As a prelude, I was born to a Chinese family in a metropolitan city in multi-cultural Malaysia, and have lived a good 4-5 years in Indiana, USA, during my college years; so I can definitely vouch for the authenticity of the nuanced experiences which the cast poignantly (and humorously) captures. I have some South Korean friends who aren't native English speakers, and would say that their accents are very similar to the ones of the Korean parents on the show.
My (2nd/3rd-gen) parents are somewhat like Appa and Umma (my dad kinda pledges pretty strong alliance with China and the traditional Chinese culture, even though he wasn't born there nor did he live there, and my mum's perennially anxious or excitable about the smallest of things and prides herself being modern yet full of proper...Chinese/Asian morals). I can't say that my brothers are like Jung, but I think we (being 3rd? 4th? generation immigrants) can relate with feeling displaced in a cosmopolitan culture that fuses both Eastern and Western values in rapidly changing modern times (e.g. Janet evidently speaks Korean poorly, and I have a freakish penchant for mastering the English language more than the Chinese language, whereas my brothers--and many other Malaysian youths--don't master any single language, not even their own supposed mother tongues).
Anyway, to cut a long story short, like what some of the reviews have said, it's refreshing to find a good comedy series that doesn't rely on cheap gags or laugh tracks, and delivers a very humane narrative so full of little slices-of-life that are completely believable to be based on real family experiences (although to really get it, you'd probably have to be from or live with an Asian immigrant family, or know many East Asians).
I laughed a lot (as in genuinely, MORE than mere chuckles; not even New Girl, which I also quite enjoy get this much from me). Teared up a few times, even. The show really touched my heart with its very thoughtful script, direction and delivery. Keep up the good work, team! Will recommend. OKAY, SEE YOU!
My (2nd/3rd-gen) parents are somewhat like Appa and Umma (my dad kinda pledges pretty strong alliance with China and the traditional Chinese culture, even though he wasn't born there nor did he live there, and my mum's perennially anxious or excitable about the smallest of things and prides herself being modern yet full of proper...Chinese/Asian morals). I can't say that my brothers are like Jung, but I think we (being 3rd? 4th? generation immigrants) can relate with feeling displaced in a cosmopolitan culture that fuses both Eastern and Western values in rapidly changing modern times (e.g. Janet evidently speaks Korean poorly, and I have a freakish penchant for mastering the English language more than the Chinese language, whereas my brothers--and many other Malaysian youths--don't master any single language, not even their own supposed mother tongues).
Anyway, to cut a long story short, like what some of the reviews have said, it's refreshing to find a good comedy series that doesn't rely on cheap gags or laugh tracks, and delivers a very humane narrative so full of little slices-of-life that are completely believable to be based on real family experiences (although to really get it, you'd probably have to be from or live with an Asian immigrant family, or know many East Asians).
I laughed a lot (as in genuinely, MORE than mere chuckles; not even New Girl, which I also quite enjoy get this much from me). Teared up a few times, even. The show really touched my heart with its very thoughtful script, direction and delivery. Keep up the good work, team! Will recommend. OKAY, SEE YOU!