"What Guy Are You" is the premiere episode of the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.
Synopsis
Jin Wang starts his sophomore year, hoping to make the soccer team and "level up" his social status, all while impressing his crush. But his plans are derailed with the arrival of a new foreign exchange student named Wei-Chen.
Plot
Wei-Chen, son of the legendary Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is being chased by his father through the Heavenly realms after having stolen his Jingu Bang (magic staff). Upon arriving at the portal to Earth, Wei-Chen disobeys his father and jumps through declaring that it is something he has to do.
Jin Wang, the titular American born Chinese, is shopping with his mother Christine for new clothes as he is starting tenth grade. While he has his eyes set on an expensive denim jacket, his mother insists on trying on a much cheaper white hoodie that she found. He likes it, but embarrasses himself when he runs into Amelia Taylor, his classmate and crush, who simply smiles and tells him "Hot stuff". He realizes that it is due to a cartoon chili pepper on his jacket with this phrase and immediately discards it. Upon returning home, it is revealed that Jin stole the denim jacket and overhears his parents arguing about something, hearing the term "fried squid" (Jin only knows some Mandarin).
On the way to school the next day, Jin reveals that during the summer he and his friend Anuj had a falling out at camp and it is unlikely that he wants to speak with him. This is proven true when he tries to talk with him at the entrance, only to get a cold stare. He goes to his new soccer friends he made at camp during the summer where it is shown that they are much rowdier than even Jin. He meets Greg, the varsity captain, who takes a liking to Jin and offers that he go to tryouts. Jin goes to his science class where he runs into Amelia and the two of them seem to hit it off.
Principal Finney, comes in asking for "Jim Wang" (pronouncing the last name literally rather than as "Wong"), to come and speak outside. Jin meets Wei-Chen, now in human disguise, that Finney ask be Jin's shadow because they "have so much in common". Jin is slightly embarrassed by the sudden change in events and even more so when his soccer friends assume that he is going to eat with Wei-Chen at lunch. Jin learns that Wei-Chen is a fan of Kugo Ren Saga, a manga series that apparently has more issues that have not been released in the US. They are later confronted by soccer players Travis and Andy, where Wei-Chen picks up on Travis being rather acerbic and confides in Jin that his "friends" are not great. Wei-Chen shows Jin the Kugo Ren action figure he has and the two connect over their parents with Jin mentioning the fried squid term. Wei-Chen tells Jin that he should talk to Amelia, though he admits he is nervous.
Jin returns home where during dinner it is apparent that Christine wants her husband Simon to ask his boss about something at work. While Christine believes that Simon should speak up, Simon thinks that he should just continue to work until he is noticed. Sensing tension between the two, Jin calmly tries to steer the situation away to something different. Later that night, Jin watches an episode of a controversial 90s sitcom called Beyond Repair which features a white blond haired character named Danny living in an apartment complex with a stereotypically Chinese neighbor named Freddy Wong who clumsily gets injured after exclaiming his catchphrase "What could go Wong?"
Jin wears the stolen jacket at school and tries to ask Amelia to hang out with her, only for Wei-Chen to ruin the moment where it is revealed that he also has the same denim jacket. Amelia agrees to hang out as "buds". Wei-Chen attempts to apologize, but a furious Jin tells him he is not his friend, runs into door, slides across the floor on a janitor's trolley and crashes into a glass display case which is seen by everyone. Jin attempts to sit with Anuj and it is revealed that Jin allowed the other soccer players during the summer to make fun of him due to him dressing up as a character from Naruto during one of their games. Anuj reveals that his accident has become a meme, associated with the Freddy Wong character from Beyond Repair.
Jin attends soccer practice where Travis makes a snide remark in reference to the "What could go Wong?" meme and during the tryout, Jin angrily jumps and attacks Travis. Coach Garrett tells Jin that he should try a different sport, though he is impressed with his kicking abilities. Jin apologizes to Wei-Chen about arguing with him and reveals the meme. While examining it, Wei-Chen discovers that it was not Travis who posted the meme, but Greg, the varsity captain. As Christine comes to pick up Jin, Wei-Chen tells him that "fried squid" in Mandarin is slang for "about to get fired". In other words, Simon is afraid of asking for a promotion for fear of losing his job. Wei-Chen notices an eagle and heads back into the school.
Wei-Chen is confronted by Wukong who demand that he hand over the Jingu Bang and come back home with him. Wei-Chen explains that he is searching for the fourth scroll which he knows is somewhere on Earth, though Wukong scoffs at this as he does not think it is real. Wei-Chen proceeds to use the Jingu Bang and fights his father through the halls of the school. Jin arrives home and overhears his parents arguing again. When the two start to yell at one another, Jin, having had enough, comes out of his room and yells at them to stop. At the school, Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, ceases the fight between Wei-Chen and Wukong and informs the latter that it is Wei-Chen's destiny to fulfill his mission. Wukong reluctantly subsides and Guanyin takes Wei-Chen away.
As Jin goes back into his room, he realizes that Wei-Chen left his Kugo Ren action figure in his backpack as a thank you gift. He opens to chest to discover that the robot has a second head resembling the classic Monkey King head. He places the action figure on his shelf as the eyes begin to glow.
Cast
Main
- Ben Wang as Jin Wang
- Yeo Yann Yann as Christine Wang
- Chin Han as Simon Wang
- Ke Huy Quan as Jamie Yao / Freddy Wong
- Jimmy Liu as Sun Wei-Chen
- Sydney Taylor as Amelia Taylor
- Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong / The Monkey King
- Michelle Yeoh as Guanyin
Guest starring
- Mahi Alam as Anuj
- Stony Blyden as Andy
- David Bloom as Josh
- Justin Jarzombek as Travis
- Ethan Rich as Greg Wallace
- Brian Huskey as Mr. Larkins
- Jennifer Irwin as Principal Finney
- Larry Bates as Coach Garrett
- Sophie Reynolds as Ruby
- Josh Duvendeck as Marty K. Morris / Danny
Co-starring
- Sam Dezz as All-American Teen
- Samantha Harris as News Host
- Lily Rosenthal as Emma
- Tori Keeth as Kristen
Song
- Beyond Repair Theme
Trivia
- The title is said by Christine to Jin when she asks about what style he is trying to go for.
Gallery
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