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Expats is rich people’s problems, and less Desperate Housewives, but more Desperate Scriptwriting, since in order to get to an hour each episode in the first two, there’s more filler in the script than there is in the botox on Nicole Kidman‘s face.
This drama looks at the people who accidentally cause deaths to others, which will have long-term effect on the families and friends of the victims, e.g. for someone who’s just fallen asleep at the wheel and killed a number of pedestrians, this drama states that people are only concerned with the victims, and don’t care to know anything about those that caused it all, whether accidental or on purpose.
But as we’re told in the premise, the lives of three women will collide at the opener’s birthday party, because they share something in common, but what is that exactly?
Well, for Margaret (Kidman), she’s living in Hong Kong, because her husband, Clarke’s (Brian Tee – Jurassic World), job took him there, but you start to get the feeling that people don’t really like her, and try to stay away from her… unless her Chinese family just don’t like Americans?
We also know that the pair have suffered something something bad happen to them, and before it was spelled out to us, I’d already guessed in the first scene. I’ll put it behind a spoiler header below, so you can avoid it if you don’t want to know.
In fact, within the first two episodes, she’s not happy with her lot, and those also not taking partial to her are neighbour Hilary (Sarayu Blue – A Million Miles Away) and waitress, Mercy (Ji-young Yoo), who’s employed at her husband’s party as a server in the opener, but as the second episode goes back to tell us about what went wrong in Margaret’s life, Mercy is also included being interviewed for the position.
Expats comes across as a bit too arty-farty, as everyone onscreen is richer than astronauts! Plus, Margaret looks like a mix of half-po-faced and half-psychotic, and how long before Nicole Kidman pulls a pose from “My Life As A Startled Bunny“?
This wasn’t available to review prior to broadcast, and when I saw the first two episodes which are available on day one, I could see why, because Expats is as bland as beige wallpaper.
And even if you’re desperate for something else recent with Nicole Kidman, there’s plenty more such as Special Ops: Lioness and Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom, so lately, you could throw a dart at everything on IMDB and be sure to hit something she’s in.
Plus, as you’re watching on Amazon prime, instead, check out either Harlan Coben’s Shelter or The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, both of which were very engaging.
Expats is on Prime Video from today. Three episodes are available on day one, with the rest added weekly.
Cert: 
Running time: 50-60 minutes per episode (6 episodes)
Release date: January 26th 2024
Studio: Prime Video
Format: 1.78:1
Director: Lulu Wang
Producer: Janice YK Lee
Creator: Lulu Wang
Novel: Janice YK Lee
Screenwriters: Lulu Wang, Alice Bell, Vera Miao, Gursimran Sandhu
Music: Alex Weston
Cast:
Margaret: Nicole Kidman
Hilary Starr: Sarayu Blue
Mercy: Ji-young Yoo
Clarke: Brian Tee
Daisy Woo: Tiana Gowen
Philip Woo: Bodhi del Rosario
Essie: Ruby Ruiz
Puri: Amelyn Pardenilla
David Starr: Jack Huston
Sam: Poon Pak Shing
Charly: Bonde Sham
Pastor Alan Mambo: Blessing Mokgohloa
Olivia Chu: Flora Chan
Brinder: Sudha Bhuchar
Gus: Connor James
Tilda: Jennifer Beveridge
Philena Song: Lesley Chiang
Jing Woo: Gabrielle Chan
Shellac: Elizabeth Ng
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.