Kim’s Convenience

Recently, I got so hyped for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings that I researched what other work Simu Liu has done. What I dug up was gem of a Canadian sitcom that I somehow missed.

I've only seen five episodes so far over the past couple weeks (it's application peak season after all) but I like everything I've seen.

The main contrast I want to make is between Kim's Convenience and (more popular) sitcoms such as The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and Modern Family. I've watched my fair share of the latter three shows, which were fine, but what made me sit up and take notice about Kim's Convenience are the relatable and authentic characters. They're not caricatures dropped into outlandish situations to generate laugh-trackable moments - rather, they're real people who could have been my neighbours in Canada while I was growing up.

Perhaps it's my own biased preferences that motivate this observation. After all, I also have a soft spot for Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, which is another "slice of life" sitcom carried by wholesome characters. Instead of following a mandate of pure comedic escapism, shows such as Kim's Convenience construct a window to characters and situations that are purposefully made as real as possible. Some could be funny, but it understands that not all moments need to be. Instead, it chooses to spend much of its screen time on everyday character interactions that often ring true.

That said, I've only seen five episodes so far. I plan to keep watching, but I don't know whether the quality will get better or worse. My research tells me to avoid the final and fifth season, but everything before that should be good.

Think of this as a preliminary recommendation. If you've ever wondered what growing up in an Asian-Canadian family is like, this could be a good introduction.