This article explores how the American sitcom Growing Pains first presented an idealized view of middle-class life to Chinese audiences in the 1990s. It suggests that modern Chinese viewers are now re-evaluating the concept of the American dream itself.

When the American sitcom Growing Pains was first broadcast in China in the 1990s, it was the first window for many in the country into American middle-class life. In the series, a doctor father, a journalist mother and four children live in a spacious suburban home with room for mistakes and second chances. While the show lightly touched on serious social issues, it projected a picture of health, stability and security. However, Chinese viewers have had a chance to rethink the show since state.....