Pop Culture Happy Hour
Expats
Feb 6, 2024
Nicole Kidman stars in the new Prime Video series Expats, created by Lulu Wang. The show follows the lives of three American expats in Hong Kong after a catastrophic event. The podcast discusses the disappointment with the show's failure to explore intersections of race, politics, gender, and geography. They also delve into the compelling storyline of Mercy, a Korean American character grappling with class dynamics and personal struggles. Other topics covered include distractions and tropes in the show, lack of character growth and likability, and acknowledgements to the producers and theme music.
20:14
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Expats fails to explore the political backdrop and dynamics of being an expat in depth.
- The portrayal of Asian characters in Expats suffers from regressive stereotypes and one-dimensional representations.
Deep dives
Expats: Exploring the Lives of Rich Americans Abroad
Expats is a new Prime Video series starring Nicole Kidman that delves into the lives of three wealthy Americans living in 2014 Hong Kong. The show, based on Janice YK Lee's best-selling book 'The Expatriates,' follows Margaret (Kidman), Hillary (played by Sorry You Blue), and Mercy (portrayed by Ji Young You) as their lives intersect and they navigate personal challenges. While the series touches on the political backdrop of the 2014 umbrella movement protests and the dynamics of being an expat, it falls short of exploring these themes in depth. The show also fails to fully develop the most compelling character, Mercy, whose Korean-American identity and class dynamics present fascinating storytelling potential.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
