22/24
At the beginning of the series, Willis (Jimmy O
Plot
Prequel actor Willis Wu witnesses a crime in Chinatown while working on a TV show. As he investigates, he unravels a criminal network and lives the life in the spotlight he’s always dreamed of. Yang), Fatty (Ronnie Chieng), and Carl (Chau Long) watch detective Lana Lee (Chloe Bennet) on TV and discuss her possible ethnicity: Carl states, “She looks Thai;” while Fatty argues, “Dude, she’s obviously Korean. Get to know your Asians.” In fact, Bennett is the son of a white mother and a Chinese father. Early in her acting career, she changed her last name from Wang to Bennett (her father’s given name) after standing up to casting agents who said they couldn’t cast her as Asian or Asian-American characters, but her name ruled her out of consideration for white characters.
"Inner Chinatown" It’s different
Also… Within one episode I usually know if I’m going to stick with the show. After watching 2 episodes, the jury is still out. So what is this show about? The themes (so far) seem to be: what happens when we are personally defeated, how to offer support to others, and discovering our life’s purpose and potential. This highly stylized show is a mix of fantasy, satirical comics, and swanky Hollywood sets.
The combo will work for some viewers
For others, it will be sensory overload. Does this show go overboard in impressing and seducing the viewer? You decide. First, some positives: exceptional set design and lighting. Quirky and effective music sets the tone.
My favorite characters are Jimmy O
Overall, the cast is decent, but some characterizations fall flat, mostly due to the direction. Yang as Willis (the central role), his friend Fatty (Ronnie Chieng), and Jimmy’s father (Qi Ma). One big downside for me: the writing is uneven. There are some genuinely funny moments, but some scenes go overboard with physical gags. One example is when Willis tries to break into a building… and it drags on for way too long.
Give me a break!
Some small elements prove to be deterrents: the amount of stuff crammed into the dark houses of some Chinese characters is absurd. So they look like treasure hunters just because they live in an old, cramped building in a seedy part of town? Next up: the lead detective’s (played by Lisa Gilroy) heavy makeup is applied way too perfectly, highlighting the stereotype of typically attractive women in detective series. New season of “Silo” is one of the biggest TV and streaming premieres this month. Check out our November calendar for more!