I Was Surprised That Jentry Chau Vs The Underworld Went Past Ten Episodes, But Showrunner Echo Wu Tells The Character That Earned ‘A Complicated Ending’

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As a long-time fan of animated series, I must say that “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld” has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on me. With its unique blend of action, humor, and emotional depth, this show has managed to captivate viewers with its gripping storyline and unforgettable characters.

Below are spoilers for the first season of Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld, a new series that came out as part of the 2024 TV premiere schedule. If you still need to catch up, you can catch all thirteen episodes with a Netflix subscription today.

In the realm of top Netflix animated series designed for adults, it’s common to find them consisting of just ten episodes. Contrastingly, the latest series, “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld“, unexpectedly extended to thirteen episodes, a fact that left me taken aback since the narrative seemed wrapped up in Episode 10. Nevertheless, I managed to quiz the showrunner, Echo Wu, about their decision to increase the episode count, and her reasoning behind it resonated completely.

As a thrilled viewer, I’m excited to share that Jentry Chau and the Underworld, voiced brilliantly by Ali Wong, debuted its entire thirteen-episode season on Netflix’s 2024 lineup. For ten episodes, the storyline remained engaging as Jentry, a typical teenager, found herself grappling with her newly discovered fire powers to fight off demons from the Underworld intent on stealing them. Balancing her teenage life and demon-fighting adventures made for an unforgettable watch!

In Episode 10, a massive battle unfolded along with resolutions, deaths, and other developments. However, the narrative didn’t end there; it carried on for another three episodes. Initially, I was perplexed as it seemed like a self-contained story, but instead, we delved deeper into Jentry’s background, her mother, and the life of Gugu, her great-aunt.

I inquired from Echo Wu about their rationale for prolonging the narrative instead of reserving parts of it for a potential Season 2, considering it could have been another chapter in Jentry’s saga. Wu clarified that the primary motive was because Gugu was a complex character and she required a challenging conclusion to her storyline as well:

It seems crucial to me that Gugu received a resolution to her storyline as well. We were lucky to extend our story beyond ten episodes, so the final three episodes really feel like they’re tying up loose ends for Gugu. Without this conclusion, I felt the ending wasn’t quite satisfying enough for me. Given the complexity of Gugu’s character, I believe she deserves a complex resolution too.

During Season 1, Gugu’s character proved unpredictable. We had assumed we understood her past actions, but plot twists revealed otherwise – from suspected family betrayals to self-serving acts. However, her deep affection and concern for Jentry were consistently evident.

Ultimately, Gugu accomplishes her goal of rescuing Jentry by dividing the Moonie from the Mogui. Afterward, her spirit disappears, leaving Jentry alone. This moment is both sad and joyful as they bid farewell, enabling Jentry to finally depart from her hometown and embark on a new journey, according to Wu’s explanation.

It seems to me that Jentry’s story has come to a conclusion, allowing her to properly settle Riverfork and its associated problems, after which she can progress to the next phase.

In the finale, Jentry walks through a portal, which strongly implies that she’s abandoning her hometown and striking out on her own journey. Frankly, it gives me the sense that if there is a second season, it might delve into how she manages without Gugu, given how pivotal Gugu was in Season 1.

Regardless, I’ll continue to cherish the lively great-aunt ghost and the precious times she shared with Jentry. If fortune favors us with a second season of “Jentry Chau vs the Underworld“, I’m ready for any underworld escapades that come her way.

For now, I might as well revisit another fantastic Netflix series – perhaps give “Arcane” Season 2 a spin and ponder about Jinx once more. Alternatively, I can anticipate the forthcoming releases from Netflix’s 2025 lineup.

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2024-12-11 00:07