An eight part British crime thriller drama filmed in Hong Kong with a cast including John Simm, Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Emilia Fox, Katie Leung and Dervla Kirwan.
While working his day job, Jonah Mulray (John Simm) receives news about his wife Megan Harris (Dervla Kirwan) involved in a car accident. Immediately flying over to Hong Kong to investigate the incident, his time in the cosmopolitan Hong Kong soon unravels mysteries in the government and more hidden truths he didn't know about Megan. In particular, the fact she was married to a native Hong Konger David Chen (Anthony Wong) and has a daughter Lau (Katie Leung). Jonah's world turns upside down as we follow his journey to find out the truth behind Megan's death and the corruption that lurks from both his fellow people and Hong Kong.
The murky cinematography gives the viewers a clear message that this mini series is not a comedy. It's dark and serious from start to finish. I will say however that Strangers does a good job with showing the stunning landscape of Hong Kong's high rise buildings and all round landscape, as well as including Pakistani migrants who resided in Hong Kong.
The script and general plotline were riddled with stereotypes or plot devices I often eye roll over. Killing off an Asian character for the expense of saving a Caucasian protagonist, Asian men being hinted as sexist or not as gentlemanly to name further examples. Another thing that I was hoping for but knew I wouldn't get was some visual eyecandy, even if it was subtle. The writers gave us a lesbian couple but couldn't add some handsome Chinese men...?! I do wonder what would have happened if Lau had been a male and was gay, would the creators have included the same kind of approach David had when he found out Lau had a new female friend/lover? Gayasian men being portrayed appropriately in the West is one of many traits that is lacking and let's not get into the Asian stereotyping for both genders. Are Rachel and Megan initially career-driven English women with killer looks who would do anything to get to the top?
John Simm did a good job with portraying a stressful husband who wanted nothing but answers to what happened to his wife and he works well alongside Anthony Wong who is just as in the dark about Megan too. Katie Leung as Lau was standard rebellious daughter trying to find out the truth (the cool Asian girl with highlight trope anyone? Or maybe that is a trope that many may not notice unless they squint hard). I also quietly liked the fact there were British Born Chinese actors cast here.
I appreciated the English subtitles when it came to the Cantonese dialogue. There were some instances where the subtitles didn't translate some sentences when they should have done so and instead gave us the [speaks in original language/Cantonese] caption where necessary. Luckily, there were some words I understood without needing the subtitles so that was a bonus.
OK...let's be honest here - this series was not going to be mind-blowingly good that it deserves an award. My radar sensed it from the posters in the papers and the summaries lurking in the media. But since I used to be quite a fan of John Simm's acting from the likes of Life On Mars, Mad Dogs and Doctor Who I thought I'd give Strangers a try and struggle for the next eight weeks. Plus, the fact it's set in Hong Kong and the cast includes veteran actor Anthony Wong Chau Sang prompted me to watch. Uncle Wong deserved a better role despite this being his first English speaking part.