OFWs in Hong Kong are key characters in upcoming drama ‘Expats’
‘Expats’ tackles tragedies, familial conflict, and OFWs’ lives in Hong Kong | Screencaps from the “Expats” trailer/YouTube
Class disparity, accountability, and victimhood persist in Lulu Wang’s upcoming drama, “Expats.”
Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s bestselling novel “The Expatriates,” the six-part series dwells on a close-knit group of American women harboring an interwoven tragedy in Hong Kong. They simultaneously deal with dents in their familial ties, causing them to grapple with their consequences and impending dangers.
Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman plays Margaret, who opens the “Expats” trailer with a gripping rumination: “I just sometimes want to be alone. Where I’m not somebody’s wife, not somebody’s mother. Where I’m not defined by tragedy.”
Throughout the show, Margaret will navigate the vibrant streets and corners of 2014 Hong Kong with Sarayu Blue as Hilary and Ji-young Yoo as Mercy. The longer they bond over family troubles and homesickness, the more they unravel about the truths and private affairs that haunt them.
The “Expats” trailer alone already promises a complex drama packed with twists, turns, and social commentary. Besides a showcase of Hong Kong’s spontaneous nightlife and cityscapes, the series also opens viewers’ eyes to OFWs and their daily lives as caregivers. While local media has already honored their stories in documentaries and movies through the years, it takes courage to put their voices on a global platform.
The trailer shows Margaret, Hilary, and Mercy communicating with Filipino house helpers who have caught up on their life-altering secrets. “We know everything about these people,” one character shares in Tagalog. “Things even their closest friends don’t know.”
‘Expats’ acknowledges OFWs and Filipino caregivers in Hong Kong
Screencaps from the “Expats” trailer/YouTube
Wang is at the helm of writing and directing “Expats” while Kidman takes charge as executive producer. After Wang lent her words and creative direction to the 2019 comedy-thriller “The Farewell,” “Expats” has taken her storytelling down a more daring and intricate route. Viewers can look forward to how the show will keep the conversations on power play and class divides going, especially among families away from home.
The series will have a two-episode premiere on Jan. 26 on Amazon Prime. New episodes will launch weekly until the finale on Feb. 23.
