One of my biggest pet peeves with American television is that so many series ends on a cliffhanger only to be canceled with little to no possibility of ever learning what was meant to be. Instead, we’re left with emptiness and unanswered questions. Case in point, the Disney + series American Born Chinese.

Adapted from the graphic novel by American cartoonist Gene Luen Yang, the eight-episode series stars newcomers Ben Wang and Jimmy Liu as well as Academy-Award winners Michelle Yeoh and – one of my personal favorites – Ke Huy Quan.

Jin (Wang), who is struggling to fit in with his peers. When he is tasked with showing new exchange student Wei-Chen (Liu) – because they’re both Chinese. However, Jin, born in America, isn’t as in touch with his Chinese roots as Wei-Chen. He’s also got a lot going on in his life. A LOT: Girls, soccer, his parents are on the verge of splitting up, and in addition to that, he also has all the normal trials and tribulations that come with being a sophomore in the American Education system in 2024.

Beng Wang (Jin) and Jimmy Liu (Wei-Chen)

However, things take a turn for the strange and unusual when Jin discovers that Wei-Chen is actually the son of Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King, played by another personal favorite, Daniel Wu. He also learns that his new friend’s ‘aunt’ is actually the goddess Guanyin (Yeoh), and sinister forces are after the young man to steal his father’s magical staff – which he himself stole on his quest to find the mythical fourth scroll. Yeoh is fantastic in this role. She’s sweet, funny, and incredibly bad-ass.

Michelle Yeoh as the Goddess Guanyin

Quan plays an actor, Jamie Yao, who starred in the fictional sitcom Beyond Repair. Yao’s character, Freddy Wong (based on his character Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), is accident-prone and, by today’s standards, incredibly problematic. Yao wants to change that. Despite only interacting with the other main cast members in one scene, Quan’s character is highly integral to the story and – as Yao – is incredibly relatable and well-written. 

Quan as actor turned acting professor Jamie Yao

Throughout eight episodes, we watch Jin become more and more confident in who he is as a young man. He is vital to Wei-Chen and his quest, not just because he makes the effort to come out of his shell. We also learn that Jim himself is the fourth scroll, and in the end, the two boys, along with Jin’s friend Anuj (Mahi Alam).

Incredibly engaging, the series has everything: Magic, Mystery, action, adventure, and romance. Beautifully produced, it ends on a cliffhanger, where Jin is told that if he ever wants to see his parents again, he will need to help Princess Iron Fan (Poppy Liu) on her own quest. 

With a score – composed by Wendy Wang – it blends rap, pop, and classical Chinese instrumentation with seamless sonic synergy. It’s one of the best parts of the series. It’s incredibly epic. From start to finish, the 27 tracks released from the score (available through Hollywood Records) are incredibly engaging and masterfully constructed. Honestly, as far as soundtracks go, it’s probably one of the best I’ve heard. It is all the more irritating that the show was canceled after ending on a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER. 

I haven’t been this upset since Joan of Arcadia introduced Satan as the big bad at the end of season two, and then… NOTHING. 

That is one thing I do enjoy about television series from other countries. 90% of the BL series I watch were written as a one-series arc. There is a complete middle and end. Some series – like TharnType – get second seasons, while others –like Until We Meet Again or A Tale of 1000 Stars – get spin-offs or particular episodes. But Wester Television just ended. Some series, like Sense8 and Timeless, get saved and are closed out, but they are the exception, not the rule. 

However, the slight feels more personal when the series doesn’t get an ending and it’s on a paid streaming service. Netflix did the same to both Fate: The Winx Saga and Julie and the Phantoms. When both series had massive fan followings. But fan following doesn’t equate to actual numbers. Even still, the series is worth the watch.

More television reviews soon so…

Stay Tuned!