At first glance, the new PBS docuseries Asian Americans follows the conventions of many history documentaries, interspersing archival footage, documents and photos with talking head commentary. Yet the five-part show, premiering Monday, unfolds almost like a prestige drama series, unspooling emotional personal tales.

The episodes center on individual Asian American and Pacific Islanders who lived through major historical events, and their descendants, who are often grappling with questions that complicate existing narratives about Asian Americans.

That people-centered and character-driven approach makes Asian Americans, the first major docuseries to attempt a sweeping examination of the diverse AAPI community, as informative for general audiences as it is for viewers who might already be deeply immersed in AAPI history.

Its not the sepia-toned version of Asian American history, as the series producer and showrunner Renee Tajima-Pea said in an interview. Thats not the real history.

The series could not be more timely, as AAPI communities mark Asian Pacific American Heritage Month while anti-Asian attacks surge due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The docuseries shows how its all a continuation of the same cycle of calling Asian Americans Americanness into question and a reminder that their existence in this country has always been conditional, from the Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 19th century to the racism and bigotry South Asians faced after 9/11.