Fans often quiver when they hear that their favorite book is being adapted on-screen. Often times, it can either go one of two ways: it honors its origins, or it flops so hard from its deviations. That's what happens when creatives trust others with their literary babies. It becomes a risky game of chance. Thankfully, Interior Chinatown need not have these worries as the famed novel has been wonderfully brought to life by the author himself, Charles Yu.
An influential piece of culture, Interior Chinatown is a refreshing allegory that highlights the issues surrounding Asian representation. The show follows Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang), a background character in a police procedural, who gets caught in the middle of an investigation after he witnesses a crime. Through this, family secrets begin to unravel while Willis learns to challenge the mundane role life has given him. It's mind-bending in every way and definitely deserves your full attention. But just in case you've already binged through the whole thing, here are some other shows that just might fill its emotional, action-packed, reality-warping void.
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Interior Chinatown
Release Date November 19, 2024
Seasons 1
Creator(s) Charles Yu
Main Genre Drama
Streaming Service(s) Hulu
10 'The Gentlemen' (2024-Present)
Created by Guy Ritchie
Image via Netflix
When Eddie Horniman (Theo James) unexpectedly inherits his father's aristocratic estate, he soon discovers its hidden secret: it's also home to an enormous weed empire, and unfortunately for him – they have no intention of leaving. Caught in the crossfire of the chaotic British criminal underworld, Eddie is forced to adapt fast and eventually learns to take control.
Based on the world of Ritchie's same-named gangster film, The Gentlemenshowcases a tapestry of eccentric characters, razor-sharp dialogue, and slick-back style – a true tribute to the classic gangster show tropes. But of course, with this being a Ritchie project, this show elevates the genre's traditions with its masterful balancing act of grit, wit, and satire. Much like Interior Chinatown you'll be hooked into this story's crazy world filled with antics and punchy action.
Created by Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan, and Ashley Pharoah
Image via BBC
After being hit by a car in 2006, a detective named Sam (John Simm) somehow mysteriously awakens in the year 1973, working the same job in the same station. Perplexed by his predicament, Sam tries to make the most out of his situation, while also trying to solve what exactly happened to him.
If you were captivated by Interior Chinatown's nail-biting mystery and insane reality warping, then Life of Mars may just be for you as it ticks all those boxes. Wonderfully written with its many twists and turns, this is a show that transforms into a surprisingly sharp existential exploration of life — giving it a unique take on the classic British police procedural. Plus, with its retro aesthetics and banging needle drops (from the likes of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd), Life on Mars is equally entertaining as it is thought-provoking.
Created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler
Image via Netflix
While leaving the party being held in her honor, Nadia (Lyonne) is struck by a car and dies on her 36th birthday. But soon enough, she's alive again, transported back to the party held earlier that night. And after dying once more in the same accident, Nadia realizes she's stuck in a time loop, forcing her to question her sanity and figure out the mystery that lies in front of her.
Set on a wild journey of introspection, Nadia's journey is eerily similar to Willis' as she not only confronts her past, her relationships, and her own sense of purpose, but her journey is also carried out through a surrealist form of storytelling that warps reality in multiple layers. Fun, emotional, and incredibly witty (most of which is attributed to Lyonne's great talents), Russian Doll is an intricate puzzle that any viewer will have a great time piecing together.
In the quaint Tasmanian town of Deadloch, the community is shaken up as a local man turns up dead on the beach. Two detectives reluctantly take charge of the investigation together, forcing them to cope with each other's clashing investigative styles. To make matters worse, the murder coincides with the town's annual Winter Festival, allowing the investigation to unearth the hidden secrets of its residents.
Who doesn't love a good black comedy, especially when it involves satirizing the tropes of classic television? Well, it seems that's what Interior Chinatown and Deadloch have in common, as they love to subvert the dramatics of a good crime noir and its restrictive conventions. Deadloch in particular shines for its ability to use its humor to creatively explore social issues surrounding gender, power, and identity. It's a real fun binge for those in need of a fresh crime thriller.
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Deadloch
Release Date June 1, 2023
Cast Kate Box , Madeleine Sami , Nina Oyama , Tom Ballard , Alicia Gardiner
Seasons 1
Creator(s) Kate McCartney , Kate McLennan
6 'Severance' (2022-Present)
Created by Dan Erickson
Image via Apple TV+
Lumon Industries, a biotech company, surgically separates employee's work memories from their personal lives in a procedure known as severance. But when Mark (Adam Scott) is confronted by a colleague outside of work, this meeting sets off a chain of events that unravels the hidden conspiracies lurking within Lumon.
Where Interior Chinatown critiques the dehumanizing treatment of Asian characters in the media (and society), Severancesimilarly delves into the struggles of fractured identities and forced societal conformity. Extremely well written and wonderfully brought to life by its brilliant ensemble cast, viewers will find it hard to shake off its haunting nature as you're often put on edge by its many eerie twists and turns. Keep an eye out for season 2.
Release Date February 18, 2022
Seasons 1
Creator
Writers Dan Erickson
5 'American Born Chinese' (2023)
Created by Kelvin Yu
Image via Disney+
Jin Wang (Ben Wang) is your typical teenager trying to balance his school and home life, while also trying to figure out his identity (especially being a Chinese-American student in a predominantly white American community). But upon meeting a new student on the first day of the school year, Jin becomes unwittingly caught in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.
