I found this sitcom in my Netflix suggestions the other day. Kim's Convenience is a sitcom about an Asian/Canadian family living in Toronto. They run a family convenience store and their last name is Kim, thus the title Kim's Convenience.
The series originally aired on CBC before being streamed on Netflix. I have to admit, I really love all the international content you can stream on Netflix. It's great being able to watch hits shows and movies from all around the world.
IDK what it was about this series, but I just couldn't stop watching it. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it was filmed in Toronto. Growing up in Buffalo NY I was only about 2 hours away from Toronto and spent a lot of time there in my younger years. It was just an awesome city to shop, explore, and have fun. Don't even get me started on the raves! Toronto rocks! So, maybe it was the familiarity with the environment and seeing familiar places in the different episodes.
The plot, there really isn't one. For the most part, it was just the day-to-day lives of a Korean/Canadian family running their convenience store. Think Seinfeld meets Clerks with an Asian twist. I found most of the humor absolutely hysterical. I think a lot of the comedy had a kind of Seinfeld feel to it. Silly stuff happens daily, funny customers, quirky situations, and circumstances that spiral out of control.
The basic rundown goes like this. Mr. Kim and his wife run a convenience store in downtown Toronto. They have a beautiful daughter who's going to school for photography. The father and son don't get along but are trying to patch up their troubled relationship. The series pokes gentle fun at a lot of modern issues like racism, religion, social norms, parenting, and just life in general.
I found some funny clips on Youtube.
Appa is the father and star of the series. He's absolutely hysterical IMHO.
Umma is the mother. She's sly as a fox and has some hysterical takes on life.
Besides the fact that it was filmed in Toronto, I think I found a lot of the humor relatable growing up in a Lebanese/American family. There are just a lot of comical takes especially with the older generation in immigrant families. Older people just have a much different way of looking at things.
In this series the children are very Canadian and the parents are still very Korean but they're trying to fit in and understand the wacky world we're living in. I think in a lot of ways, we can all relate to the comedy and the issues that series takes on in each story.
Anyway, if you're looking for a fun sitcom with light hearted humor, I thought this was pretty good. I streamed 5 seasons over a 1 week period. I just couldn't stop.