Expats

Expats

Watch in the UK

Watch in the US

Data provided by

7 / 10

1 Review

Rate this show:

7 Based on 1 Votes

10

0
9

0
8

0
7

1
6

0
5

0
4

0
3

0
2

0
1

0

Overview

Set against the complex tapestry of Hong Kong residents, a multifaceted group of women sets off a chain of life-altering events that leaves everyone navigating the intricate balance between blame and accountability.

Media

Expats - Official Trailer | Prime Video

Cast

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/lfW2cDigTcvuoe4k6UfCdGVE1R6.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/ieqbktfBwcHkeikMfNDW94Yffzp.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/dopiwKGjFiWYlC4Pi5U9NNVgbgr.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/zW1G9wSJ03iaSDToFxkMJaqGZLs.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

Creator:

Lulu Wang

Fist Air Date:

2024-01-25

Episode Runtime:

undefinedm

Production Companies:

Blossom Films, Per Capita Productions, Local Time, Amazon MGM Studios

Genres:

Keywords:

based on novel or book hong kong miniseries

More Show Details

Vote Average: 6.7/10

Vote Count: 112 Votes

Show Popularity: 6.4442

Show Status: Ended

Show Type: Miniseries

Spoken Languages: Cantonese, Tagalog, English, Spanish

Review

View all reviews

Insomniacs Reviews
- 04 May 2026 at 1:58 pm

7 Based on 1 Votes
10

0
9

0
8

0
7

1
6

0
5

0
4

0
3

0
2

0
1

0
⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY Set against the humid, neon-soaked backdrop of 2014 Hong Kong, Expats follows the lives of three American women whose worlds are linked by a single, devastating tragedy. Margaret (Nicole Kidman) is a mother of three whose life is shattered when her youngest son vanishes in a crowded night market. Hilary (Sarayu Blue) is a wealthy housewife whose marriage is crumbling under the weight of infidelity and her secret refusal to have children. Mercy (Ji-young Yoo) is a young graduate who carries a crushing sense of guilt for her role in the central mystery. It’s a slow-burn meditation on privilege, grief, and the invisible class of domestic helpers who keep the lives of the wealthy from falling apart. THE PROS This is a 7/10 because the atmosphere is thick enough to choke on. Lulu Wang captures the specific, transient feeling of being an expat perfectly—living in luxury but never truly being at home. Nicole Kidman is predictably brilliant, portraying a woman whose grief has turned into a dazed, frantic obsession. The standout, however, is Sarayu Blue, who gives a nuanced performance as a woman trying to claw back her independence in a community that judges her every move. The cinematography is stunning, turning the crowded streets and high-rise apartments of Hong Kong into a beautiful but isolating prison. THE CONS It misses an 8/10 because the pacing is a deliberate crawl that can occasionally feel like it’s standing still. At six and a half hours, it feels like it could have been a much tighter four-part series. The middle episodes dive deep into the lives of the domestic workers—which is vital for the themes—but it stalls the momentum of the central mystery just as you’re looking for answers. It settles at a 7 because the relentless misery and lack of a "traditional" resolution might leave some viewers feeling more drained than satisfied. THE VERDICT A solid 7/10. It’s a sophisticated, haunting drama that values character over plot. It isn't an 8 because the slow-burn approach occasionally tests your patience, but for those who want a deep, emotional dive into grief and privilege, it’s a winner. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller about a missing child, this isn't it—but as a character study, it’s top-tier. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Studio Swap: While much of the show was filmed on location in Hong Kong, the production had to recreate a massive, 10-stall version of the Mong Kok night market in Los Angeles due to COVID-19 restrictions. They even shipped authentic props from China to make sure the "LA Hong Kong" looked perfect.• Censorship Issues: Despite being set and filmed in Hong Kong, the show was actually blocked from being viewed there on Amazon Prime. It’s believed the brief scenes showing the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests were too politically sensitive for current local regulations.• Quarantine Controversy: Nicole Kidman faced significant backlash during filming in 2021 when the Hong Kong government allowed her to skip the mandatory three-week hotel quarantine that was required for all other international arrivals at the time. THE VIBE Like being in a high-end hotel room while a storm rages outside. It smells like expensive lilies and street food. It’s elegant, heartbreaking, and very lonely. It makes you want to hold your kids tighter, appreciate your freedom, and realize that money can buy you privacy but it can’t buy you peace.

TV Show Poster

Season 1

6 Episodes

Air Date: 2024-01-25

Videos

Expats - Official Trailer | Prime Video

Cast

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/lfW2cDigTcvuoe4k6UfCdGVE1R6.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/ieqbktfBwcHkeikMfNDW94Yffzp.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/dopiwKGjFiWYlC4Pi5U9NNVgbgr.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

<img src="https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300_and_h450_bestv2/zW1G9wSJ03iaSDToFxkMJaqGZLs.jpg" alt="Actor Avatar" width="300" height="450" />

Bodhi del Rosario

Amelyn Pardenilla

Will Or Wai-Lam

Related Shows To

Expats

Dutton Ranch

Dutton Ranch

7 / 10

Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton gamble everything on a new life in South Texas, but the promise of building a future far from the ghosts of Yellowstone quickly collides with brutal new realities and a rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire.

