Mongkok, Episode 2 of Expats is the second of a pairing with episode 1, The Peak.
Hopefully, viewers can binge these 2 together, in sequence, to gain the full grasp of past and present within this character driven plot. Many reviews have termed this a tragedy, or examination in grief. Albeit I completely disagree. This is life, with this chosen setting as Expats, not Hong Konger's, they're surrounded by bustling busy bright examples of lives, loves, the businesses that drive the Pearl of the Orient. The balance of lighting, cinematography matches both the beauty and density of Hong Kong. An island nation that's both full of beauty and intensity in more abundance than non Hong Konger's particularly are accustomed to. Authors and filmmakers remind us these characters are in unfamiliar territory in every sense compared to lives they're more accustomed to or were born into. The filmmaker and author have woven together the challenges of daily lives centered around three women who emerge from dramatic circumstances to find their ways forward with this episode offering brilliantly lit flashbacks, set against dramatic subtly lit present day events. These three women, Mercy, Margaret and Hilary blend perfectly into the multicultural landscape of Hong Kong, on the exterior. With each episode these womens inner character is revealed somewhat as a slow burn for Hollywood viewers. If not for the absence of any cantonese dialect, the leaning toward European dramas, it's not certain they'd be seen as Expats. This story set in 2014, when both English and Cantonese remained listed as the official languages of Hong Kong. Albeit, in day to day life of Hong Kong it's difficult not to pick up some working knowledge of Cantonese idioms and phrases, the series weakness and obvious targeting of only English speaking audiences. Mongkok represents in filmmakers visual sense the idealized Hong Kong. The remaining market streets that once flourished throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Macau. This is an essential episode paired with The Peak to set the plot and move the dramatic tone for the series. This will likely be a career launching series for actress Ji-young Yoo.