Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens' Season 1 finale explains the seldom-told difference between Asians and Asian-Americans

Deadline

Co-creator and executive producer Teresa Hsiao says of the Wednesday's season finale: "A lot of the story is based on when Nora was in college and when she went to study abroad in Beijing. She talked about this idea of being Asian American — it’s hard to place yourself in a specific area. In America, you’re not considered American. Obviously, we’re seeing a lot that now which is really sad. In Asia, you’re not considered Asian because you can’t speak the language so you’re caught in this limbo. We thought it was interesting. We did it on purpose to show what it’s like when Asian Americans go back to Asia. That’s not something a lot people see or understand until you are in that situation. When we go back to Asia, people recognize us as outsiders. Many Americans look at Asians as all the same because they can’t tell where we’re from. There’s this feeling of alienation when you’re American in Asia even though you look the same as everyone else."

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