Exploring the tension between individual identities and cultural expectations, American Born Chinese mirrors Interior Chinatown's philosophical themes, only through the lens of a heart-warming coming-of-age tale. And with a stellar cast and many visually stunning action sequences, it also follows the show's coat-tails by grounding its storytelling in larger-than-life metaphors and subliminal messaging. Ke Huy Quan also makes an appearance with a character arc that is very much in tandem with the core heart of Interior Chinatown. That alone is the cause of many tears.
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American Born Chinese
Release Date May 24, 2023
Seasons 1
Creator
Writers Kelvin Yu
4 'Black Mirror' (2011-Present)
Created by Charlie Brooker
Image via Netflix
Exploring the dark side of technology and its immense impact on society, each episode of this anthology series is set in a dystopic future that often provides a sharp commentary on the modern world. Constantly mixing the genres of drama, psychological horror, and satire, it's definitely an emotional ride.
It also goes without saying that Black Mirrorisn't exactly the show to watch when you want to relax and ease your mind. Indeed, with every episode, audiences are left spiraling in an existential crisis as each story holds an ugly mirror that distorts and exaggerates our fears and aspirations. Where most episodes do align with the heavy-hitting themes of Interior Chinatown, one episode that reflects it the most is season 6's memorable "Joan is Awful" – an episode that masterfully explores how society is prone to reducing individuals (and characters) to stereotypes and caricatures.
Release Date December 4, 2011
Seasons 5
Rating
3 'Kevin Can F**k Himself' (2021-2022)
Created by Valerie Armstrong
Image via AMC Studios
Struggling to redefine her life as she's trapped in an unhappy marriage with her man-child of a husband, Allison McRobert's (Annie Murphy) world view begins to shift in perspective. Seen as a typical sitcom wife whenever she's with Kevin (Eric Petersen), as seen stylistically by the multi-cam visuals and canned laughter, all this changes when she's by herself, as the show transforms into a gritty single-cam drama, highlighting her desire for independence and freedom.
Innovative, meta, and oh so confronting – Kevin Can F**k Himselfis a program predicated on subverting stereotypes, whether it be gender, genre, or narrative based. Lead by the talents of the brilliant Murphy, it seems that she loves a good reality-tripping, existential-inducing show. And why wouldn't she? This is a show that is equally captivating in its writing as it is visually appealing. And with a plot that centers around one desperately trying to reclaim their identity, any and all Interior Chinatown fans will be intrigued.
Release Date June 13, 2021
Cast Brian Howe , Alex Bonifer , Mary Hollis Inboden , Eric Petersen , Raymond Lee , Annie Murphy
Seasons 2
2 'WandaVision' (2021)
Created by Jac Schaeffer
Image via Disney+
Living an idyllic life in the suburbs of Westview New Jersey, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are your typical sitcom spouses – happy and in love with their growing family. But soon enough, reality begins to close in and life isn't what it seems. Something strange is going on in Westview, and all fingers point towards Wanda.
For some viewers of Interior Chinatown, it may have taken a while for them to realize the intense meta layers of the show. But once it clicked, boy does it make the show so much more compelling. Of course, this form of storytelling is obviously seen in Marvel's beloved Disney+ show, WandaVision – a show that utilizes the structure of sitcoms to explore the depths of grief and control. Thrilling, comedic, and incredibly poignant, WandaVision has everything a show could ever want. Best of all, it needn't require prior knowledge of Marvel's immense tapestry. Sure, it would help, but it still remains to be a universally powerful story of loss and love.
Release Date January 15, 2021
Seasons 1
Creator Jac Schaeffer
Main Genre Drama
1 'The Brothers Sun' (2024)
Created by Byron Wu and Brad Falchuk
Image via Netflix
Having just settled in his role as a ruthless killer, Charles Sun (Justin Chien) – the eldest son of a powerful Taiwanese triad – must travel to Los Angeles to protect the rest of his family after his father is shot by an assassin. Reuniting with his mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh), and younger brother, Bruce (Sam Li), Charles' mission gets a little complicated when it's revealed that Bruce has been shielded from his family's criminal history.
Where Interior Chinatown ropes you in with its mind-bending premise and heart-pumping action, at its core, it's really a show about human nature and the strength of familial bonds (especially in the context of the Asian experience). This is something similarly shared withThe Brothers Sun, as it's also a show that delves into the intersections of family, identity, and cultural heritage – all the while thrilling you with its violent action. Unfortunately, you'll have to experience the show knowing that it's been added to the hefty list of Netflix's one-season cancelations. Big boo on that decision as The Brothers Sun truly had the potential to thrive, even more than it already did.
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The Brothers Sun
Release Date January 4, 2024
CastMichelle Yeoh , Justin Chien , Sam Song Li , Highdee Kuan , Joon Lee , Alice Hewkin , Madison Hu , Rodney To
Seasons 1
Creator
Writers Byron Wu , Brad Falchuk
Interior Chinatown can be streamed on Hulu in the U.S.
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