Stars: Annette Bening Cole Hauser Ed Harris Finn Little J.R. Villarreal Jai Courtney Juan Pablo Raba Kelly Reilly Marc Menchaca Natalie Alyn Lind

Good Omens

Good Omens

9 / 10

Aziraphale and Crowley, of Heaven and Hell respectively, have grown rather fond of the Earth. So it's terrible news that it's about to end. The armies of Good and Evil are amassing. The Four Horsemen are ready to ride. Everything is going according to the Divine Plan...except that someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist. Can our heroes find him and stop Armageddon before it's too late?

Stars: David Tennant Michael Sheen

Off Campus

Off Campus

7 / 10

Hannah Wells tutors hockey captain Garrett Graham to win over her crush. Their deal becomes real connection as they face their pasts. Friends Logan, Dean, Tucker, and Allie navigate college life and love.

Stars: Antonio Cipriano Belmont Cameli Ella Bright Jalen Thomas Brooks Mika Abdalla Stephen Kalyn

The Other Bennet Sister

The Other Bennet Sister

8 / 10

Mary isn't your typical period drama heroine. She is awkward, anxious, preachy, full of facts, a terrible singer, overlooked by her mother and seemingly destined to an empty dance card for the rest of her life… until Mary takes matters into her own hands.

Stars: Dónal Finn Ella Bruccoleri Grace Hogg-Robinson Indira Varma Laurie Davidson Maddie Close Poppy Gilbert Richard Coyle Ruth Jones Varada Sethu

Citadel

Citadel

6 / 10

What if you lost your memory? What if a spy didn't know they were a spy? Years ago, the top agents of Citadel, Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, had their minds wiped. But, they're called back to action as sinister forces emerge from the past. With the help of spymaster Bernard Orlick, these former lovers must remember the past to save the future.

Stars: Ashleigh Cummings Gabriel Leone Jack Reynor Lesley Manville Lina El Arabi Matt Berry Priyanka Chopra Jonas Richard Madden Roland Møller Stanley Tucci

Reviews for

Expats

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 4 May 2026 at 2:58 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10
THE SUMMARY
Set against the humid, neon-soaked backdrop of 2014 Hong Kong, Expats follows the lives of three American women whose worlds are linked by a single, devastating tragedy. Margaret (Nicole Kidman) is a mother of three whose life is shattered when her youngest son vanishes in a crowded night market. Hilary (Sarayu Blue) is a wealthy housewife whose marriage is crumbling under the weight of infidelity and her secret refusal to have children. Mercy (Ji-young Yoo) is a young graduate who carries a crushing sense of guilt for her role in the central mystery. It’s a slow-burn meditation on privilege, grief, and the invisible class of domestic helpers who keep the lives of the wealthy from falling apart.
THE PROS
This is a 7/10 because the atmosphere is thick enough to choke on. Lulu Wang captures the specific, transient feeling of being an expat perfectly—living in luxury but never truly being at home. Nicole Kidman is predictably brilliant, portraying a woman whose grief has turned into a dazed, frantic obsession. The standout, however, is Sarayu Blue, who gives a nuanced performance as a woman trying to claw back her independence in a community that judges her every move. The cinematography is stunning, turning the crowded streets and high-rise apartments of Hong Kong into a beautiful but isolating prison.
THE CONS
It misses an 8/10 because the pacing is a deliberate crawl that can occasionally feel like it’s standing still. At six and a half hours, it feels like it could have been a much tighter four-part series. The middle episodes dive deep into the lives of the domestic workers—which is vital for the themes—but it stalls the momentum of the central mystery just as you’re looking for answers. It settles at a 7 because the relentless misery and lack of a “traditional” resolution might leave some viewers feeling more drained than satisfied.
THE VERDICT
A solid 7/10. It’s a sophisticated, haunting drama that values character over plot. It isn’t an 8 because the slow-burn approach occasionally tests your patience, but for those who want a deep, emotional dive into grief and privilege, it’s a winner. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller about a missing child, this isn’t it—but as a character study, it’s top-tier.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Studio Swap: While much of the show was filmed on location in Hong Kong, the production had to recreate a massive, 10-stall version of the Mong Kok night market in Los Angeles due to COVID-19 restrictions. They even shipped authentic props from China to make sure the “LA Hong Kong” looked perfect.
• Censorship Issues: Despite being set and filmed in Hong Kong, the show was actually blocked from being viewed there on Amazon Prime. It’s believed the brief scenes showing the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests were too politically sensitive for current local regulations.
• Quarantine Controversy: Nicole Kidman faced significant backlash during filming in 2021 when the Hong Kong government allowed her to skip the mandatory three-week hotel quarantine that was required for all other international arrivals at the time.
THE VIBE
Like being in a high-end hotel room while a storm rages outside. It smells like expensive lilies and street food. It’s elegant, heartbreaking, and very lonely. It makes you want to hold your kids tighter, appreciate your freedom, and realize that money can buy you privacy but it can’t buy you peace.

Leave a Review Cancel reply