In the new Netflix animated series Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld, The main protagonist uses the powers she has hidden for most of her life to fight demons from Chinese mythology. But Jentry (Ali Wong) isn't fighting these monsters in a big city like New York; All the supernatural shenanigans take place in a Texas suburb.
The Texas setting combined with Chinese folklore really adds a unique layer to Jentry Chau. It's an original combination that allows showrunner Echo Wu to delve into the specifics of both elements. The show's third episode, for example, ends with the Chinese god of death transporting the souls of fallen Texan soldiers who are taking the whole “Remember the Alamo” thing too seriously.
In a chat ahead of the show's release, Wu told Polygon that he drew inspiration from his own childhood for the show's setting.
“It's like a love letter to growing up in Texas,” he said. “I grew up in a place called Carrollton, which is like a suburb of Dallas. I really wanted to see something that could represent people who don't feel very represented all the time. I wanted to combine that with my love of horror, anime and Chinese mythology, but also with YA literature, like teen romance.”
The Texas suburb not only created some memorable backdrops, but also helped augment the show's themes. Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld begins when Jentry has to return to his hometown after years of studying abroad in South Korea. We learn that she accidentally caused a catastrophic accident with her fire powers when she was a child, one that most of the town believes was caused by an angry demon and still insists on years later. No one knows what Jentry was and she's trying to keep it that way.
Like most teenagers, Jentry just wants to fit in, but having supernatural powers that draw the attention of mythological monsters doesn't exactly lend itself to blending in. Especially in a small town.
“Generally [monsters are] destroying New York City or they're destroying big stages and stuff,” Wu explained. “Comparing it to the suburbs where everything is more mundane, it just makes it feel more amplified. And I think a teenager's worst fear is standing out in a way that's neither fun nor embarrassing. “Having monsters in front of that just amplifies what Jentry is going through.”
Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld is streaming on Netflix now.