Américain de Chine

This was so relatable and the awkward moments were worth watching. I cringed and knew every teenager was able to feel the pending disaster. I watched with the same feeling of "I can't watch this" with my hand over my eyes that made every John Hughes movie so great. It truly had moments from so many of my favourite coming of age movies but with action and special effects. I like that the parents are also dealing with some of the issues of self doubt and confusing cultural limitations that Jim is feeling. Confidence isn't conquered through popularity. It was always about self doubt and everyone is working on that their entire lives.

I was excited about this show as a first generation American, the premise was intriguing and captivating, but the final result not so much. I found myself bored throughout the entire first season and the big twist I figured out very early on. There was a sub character that served little purpose other than a menial support a side story/issue. I did enjoy the last episode, just wish a little more had been put into story to pull the audience in. Finally, the choreography and CGI should have been so much better, seriously this is a Disney martial arts show. I am hoping that the first season will have enough following that maybe mor money and effort will go into season two.

Born in China, working in the US, fluent in Mandarin. And i gotta say coming into this show i was very skeptical about whether they could tell the myth of Chinese gods well, and whether they could nail the mandarin dialogues. They did a pretty decent job. They even wrote some of the dialogues among the gods in ancient Chinese grammar (even i cant write those after studying ancient Chinese as a mandatory for 12 years from elementary to high school).

They changed Sun Wukong's origin story a bit. In Chinese myths, Wukong made a huge mess at the peach party in heaven, stole a bunch of peaches, and was punished by the Buddha by being buried under the Five-Finger Mountain for 500 yrs. He went on a quest to India for the Sutra after he got out, Eventually he was acknoledged as a god after taking on 81 obstacles along the way to India and got the Sutra.

Anyway, I am glad the story still took a nod to the old tale, with all the gods' names and story settings.

And the actors portrait of a shy american born chinse and a fresh off the boat native taiwanese, so relatable. They really nailed the nuances, well translating the thoughts i went through, looking up to white ppl, desperately trying to fit in, thinking my niches are too nerdy to be shared, the different mind sets and culture and etiquette...

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I don't think the Chinese in China will appreciate this though, because after all, this is in every sense, an American production. You won't be able to appreciate it unless you've been exposed to both cultures.

The monkey king is an iconic figure in Chinese folklore. All the monkey king ever wanted was to fit in (to be like a regular person). But he can't. He was born from a magical boulder (some said was exposed to a drop of Guanyin's blood) on monkey island, without parents, having an intellect surpassing any humans, but with the appearance of a monkey. He goes about learning, making mistakes, getting abused, and ultimately creating havoc in heaven. And it is then, that his real journey begins.

This show was never about the monkey king, or the bull demon. It's about the journey of an American boy -- fitting in in school, making mistakes, owning up, finding courage in difficult situations, etc.

They created new characters, gave monkey god a son, so that you could see and contrast some of the struggles the monkey god had gone through, but this time though, through the eyes of his son.

These are all new contents, new characters, new stories. Truth is, Ji Gong (the monk) was never a coward. The bull demon was never a real enemy to the monkey king (they were pals actually). And Sandy, was never a woman.

And most people don't even know that the main character in dragon ball was inspired from the very well known monkey king as well.

It's crazy how a show can get such average ratings just because of gen z sensibilities and anti Chinese sentiment.

It's pretty balanced in that it has old school slightly offensive comedy, loads of entitled teenagers protesting (but still willing to have an honest conversation even if my personal opinion is that their views are jaded and unhelpful).. Bullies that take jokes too far. A full range of attitudes that reflects todays society.

This show and the characters are well done and demonstrate simple good fun which reminds me of 90's/early 2000s shows.

The main character has to deal with the usual mild racism that depending on your view is all harmless fun or all highly offensive and the truth is that it probably lies somewhere in between. There's also the usual teenager angst of relationships, parental arguments, unique friends that don't fit in along with the draw of being one of the popular kids. Not to mention the fantastical quest for the escapism element, moral decisions and sacrifices that need to be contemplated.

Watch with an open mind and realise people are allowed to think differently to you and you might not give this an absurd 1/10.

(I'm only two episodes but but this is the vibe I'm picking up on so far).