Expats

It's impossible to evaluate the show because lead actress Kidman's features are so distorted by her over-use of Botox & fillers that, at least for me, it proved too distracting to watch.

Why doesn't someone who loves her -- husband, best friend, agent? (uh, maybe not) -- help her accept that aging is not a crime so she can get back to the varied & fascinating characters she used to be known for? Hollywood seems to be more accepting of women aging than it once was. Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis, all older than Kidman, are wonderful to watch.

Please Nicole, it's not too late!

What's disconcerting about the lower ratings from other reviewers is that most viewers probably don't speak Cantonese, Tagalog, or the several other languages that were featured in this series, which is why people find the series confusing to follow. In my opinion, the show was written for a very specific demographic. You need to know the HK culture to truly understand the series, the importance of foreign help, the wealth disparity between the rich and the poor, and the entire premise of why Margaret couldn't let go of Gus. It's a great series worth watching, but it also requires some learning beforehand if you aren't familiar with the HK culture.

The idea storyline revolves around domestic helpers (something that is highly common in HK's upper and upper middle class). Domestic helpers tend to bond closer to the children they care for (they are essentially au pairs but they also do the cooking and cleaning as well). And the fact that Margaret became jealous of Essie's relationship with the kids was what set everything in motion (including Gus' disappearance).

The series is multi-layered, complex, and is beautifully filmed. My favourite part is probably all of the background characters that have been introduced, and what each storyline symbolizes. I think my only qualm is the lack of closure for each of the characters, but what's beautiful about that is the idea that their stories aren't done yet.

So yes. Before watching this series, I think people need to be open to new concepts, new cultures, and new languages. If you don't, you definitely won't enjoy it as much as I did.

I really enjoyed this. Saw it advertised and put it on my watch list. Just the combination of ex pats and starring Nicole Kidman was enough to peak my interest.

This isn't a normal film, it's a bit special and because it's a bit special, not everyone is going to get it or appreciate the effort. The first episode was extremely slow but once you get used to the pace you can enjoy the cinematography, which not only highlighting Hong Kong but the intensity of shots and angles, many of which are subtle, clever and thought-provoking.

The cast were all brilliant. I really enjoyed the historical accuracy of the protests and also the lives of maids - this could be a spin-off drama! I loved the different cultures and languages.

The drama itself is about relationships, family trauma, tragedy, despair, love, redemption and hope. Without adding any spoilers the main storyline is very sad but beautifully made.

My only criticism, the scenes of a sexual nature and nudity really were unnecessary, I don't believe they added anything extra to the drama.

This show has a serious mood; there's no humor or excitement to get your heart racing. However, it does shed light on expat life, especially from a housewife's perspective, which hits close to home for expats like us. Reminding us of the good time there. It's heartbreaking to see everyone leaving Hong Kong now due to all the chaos. Such a fantastic city, and let's hope this show won't end up being the last historical record of its finest moments. The camera work is a letdown, though. It feels too confined and doesn't capture the true essence of modern Hong Kong's awesomeness. This episode clearly is just sets the scene for the story. If you're not into expat life or Hong Kong, it might be a bit boring. Farewell, Hong Kong.

This series is unequivocally above average and sadly the majority of the negative reviews come from kids who are expecting a fast-paced action as their attention spans are short and limited. Think people who flip through social media daily to watch reels; slow burners aren't their thing. This is a well written, well acted, well directed slow burner. The storyline is brilliant and it has me completely absorbed in it and glued to my seat wanting more. The only criticism I suppose would be that there are scenes such as the one with full frontal nudity that seem unnecessary. Other than that, an outstanding series and you can never go wrong with the infallible Nicole Kidman. A must watch!