Interior Chinatown: Willis. Wilis Wu. Show Only
December 9, 2024 7:01 PM - Season 1, Episode 10 - Subscribe
Willis tries to write his own ending.
The Painted Faces were friends of Jonathan and reveal that their lives are being watched. Willis flees when police arrive and calls upon Turner and Lana. Lana confirms that the company called Hulu is behind the strange events. An event honoring Lily's work is being held at the Golden Palace and the gang race there with Green also arriving. Lily quits Betty's team after suffering a moral dilemma. Turner and Green make amends and resume partnership, while Willis also makes amends with Fatty who started a relationship with Audrey. As the police close in, Willis and Lana race to the roof with cameras on them. Willis decides to tell his story, accepting that he is just a regular guy. Lana, who realizes that Jonathan was communicating within an arcade game, pushes herself and Willis off the roof where they both fall into a dumpster. Willis ends up in a purgatory where he happily reunites with Jonathan. All the events are revealed to be a script that Willis is writing. He is introduced to his new assistant, Lana, as this reality is revealed to be a show as well.
The Painted Faces were friends of Jonathan and reveal that their lives are being watched. Willis flees when police arrive and calls upon Turner and Lana. Lana confirms that the company called Hulu is behind the strange events. An event honoring Lily's work is being held at the Golden Palace and the gang race there with Green also arriving. Lily quits Betty's team after suffering a moral dilemma. Turner and Green make amends and resume partnership, while Willis also makes amends with Fatty who started a relationship with Audrey. As the police close in, Willis and Lana race to the roof with cameras on them. Willis decides to tell his story, accepting that he is just a regular guy. Lana, who realizes that Jonathan was communicating within an arcade game, pushes herself and Willis off the roof where they both fall into a dumpster. Willis ends up in a purgatory where he happily reunites with Jonathan. All the events are revealed to be a script that Willis is writing. He is introduced to his new assistant, Lana, as this reality is revealed to be a show as well.
I honestly was mixed on the Hulu joke, but it went along with the idea of characters in a story realizing they're characters in a story.
I appreciated that Willis found Jonathan, but at the same time, now I need a second season where Jonathan isn't a lost character. There's the opportunity for the show to jump from media to media, picking away at stereotypes and so on.
posted by Atreides at 6:50 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
I appreciated that Willis found Jonathan, but at the same time, now I need a second season where Jonathan isn't a lost character. There's the opportunity for the show to jump from media to media, picking away at stereotypes and so on.
posted by Atreides at 6:50 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
I found the ending surprising. I was expecting that being seen and having agency would mean breaking free of the we-are-in-a-show thing, but instead it meant getting cast as leads in a romance/drama? I don't think I was disappointed in the MeetCute conclusion, but definitely surprised.
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:29 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:29 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
This was so good! I absolutely loved it and have been waiting for the episode 10 post to brain dump all my thoughts.
Were Jonny and Detective McDonough just hanging out in the space between worlds, playing the arcade game for years? Did Jonny manifest the arcade game somehow, in both the afterlife and in the restaurant? No restaurant I've ever worked in had an arcade cabinet in the back area and there is no apparent reason that the mysterious HBWC corporation would put it there, even if they apparently own it.
I guess I wasn't sure what was going on with Lana either- I thought it was weird that she was previously dating Jonny, especially in terms of the timeline.
I love Fatty so much. All the white people lined up for a taste of Chinese Suffering. Carl giving him the reasons you suck speech while training for the mean waiter position was brutal.
All of the actors are so good, actually. Archie Kao is a long time crush. Diana Lin was excellent.
The Hulu joke made me laugh. I guess it's a good thing it wasn't optioned by Netflix.
Is there a sequel planned? My main issue with the ending is that the other characters are still stuck in the Black and White Chinatown, plagued by racism, crime, and gentrification.
The book (also so, so good) uses being trapped in the tv/media framework as a scaffold for a meditation on racism and the immigrant experience. In comparison the show I think actually softens the intensity of those subjects (although clearly that is still present) by trying to create some internal logic about how this world functions and an overarching mystery about Jonny.
posted by Missense Mutation at 3:10 PM on December 12, 2024 [3 favorites]
Were Jonny and Detective McDonough just hanging out in the space between worlds, playing the arcade game for years? Did Jonny manifest the arcade game somehow, in both the afterlife and in the restaurant? No restaurant I've ever worked in had an arcade cabinet in the back area and there is no apparent reason that the mysterious HBWC corporation would put it there, even if they apparently own it.
