Hulu's newest crime drama, “Interior Chinatown,” was just released on November 19, and critics are already raving about it. For those who are not afraid of satire and love genre-bending stories, this show may be the next one to watch on the streaming service.
At the heart of the show is the story of a struggling actor stuck behind the scenes of a police drama. When an unexpected crime thrusts him into the spotlight, the line between fiction and reality blurs. The film then opens with a wild action spiced up by the comical style of the lead stars.
It was clear from the first “Interior Chinatown” trailer that this was not your typical crime drama. It is a bold and introspective exploration of identity, culture, and the roles we are often forced to play. If you're looking for an emotionally involving and visually entertaining show, here's everything you need to know about “Interior Chinatown,” including the critics' reviews...
“Interior Chinatown” is a limited 10-episode adaptation of Charles Yu's award-winning novel of the same name. Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang), a Chinatown resident, is the protagonist of a fictional police drama called Black and White. Living in Chinatown, Willis works as a waiter and dreams of escaping his stereotypical role as an Asian American.
But when he inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to confront the secrets hidden in Chinatown, explore his family's buried history, and navigate his own identity and aspirations. With plenty of dark humor and heartfelt drama, the film critiques stereotypes and questions the role people play in society.
“Interior Chinatown” has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing. This is based on only six reviews, so the rating will likely change as more critics review it over time. However, this is a decent score to start with.
Mashable's Belen Edwards says: Interior Chinatown has already proven itself to be a sharply constructed show with a lot to say. But the dizzying genre switching and dynamic staging make ...... the show fearlessly ventures into unique territory, creating a place all its own.” Screen Rant's Grant Hermans believes the show is “a mind-blowing and brilliant exploration of Asian American representation in Hollywood.”
Meanwhile, RogerEbert's Rendy Jones says: “Interior Chinatown is both a charming neo-noir comedy and a visceral and biting satire of the minuscule and stereotypical roles Asian Americans have had to play on American television. It is a biting satire of the minuscule and stereotypical roles Asian Americans have had to play on American television.”
Some critics were not so surprised. Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter noted: “But such self-referentiality only serves to mask the fact that the central plot is fairly flimsy and, worse, is composed of characters who are slightly more dimensional than the typical types they are intended to challenge. only serves to mask it to a great extent.
Collider's Jeff Ewing's review was a bit more positive, but he still took issue with the show: “‘Interior Chinatown’ is a relevant and novel procedure with a strong lead in Jimmy O. Yang.”
“Interior Chinatown” seems to be a breath of fresh air in the crime drama genre. With its talented cast and unique exploration of identity and representation, the show has already made a strong impression on critics. If you're looking for something fun and different to binge watch this week, “Interior Chinatown” should be on your list. And it has the potential to be one of Hulu's biggest hits of the year.
Not into it? Check out the top new movies coming out this week. And if you're feeling festive, check out our guide to where you can stream all 47 of Hallmark's Christmas movies.
Stream all 10 episodes of “Interior Chinatown” on Hulu now.
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