Christian Asians on the Screen

[RDKirk]

So after watching "Fresh off the Boat" and "Crazy Rich Asians," it appears that only Asians can be both good guys and openly Christian.

 

[Not David]

So after watching "Fresh off the Boat" and "Crazy Rich Asians," it appears that only Asians can be both good guys and openly Christian.

Why do you think so?

 

[PloverWing]

I agree that it's a rare TV writer who can write sympathetic and believable characters who are explicitly Christian, or indeed who tries to write about religion at all. The well-written Christian characters I could think of were Brother Theo and his colleagues from Babylon 5, and Shepherd Book from Firefly, but I had to think awhile to come up with these, and neither of these shows is currently on the air, so that says something. Maybe writers and producers are afraid they're going to offend someone if they mention any particular religion, or maybe they just don't know how to write religious characters.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

So after watching "Fresh off the Boat" and "Crazy Rich Asians," it appears that only Asians can be both good guys and openly Christian.

I presume you mean the mobile phone scene - I did have to laugh that the passage they were reading was Colossians "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" and at that point they each get a text about Nicks GF and stop to gossip.

 

[mama2one]

.

 

[RDKirk]

I presume you mean the mobile phone scene - I did have to laugh that the passage they were reading was Colossians "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" and at that point they each get a text about Nicks GF and stop to gossip.

The family in "Fresh off the Boat" is also Christian.

 

[RDKirk]

I agree that it's a rare TV writer who can write sympathetic and believable characters who are explicitly Christian, or indeed who tries to write about religion at all. The well-written Christian characters I could think of were Brother Theo and his colleagues from Babylon 5, and Shepherd Book from Firefly, but I had to think awhile to come up with these, and neither of these shows is currently on the air, so that says something. Maybe writers and producers are afraid they're going to offend someone if they mention any particular religion, or maybe they just don't know how to write religious characters.

Babylon 5 portrayed religion quite honestly. One particularly good episode was one in which a family from a planet with a "Christian Scientist"-like religion was refusing to allow their son to be treated of a deadly-but-curable disease by the station doctor.

The station doctor insisted that the commander use his power to force the parents to accept treatment. Instead, the commander refused to get involved, stating that it was imperative for the validity of the station that all peoples be allowed to follow their own moral codes.

Interestingly, Babylon 5 was written by an atheist.

 

[RDKirk]

Why do you think so?

Because both families are openly Christian, and it's treated as a matter-of-fact thing.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

The family in "Fresh off the Boat" is also Christian.

Are you sure? I've never seen them do anything overtly Christian in the show.

 

[RDKirk]

Are you sure? I've never seen them do anything overtly Christian in the show.

They've mentioned it in passing.