Second Jen

Cast and characters

Development

Show creators Amanda Joy and Samantha Wan met on the set of the 2014 film Devil's Mile. Tired of auditioning for the same stereotypical roles, they discussed creating their own work.

Joy wrote the original pilot script, with Wan directing alongside Joseph O'Brien. The original spec pilot screened at Toronto's Reelworld Film Festival in 2014, as well as Toronto's Asian Heritage Month.

Joy and Wan stated that their show was originally rejected at an unnamed Canadian pitch contest. It later went on to win Best Television Pitch at NexTV L.A., before being picked up for development with Rogers.

Press

Prior to the release of the show, Tony Wong of the Toronto Star published an article declaring Second Jen groundbreaking in its depiction of two female Asian leads "as if we had already arrived in a post-racial world." This point was further reiterated by YOMYOMF's Erin Chew, who writes that the show is "breaking down barriers and ceilings."

Reception

Brad Oswald of the Winnipeg Free Press praised Second Jen, calling it "Sharp, funny, slightly cheeky and smartly in tune with this country’s diverse demographic mix." Oswald wrote that "while it’s fair to say that attitude plays a bit part in this likable series’ early success, there are actually several elements that make Second Jen a must-see production." Oswald also praised the strength of the cast noting that Joy and Wan are particularly "likeable and relatable" in the lead roles of Jen and Mo.

Susan Stover of Dork Shelf also praised the show for its showcase of Toronto, stating that "It’s nice to see a Canadian cast and crew actually doing a show in Canada about Canadians without being nauseatingly maplewashed." Stover noted the show's lack of production value, but wrote that this "adds, rather than detracts, from the charm of Second Jen. "

Toronto Life's Will Sloan complimented the show's light-hearted tone. He noted that, while "not necessarily laugh out loud funny," Second Jen is a pleasant watch, with strong moments carried by "the likability of its goofy cast, and the familiar streets, bars and houses of its Little Italy setting." Sloan also praised Joy and Wan's performances, calling them breakout stars.

Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail hailed the show as "A Laverne & Shirley for the Digital Age" as it stars "two sparky second-generation Asian-Canadian millennial women coming of age in an era so economically challenging that Laverne and Shirley would be crying in their beers instead of merrily goofing off at the bottling plant." In contrast, John Doyle, also of The Globe and Mail, panned the show, calling it "light, slight, silly and only occasionally outright funny." However, he singled out the talent of the creators, stating "[...] this is not to be hard on Wan or Joy. Both are good actors and both can write." He noted that "Joy in particular seems to be holding back something – some inner fierceness – in order to accommodate a slight, by-the-numbers comedy about dealing with Asian heritage and family expectations."

The show was also viewed un-favourably by Quebecoise TV blog, Lady Teruki. The website noted its disappointment that despite the two leads being likeable and charming, and good ideas bubbling under the surface, Second Jen had clearly suffered from broadening, dated ideas, and an obvious lack of trust in its creators. Another Francophone TV blog, Breaking News, offered a similar review, writing that a lack of comedic organization made the show mediocre, despite its intriguing insight into the second generation experience, and the undeniable chemistry and likeability of Joy and Wan.