Christine Wang

**Christine Wang** is a main character in the Disney+ original series *American Born Chinese* portrayed by Yeo Yann Yann. She is Jing's mother and the wife to Simon.

## Background

### Personality

Christine is a typical supportive mother and wife. She cares a great deal for her son Jin, whom she wishes to devote much of her attention to. While loving towards her husband Simon, it is apparent that she wishes for a better life and tries to push him to be more advantageous, showing that she is very active. This extends to her side business of selling herbs for her favorite herbal store, showing the fiery determination that she has and the trust she places in herself.

### Physical appearance

She is a Chinese woman looking to be in her early forties. She sports her dark brown hair in a stylish bob hairstyle. Her face is framed by two pearl earrings and she wears a necklace around her neck.

## History

### Season 1

In What Guy Are You, Christine accompanies her son Jin Wang to shop for new clothes as he is starting tenth grade. While he has his eyes set on an expensive denim jacket, his mother insists on trying on a much cheaper white hoodie that she found instead. He likes it, but embarrasses himself when he runs into Amelia Taylor, his classmate and crush, who simply smiles and tells him "Hot stuff". He realizes that it is due to a cartoon chili pepper on his jacket with this phrase and immediately discards it. Upon returning home, Christine ends up arguing with her husband, and unbeknownst to her, Jin overhears her and Simon Wang arguing about something. During dinner, it becomes apparent that Christine wants her husband Simon to ask his boss about something at work. While Christine believes that Simon should speak up, Simon thinks that he should just continue to work until he is noticed. Sensing tension between the two, Jin calmly tries to steer the situation away to something different. Afterwards, Christine comes to pick up Jin.

In A Monkey on a Quest, Christine asks Jin if he will be asking about Soccer again from Coach Garrett, but Jin does not think it will be possible. She tells him that he will not be able to get things done if he remains silent, somewhat also indirectly talking about Simon and his work. Later, Simon later informs Christine that it is too late for him to ask for a promotion due to John leaving, but Christine believes that this is instead an opportunity for him to get the new position.

In Rockstar Status, Christine is seeing her herbalist Ni Yang where she tells her that she has a headache due to her recent troubles. She speaks with Melly, Ni's granddaughter, and aspiring musician who reveals that their store is closing due to the lack of income and the increase in rent. Christine opts to buy a whole case of their herbs to be safe. Later while working at the church, she reveals to the other women the case of herbs and they offer to buy them off of her. While reluctant, she agrees to sell them. Soon afterwards, she gives the money to Melly while turning down having a cut, but Melly tells her that they would need more to stay afloat. When Melly reveals that they have a lot more herbs, Christine says her headache is gone. Later, Jin and Christine talk, and after he tells her that he had good day, she declares that she had a good day too.

In Abracadabra, Christine meets Wei-Chen and immediately takes a liking to him. She then shows him a green jade necklace that she owns that when paired up with an orange jade necklace makes it a complete set. Wei-Chen continues to spend time with the Wangs and Christine's friends, before they are unexpectedly visited by Ji Gong who claims to be Wei-Chen's uncle. Later, at the Golden Temple Christine is in a drunken stupor. Simon and Christine sing "Sweet Caroline" at the karaoke station, when Simon lets it slip to her that he did not get the promotion at work and that Patrick got it instead. Christine is disappointed, but Simon explains that he will quit his job and find a new one. Christine admits that this is impossible as she used up half of their life savings for inventory of the herbal remedies. Simon leaves dejected. Jin eventually comforts Christine and proceeds to sing karaoke with her.

In Hot Stuff, Christine insists on focusing on her drink business using the herb powder she bought, which she hopes to have it become her new business. Later, Christine and Simon both realize that Jin lied to them about wanting to talk, but are both amused by it.

In Beyond Repair, Jin begins to miss Wei-Chen and when Christine drives him to school, she tells him that she is going to visit her sister Elaine for a while. Jin suspects that Christine is separating from Simon, making him feel disoriented. Simon and Christine arrive to talk to Principal Finney, during which it is apparent that Finney has a set idea as to who the "Wangs" are like and makes inconsiderate suggestions. Simon finally speaks up and corrects her beliefs about them as well as how to pronounce their name. Jin is sent back to class while Christine makes it obvious that she is not leaving after all. As they leave, Christine thanks Simon for finally speaking up for them and he points out that they both have changed, but can be better people.

In The Fourth Scroll, Jin has a dream that he is on *Beyond Repair* talking to Jamie Yao as Freddy Wong, but is interrupted by the appearances of Christine, Simon, Anuj, and Guanyin. Simon returns home from work early to tell Christine that they should go look for the pendant together. They head back to the Golden Temple, but the manager acts cold towards them and they leave. They sneak into the basement where they find Sun Wukong who is alive, but greatly injured. They give him some of Christine's drink, along with the jar of green powder that Wei-Chen had given to Jin, and they part with Wukong giving wise advice to the two. Simon and Christine decide to go to Jin's soccer game while Wukong notices his son's handwriting on the jar. Later, at the soccer match, the sky begins to open up, just as Simon and Christine show up, and they are running out of time. Once Niu Mowang is defeated, Jin gets dropped off at home by Anuj, but when Jin enters his house, but his parents are missing. He is confronted by Princess Iron Fan who demands that he come with her if he ever wants to see his parents again.

## Quotes

* "Sometimes the things you hate are the things you need."
* "If you don't speak up, nothing's ever gonna change."
* "You are worlds clashing into each other. You are all the pieces merging into one."
* "I wish you knew how much strength you have inside you. You just have to unlock it."

## Trivia

* In the original graphic novel, Christine, who is unnamed, has only a minor role and does not have as well a developed backstory as she does in the series.

## Appearances: 8/8

* What Guy Are You
* A Monkey on a Quest
* Rockstar Status
* Make a Splash
* Abracadabra
* Hot Stuff
* Beyond Repair
* The Fourth Scroll