repair
Air Date: May 24, 2023
tbd
S1:E6. Hot Stuff
Air Date: May 24, 2023

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

73

Positive:

19

Mixed:

9

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

95

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Rob Owen

May 18, 2023

Season 1 Review: “American Born Chinese” proves to be one of the year’s best surprises. A coming-of-age story that at times brings to mind TV greats “My So-Called Life” (though this one is from a boy’s perspective) and “Freaks and Geeks.” Read full review

83

The Playlist Nguyên Lê

May 22, 2023

Season 1 Review: Despite these many words about self-exploration, “American Born Chinese” remembers to bring the fun. Action sequences — except, and unfortunately, a key one that doesn’t use all of the provided space before cueing the VFX — are permeated with a sense of playfulness. Read full review

80

The Daily Beast Laura Bradley

May 23, 2023

Season 1 Review: It’s charming without being treacly, funny and also sensitive—and, like many wuxia films, its action comes with an equal measure of thoughtfulness. Read full review

70

Vanity Fair

Delia Cai

May 24, 2023

Season 1 Review: Is this show a perfectly timed victory lap? Yes. Does it get unwieldy when you’re compressing a centuries-old epic and a high school #StopAsianHate campaign into eight episodes of Disneyfied polish? Of course. But American Born Chinese’s commitment to the juxtaposition makes the show worthy, as uneven as it can be. Read full review

67

Consequence

Dianna Shen

May 2, 2023

Season 1 Review: The show, while enjoyable, falls into the same trap that former Asian-led projects have in the past: It capitalizes off of race as a selling point for Western audiences, perhaps unknowingly relying on the same familiar tropes instead of pushing the boundaries for what these narratives have the potential to be. Read full review

60

Variety

Alison Herman

May 24, 2023

Season 1 Review: This dichotomy of extraordinary and all-too-ordinary is responsible for both the highs and lows of “American Born Chinese.” The season strains to squeeze a lot into just eight episodes. Read full review

50

New York Magazine (Vulture)

Nicholas Quah

May 22, 2023

Season 1 Review: By the end, whatever feels distinct about American Born Chinese, which primarily resides in the quotidian details of Jin and his family’s life, washes away in a blur of scrolls, rebellions, and tacked-on endgame stakes. It feels like a vibrant coming-of-age story, spun out of edgier source material, that’s been made to conform to the needs of the Disney machine — a dynamic that sounds suspiciously like its own form of assimilation. Read full review

SEE ALL 28 REVIEWS

Write a Review

4.6

User Reviews

10

Ariadne

Jun 4, 2023

This was a really great series. Yes, there were some subtitles, but not enough to bother me. I loved the story. I loved the symbolism, the mirroring themes and the characters. I hope there is a second season. I'm shocked at some of the lower reviews. This show is worth a watch forThis was a really great series. Yes, there were some subtitles, but not enough to bother me. I loved the story. I loved the symbolism, the mirroring themes and the characters. I hope there is a second season. I'm shocked at some of the lower reviews. This show is worth a watch for anyone, but I'd recommend it for young adults who are searching for the hero within themselves and also for those who just like a good fantasy story.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

6

panther49

May 26, 2023

If you can handle the preachiness around how bad it is to assume things about another culture and the lackluster acting, you might enjoy yourself. The "lessons" attempting to be taught about racism and racial identity just come across as cringe. Someone who hates Asians isn't going to beIf you can handle the preachiness around how bad it is to assume things about another culture and the lackluster acting, you might enjoy yourself. The "lessons" attempting to be taught about racism and racial identity just come across as cringe. Someone who hates Asians isn't going to be watching this TV show anyway. I get it's a show called "American Born Chinese", but there's better ways to handle the sensitive topic of racial identity and importance. The acting is sub-par. I didn't really feel very connected to the main protagonist or his companions by the end. There certainly isn't too much depth to the characters. However, there are enough obstacles for the team to overcome, such as family issues and self-confidence, which prevent some "Gary Stu" character.

The EEAAO cast being present feels forced. While I welcomed Yeoh/Hsu/Quan on stage their screentime was limited, especially Hsu and Quan's which seemed like tertiary roles. This is unfortunate since they're some of the strongest actors in the cast. Quan talks a bit about the broken system of Hollywood for Chinese Americans, and it's one of the few conversations about race that actually land within the series; not focusing on some strawman racist, but a real, lived experience within the business and culture of Hollywood. Outside of this you're left with a mediocre but enjoyable fantasy story, with a bit of coming-of-age drama. It's fun and the fight scenes are well choreographed. I did feel drawn to watch the next episode when one finished, just to see how the story turned out.

This will definitely be more popular in a younger audience. If you're an adult you will find a few parts preachy and annoying, but the underlying story of a fantasy world, building self-confidence, strong relationships, and dealing with home issues is well enough done for a single watch. I really hope that season 2 focuses on its strengths instead of hammering its audience over the head with unnecessary messages of racial tolerance.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

6

TVJerry

May 29, 2023

Actor Ben Wang plays Jin Wang, an average high school student trying to make friends and get on the soccer team. When he's assigned to guide an exchange student from China (Jimmy Liu), turns out that he's actually from a mythological kingdom ruled by the Monkey King. Thus begins a crossActor Ben Wang plays Jin Wang, an average high school student trying to make friends and get on the soccer team. When he's assigned to guide an exchange student from China (Jimmy Liu), turns out that he's actually from a mythological kingdom ruled by the Monkey King. Thus begins a cross between a teen comedy and a fantasy adventure. The human parts are enjoyable, thanks primarily to the upbeat pacing and Wang's cute, slightly-comic charm. The opening scene features a spectacular SFX chase, but the subsequent action scenes are fast-paced, but not remotely as imaginative or impressive. This is a Disney product, so expect the whole thing to have a brightness and innocence. It's a sweet look at teen challenges and cultural identity with a side of imagination that adds to the plot, but not to the fun.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

5

bertobellamy

Jun 10, 2023

There are a couple of funny moments here, but pretty bland series in general. It's cool that Disney made this exploration of Chinese mythology, but the integration with a generic adolescent story is lackluster.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

4

WatchinMovies

May 28, 2023

It's pretty scary how Disney manages to inject their WOKE ideas into everything. It's not ten minutes into the first episode a student chastises a teacher who spews some misogynist comment. First a teacher wouldn't make that kind of comment (of course one or two would) and a studentIt's pretty scary how Disney manages to inject their WOKE ideas into everything. It's not ten minutes into the first episode a student chastises a teacher who spews some misogynist comment. First a teacher wouldn't make that kind of comment (of course one or two would) and a student shouldn't be correcting the teacher (other teachers and the principal should). Good grief, what a mess this show is, even when you fast forward through WOKE drivel it's still tiring. Our view, "what a waste of reasonable material by Disney...again! So, don't waste your time."… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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Seasons & Episodes

73

Series Overview
Season 1

73
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E8. The Fourth Scroll
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E7. Beyond Repair
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E6. Hot Stuff
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E5. Abracadabra
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E4. Make a Splash
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E3. Rockstar Status
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E2. A Monkey on a Quest
  Air Date: May 24, 2023
- tbd
  S1:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: November 30, -0001