A Monkey on a Quest is the second episode of Season 1 of the Disney+ series American Born Chinese and the second episode overall. It aired on May 24, 2023.
Synopsis[]
Jin is pressured to make a statement after an offensive meme video of him goes viral.
Plot[]
Wei-Chen trains with Guanyin on how to use the Jingu Bang, as well as practice his English. He explains that he believes that Jin is destined to be his guide in finding the fourth scroll, but he has not told him about it. Guanyin insists that he befriend Jin by any means necessary even if he does not want to be. She then reveals that she bought a small apartment for the two of them to stay in and that she will be posing as his aunt.
Christine asks Jin if he will be asking about Soccer again from Coach Garrett, but Jin does not think it will be possible. She tells him that he will not be able to get things done if he remains silent, somewhat also indirectly talking about Simon and his work. Jin arrives at school where he talks to Wei-Chen, thanking him for the Kugo Ren action figure, but admitting that he feels bad for having it when his father bought it for him and insists that he take it back. Jin finally makes amends Anuj who comforts him over the things that have happened to him recently. However, Jin is made uncomfortable when the Culture Club, lead by activist Suzy Nakamura, makes a protest over the video about Jin, embarrassing him somewhat.
At work, Simon's coworker Patrick invites him to the break room to talk with their boss John who is in mid-conversation with "Bozo McDingdong". Simon attempts to get a word in about football, but John gets distracted by another employee, deterring Simon from speaking again. At school, Suzy tries to get Jin to make a statement about the video, but he nervously turns her down, which she interprets as him being afraid to speak up and gets Wei-Chen instead. Amelia and her friend Ruby talk to Jin and empathize with his predicament where he once again attempts to blow it off, only for the Culture Club to make a demonstration in the cafeteria about Jin and out Greg as the culprit behind the video.
Simon is sitting in his car listening to Bon Jovi when John comes by to speak to him. Amused by his interests, John shows him a photo of himself when he was younger dressed as Bon Jovi and they click. Greg approaches Jin by telling him that he sees potential in him and plans to talk to the coach about him joining the soccer team by subliminally bribing him into saying nice things about him. Jin instead goes straight to Coach Garrett to ask for another chance and he sets him with cleaning up the equipment room in exchange for talking about it. Elsewhere, Wei-Chen realizes that Zhu Bajie, Pigsy, is in the school. Simon continues bonding with John over Bon Jovi and tries to ask about a promotion, only to learn that he is retiring in a month.
Wei-Chen finds Jin and ask that he take the Kugo Ren action figure back, but he refuses, admitting that he is angry for being called out publicly. Wei-Chen attempts to help, but accidentally knocks over the equipment, destroying much of the equipment room. Jin goes home that day feeling that nothing has been going as he had hoped that year. The next day, he tells Suzy that he will make a statement, however, it is of him telling everyone that he is okay with the video and that Greg is a nice person, disappointing her. Simon later informs Christine that it is too late for him to ask for a promotion due to John leaving, but Christine believes that this is instead an opportunity for him to get the new position. Simon cannot bring himself to vie for the job.
Jin speaks with Coach Garrett who informs him that due to a misplaced fire extinguisher, the district will be paying for a new equipment room rather than the school itself and tells him that he is now on the soccer team thanks to good word of mouth. Jin is later confronted by Suzy who scolds him for giving in to Greg's bribe in favor of a spot on the soccer team. While she criticizes him for his practice, she commends him for his honesty. Jin finds out that Wei-Chen snuck the Kugo Ren action figure in his backpack again and goes to return it to him.
Wei-Chen confronts Zhu Bajie who is searching for the Jingu Bang, as well as feasting on the snacks he finds, and the two of them battle in the kitchen in the school. Jin hears the commotion and enters, only for Wei-Chen to accidentally send Bajie straight into Jin and knocking him out. Wei-Chen convinces Bajie to go back home as he checks on a dazed Jin.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Ben Wang as Jin Wang
- Yeo Yann Yann as Christine Wang
- Chin Han as Simon Wang
- Ke Huy Quan as Jamie Yao/Freddy Wong (credit only)
- Jim Liu as Wei-Chen
- Sydney Taylor as Amelia Taylor
- Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong
- Michelle Yeoh as Guanyin
Guest Starring[]
- Mahi Alam as Anuj
- Larry Bates as Coach Garrett
- Stony Blyden as Andy
- David Bloom as Josh
- Justin Jarzombek as Travis
- Sophie Reynolds as Ruby
- Brian Le as Zhu Bajie/Pigsy
- Rosalie Chiang as Suzy Nakamura
- Ethan Rich as Greg
- Andrew Leeds as Patrick
- Tim Bagley as John
Co-starring[]
- Michael Carbonaro as Douchebag Co-Worker
Gallery[]
Promotional stills[]
Trivia[]
- The title is said by Guanyin to Wei-Chen about his goal for the season.
- Guanyin asks why Wei-Chen and his father insist on sticking things in their ear.
- Throughout the original Journey to the West, Sun Wukong would shrink his Jingu Bang and stick it in his ear for safekeeping.
- While back in the 1500s, such a thing would be considered fantastically whimsical, today it would be seen as uncomfortable.
- Anuj references Grogu from The Mandalorian, referring to him by his nickname "Baby Yoda", and Vin Diesel's song "Feel Like I Do", which was widely seen as a very unusual track.
- Anuj also mentions the artwork of Swamp Thing by praising Mike Perkins, but criticizing the previous artist for making Swamp Thing "look like The Grinch with a bad combover."
- While not said outright, he was most likely referring to Kelley Jones.
References[]
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