The Fourth Scroll is the eighth episode of Season 1 of the Disney+ series American Born Chinese and the eighth episode overall. It aired on May 24, 2023, and it is also the season finale.
Synopsis[]
Jin and Wei-Chen must stop Bull Demon's plan to destroy Heaven.
Plot[]
Jin has a dream in which he is the handyman in Beyond Repair, the 1990's sitcom that featured the stereotype-riddled, catchphrase-spouting character of Freddy Wong. In the dream, Jin is visited by the goddess Guanyin, who explains that it was the autumn equinox, at which time Heaven and Earth are in perfect balance and a “gate” briefly opens between the two. Thus, Bull Demon has the perfect opportunity to launch his uprising, during the moment that the gate between the two realms is open.
Jin and Anuj find Wei-Chen at his aunt’s apartment, and in his natural monkey form. Putting their heads together, the boys suspect that Bull Demon is acting out a storyline from one of the Kugo Ren mangas. As they set out to deduce which specific storyline, Jin and Anuj find a comparison to a Fantastic Four comic in which the Mole Man attacked nuclear power plants from below. They surmise that Bull Demon plans to do same, using the Iron Staff to draw power from the Earth’s core,” at the soccer game that night.
Said soccer game is preceded by several school club showcases there on the playing field, including one for Anuj and the Cosplay Club. Knowing that Bull Demon has shapeshifting abilities, they can’t be sure who and where he is, so taking a cue from something Amelia said to him after asking him out, Jin decides to draw out their foe. Jin, Wei Chen and Anju cosplay as Bull Demon, The Monkey King and the goddess Guanyin, with the former making his character out to be quite sad, pathetic and insecure. Bull Demon, who is masquerading in the stands as biology teacher Mr. Larkins, takes the bait and leaps through the air and onto the stage, to clash with Wei-Chen.
Ultimately, the fight takes flight, with the two tussling in the sky above the field, all as the principal, soccer coach and others presume it to be an ambitious bit of theater and good special effects. All the while, the Iron Staff, thrust into the ground, starts to draw power from the Earth’s core. Despite repeated tries, Wei-Chen is unable to get free of Bull Demon long enough to remove the staff. Jin, meanwhile, after lobbying several heavy items at the staff, to no effect, flashes back to something his parents said during his dream. That he has to be brave, recognize the strength within him, and to just be himself.
Jin then charges at, and leaps atop, the Iron Staff, just in time to block and absorb its energy blast, and it turns out he was able to do so because he himself is the Fourth Scroll!
As the gate between Heaven and Earth closes, Sun Wukong resurfaces, apparently quite healed by Mrs. Wang’s co-opted herbal remedy powder to reclaim the staff and then disappear with both his son and Bull Demon, leaving the soccer field showing no signs of the celestial skirmish.
Arriving home that night, Jin finds Wei-Chen waiting for him. Wei-Chen reports that Bull Demon has been handed over to the Jade Emperor. He also affirms that it was Jin, not himself, who stopped the uprising.
“I still don’t know how I did that,” Jin shrugs. “Neither do I,” says Wei-Chen, “but I’m going to find out.”
After the boys hug goodbye for now, at least, Jin heads inside the house to find himself alone. His his parents are missing and instead is Princess Iron Fan who is the Bull Demon’s wife, sitting in the family living room.
Jin asks her who she is, and she counters by saying that she was waiting to ask him the same thing, but ended up getting her answer tonight. Thus, she she threatens him to come with her if he ever wants to see his parents again.
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
- 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
- Leonard Wu as Niu Mowang/ Bull Demon King
- Stony Blyden as Andy
- David Bloom as Josh
- Justin Jarzombek as Travis
- Brian Huskey as Mr. Larkins
- Sophie Reynolds as Ruby
- Jennifer Irwin as Principal Finney
- Poppy Liu as Princess Iron Fan
Co-starring[]
- Jen Kuo Sung as Larry/ Chinese Man
- Benjamin Royer as Warren
Gallery[]
Promotional stills[]
Trivia[]
- The title is mentioned frequently throughout the season as the main object being searched for by Wei-Chen.
- The boys consider that Niu Mowang is pulling a "Harvey Elder", who is Mole Man from the Fantastic Four comics.
References[]
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