Ali Wong's new show uses Chinese folklore demons to show how scary adolescence is
Ali Wong's new Netflix show, “Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld,” revolves around Chinese American teen Jentry Chau, who’s learning how to wield her fire-starting powers, while trying to fit in at her quintessential American high school.
Star Ali Wong and creator Echo Wu say their new animated series uses threatening monsters from Chinese folklore to represent how frightening adolescence truly is.
The show, “Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld,” revolves around Chinese American teen Jentry Chau, voiced by Wong, who’s learning how to wield her fire-starting powers, which she has long suppressed while trying to fit in at her quintessential American high school. Wu said that though Jentry is often tussling with supernatural beings throughout the show, from demon kings to other hellish monsters, none compare to her struggles as a kid who’s trying to fit in.
“The feeling of being a teenager is so confusing. I think that there’s not enough justice to really talk about it,” Wu told NBC News.
She said one of the themes the show tried to play with is that “being a teenager is scarier than the monsters that Jentry faces.”
“It never felt like Jentry was scared to do monsters,” Wu said, laughing. “She was scared to talk to boys.”
Rating: 5