Created by Lulu Wang, the 2024 series “Expats” is an adaptation of Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel, “The Expatriates.” The series delves into the lives of three American women residing in Hong Kong, each grappling with their distinct and profound existential crises.
Okay, so two new characters were introduced in Episode 5 of “Expats,” and I was hoping for something more concrete to come out of their sub-plots. If you were too, then prepare to be disappointed. However, in the larger scale of things, Episode 6, which serves as the season finale, was a poignant enough edition that puts all its focus on the primary protagonists—Margaret, Mercy, and Hilary—like it should have.
Margaret (Nicole Kidman) and family start preparing to leave Hong Kong, Hilary Starr (Sarayu Blue) flies to Los Angeles to visit her father who is in the hospital, while Mercy (Ji-young Yoo) grapples with the prospect of motherhood and the consequences that comes with it.
Titled “Home,” Episode Six stays true to its theme, delving into what home and family mean to each of the principal protagonists. Lulu Wang and the team capture various snapshots of life in Hong Kong: its daunting concrete buildings, bustling markets, posh sea-facing restaurants, and the never-ending stairs and streets winding around its steep slopes. There’s so much color and life that for a moment, you realize “Expats” could have been a lot more vibrant. However, it doesn’t fully capture the cultural melting pot and the differences these expats encounter in the city – that’s also because these characters remain in their own detached silos of emotions, grief, and personal interests.
Sarayu Blue finishes off the season finale strongest as Hilary Starr, who is ready to start her life afresh, minus her husband David. Sarayu delivers Hilary’s emotions and dialogues with iron conviction, from confronting her father over a rocky childhood to ending things with David and coming to terms with Mercy’s shadow in her life. Sarayu shines as the strong but flawed Hilary. Nicole Kidman is ghostly towards the end as Margaret, who feels reduced to a hollow shell when faced with the prospect of leaving Hong Kong; she equated the move to abandoning her lost son, Gus.
One of the most subtle and satisfying sequence in this episode is the sharp reality check served to Mercy by her new girlfriend Charly (Bonde Sham). Charly bluntly reminds Mercy of all her privileges, including an American degree (from a prestigious college that too), American passport, and tells her to stop using “I am cursed” as an excuse for all her pitfalls. Even though Mercy isn’t likable as a character, Ji-young Yoo convincingly portrays the lost, self-centered young woman, who prefers to run from responsibilities.
From the charming cinematography to the curated background music that accompanies each scene in the series, episode six of “Expats” is tense, well-paced, and introspective. All protagonists head towards a new direction in their lives, and there’s a sense of both hope and despair as the curtains come down on the last chapter of this series.
You can stream “Expats” on Prime Video.
Read Next: Bhakshak Review – Predators vs. Indie Journalists
Also Read: Wives and Daughters – Book Review (Audio Version Below)