I guess I wasn't sure what was going on with Lana either- I thought it was weird that she was previously dating Jonny, especially in terms of the timeline.
I love Fatty so much. All the white people lined up for a taste of Chinese Suffering. Carl giving him the reasons you suck speech while training for the mean waiter position was brutal.
All of the actors are so good, actually. Archie Kao is a long time crush. Diana Lin was excellent.
The Hulu joke made me laugh. I guess it's a good thing it wasn't optioned by Netflix.
Is there a sequel planned? My main issue with the ending is that the other characters are still stuck in the Black and White Chinatown, plagued by racism, crime, and gentrification.
The book (also so, so good) uses being trapped in the tv/media framework as a scaffold for a meditation on racism and the immigrant experience. In comparison the show I think actually softens the intensity of those subjects (although clearly that is still present) by trying to create some internal logic about how this world functions and an overarching mystery about Jonny.
posted by Missense Mutation at 3:10 PM on December 12, 2024 [3 favorites]
He is introduced to his new assistant, Lana, as this reality is revealed to be a show as well.
Nitpicking here: I heard (and the transcript confirms) that she was described as the "new lateral" hire, but nothing about her being his assistant as far as I can tell.
[colleague] Willis?
Willis? Wu?
Hey. I know you're on deadline,
but if you have a second,
I want you to meet the new lateral.
[sighs]
[shoes clomping]
[♪ gentle music playing]
Willis.
Meet our new hire.
- [new hire] Hi.
- [gasps softly] Hi.
[Willis sighs]
Now that I've got that out of my system, just wanted to say that I enjoyed this immensely, and am a little bummed that I haven't seen it show up on any of the best tv shows of 2024 lists. It certainly is on mine! Wonderfully weird, loved the cast, thoroughly loved the send-up of 90's era cop shows, and enjoyed the heart at the center of it.
posted by creepygirl at 11:06 PM on December 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
Nitpicking here: I heard (and the transcript confirms) that she was described as the "new lateral" hire, but nothing about her being his assistant as far as I can tell.
[colleague] Willis?
Willis? Wu?
Hey. I know you're on deadline,
but if you have a second,
I want you to meet the new lateral.
[sighs]
[shoes clomping]
[♪ gentle music playing]
Willis.
Meet our new hire.
- [new hire] Hi.
- [gasps softly] Hi.
[Willis sighs]
Now that I've got that out of my system, just wanted to say that I enjoyed this immensely, and am a little bummed that I haven't seen it show up on any of the best tv shows of 2024 lists. It certainly is on mine! Wonderfully weird, loved the cast, thoroughly loved the send-up of 90's era cop shows, and enjoyed the heart at the center of it.
posted by creepygirl at 11:06 PM on December 23, 2024 [2 favorites]
This show definitely did not make a big ripple in the zeitgeist of 2024, and that stinks. When I brought it up with my peers, I got very little engagement.
posted by Atreides at 6:51 AM on December 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Atreides at 6:51 AM on December 24, 2024 [1 favorite]
I like the turn from 80s/90s cop show to meta postmodern workplace comedy. I hope someone gives Charles Yu money so we can find out what happens next time on "Standards and Practices".
posted by fiercekitten at 9:13 PM on December 28, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by fiercekitten at 9:13 PM on December 28, 2024 [2 favorites]
Loved this show. Loved that it didn't end up with them ending racism or gentrification or corporate malfeasance in some big Hollywood/TV ending. Instead, some people got a chance to tell their story.
posted by kyrademon at 12:42 PM on January 25 [1 favorite]
posted by kyrademon at 12:42 PM on January 25 [1 favorite]
I was thrown by the 'happy' ending that left them still trapped in a HWBC show.
But overall this was great! I loved seeing reused elements like the police chief dancing in the commercials etc.
posted by Acari at 3:00 PM on February 6
But overall this was great! I loved seeing reused elements like the police chief dancing in the commercials etc.
posted by Acari at 3:00 PM on February 6
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posted by mcstayinskool at 7:02 PM on December 9, 2024 [3 favorites]