The Season: A Binge-Worthy Drama Worth Your Time
Warning: the content below includes thematic spoilers for the film.
THE SEASON is a thrilling drama series brimming with secrets, ambition, revenge, and above all, focuses on the value of family. Set in Hong Kong, this series follows an elite group of friends as their annual summer boating season gets turned upside down by a newcomer with a hidden agenda. THE SEASON is brought to life with stars Jessie Mei Li (Shadow and Bone), Chris Pang (Interior Chinatown), Yvonne Chapman (Avatar: The Last Airbender), and Justin Chien (The Brothers Sun), amongst many others!
THE SEASON had me glued to my screen throughout each episode. It almost felt like Crazy Rich Asians was crossed with a murder mystery novel, without having a murder to be actually solved! Every character had a unique agenda driving decisions that either led to their downfall or their rise to success. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the inner workings of Hong Kong’s boating scene while also getting attached to some of the complex characters. From episode one, it was evidently clear that not only were the characters each intelligent on their own accord, but also the real suspense was really witnessing how far one would go to manipulate, corrupt or blackmail in order to further their ulterior motives. Given the nature of the society in the series, it was also interesting to see how desperately and fervently the characters maintain their public facades in addition to taking on challenges with grace under the vigilance of prying eyes, something I’m sure many AAPI folks in particular can resonate with.
Image courtesy of PCCW Media
Personally, a big takeaway from this series was how the importance of family is so deeply ingrained into many Asian families. By the last episode, as all the drama came to a peak, this idea of valuing family above all, no matter what happens, was practically screaming at me in every scene. One woman’s motive for revenge was fueled by her dedicated love for her dad, while another woman chose to harbor secrets out of love for her daughter and support for her husband. With the high stakes punctuating each scene, it is painstakingly apparent that recurring familial motifs serve as the driving force for the plot, especially in highlighting just how far characters will go when their family is on the line. Having grown up being told that family always comes first, I couldn’t help but resonate deeply with this. And this is something that I still stand by and believe in, as I know I’ll do whatever I can for my family.
Image courtesy of PCCW Media
One small aspect of this series that I appreciated was a short highlight on Filipino culture through the eyes of Gloria, one of the pivotal side characters. As someone who works for one of the elite families, she is seen speaking Tagalog when giving directions to off-screen Filipino workers and while in prayer. When I was younger, I learned about the term “OFW” or “overseas Filipino worker,” which is clearly represented in Gloria and the other unseen Filipino workers in the series. OFWs choose to find work overseas in order to support their families back in the Philippines. That being said, most OFWs don’t often have the chance to go home in order to maintain their jobs, which is a sacrifice that they make for their loved ones. Though this isn’t a main plotline in the series, I appreciate the nuance that Gloria’s character adds to the story, and I think other Filipino American viewers may recognize it too. This also highlights how the Asian diaspora has scattered Asian communities globally, and these communities add culture and flavor to sprawling metropolitan cities like Hong Kong, where the series is set.
You can watch all six episodes of PCCW Media and SK Global’s THE SEASON, now exclusively streaming on Hulu in the US! This series will also be available on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, on Viu across markets in Asia, the Middle East and South Africa, and on Now TV in Hong Kong.
Have you watched THE SEASON yet? Leave us a comment or inbox us @lotus_mag on Instagram to share your thoughts!
