Yu's novel often utilizes a screenplay format to illustrate Willis' job and how he has seen himself as a predetermined character in someone else's story, saying, "This is really a book about roles and how we play them, and how roles can often be very limiting or reductive." This speaks to the deeper implications of identity in a society that often stereotypes individuals based on their roles.
In a dreamlike sequence, Willis imagines the fictional detective from Black and White advising him, "Working your way up the system doesn't mean you beat the system. It strengthens it." This serves as a poignant reflection on the challenge of truly overcoming systemic barriers.
Willis, aspiring to more than his backgrounds, faces resistance from the industry’s superficiality, evident when his mother urged him to 'be more' than the Kung Fu Guy, underlining the struggle against role limitations that persist in Hollywood.
As Willis navigates his aspirations while grappling with personal and familial expectations, the series demonstrates how dreams can sometimes reinforce the very system you seek to escape, emphasizing the complexities of identity and ambition.
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