Speakeasy

Ronny Chieng walks onto a small stage in a dim Chinatown restaurant with a very clear, loudly declared agenda: to talk shit, make money, and bounce. Filmed at Chinese Tuxedo in New York City, this 2022 Netflix special catches the Daily Show correspondent at a career high point, fresh off major film roles like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Reunited with director Sebastian DiNatale, Chieng brings his signature exasperated energy to bear on a post-truth world, targeting everything from irrational skeptics to the mechanics of birth control pills, specifically how stomach bugs can lead to what he calls diarrhea babies. He spends a significant chunk of time baiting the crowd to cancel him, taking prolonged swings at British people, and trying to cure racism by asking the audience to decide which race is the absolute worst. While some viewers found the structure a bit too rambling and disjointed compared to his acclaimed 2019 debut, others appreciated the gorgeous, low-lit cinematography and Chieng’s unapologetic, combative presence. His ability to construct elaborate, tense setups, especially when he is actively antagonizing his own audience, remains highly effective.