In December 2021, our tradition desk at HuffPost assembled a listing of “24 TV Reveals We’re Trying Ahead To In 2022.” One of the extremely anticipated sequence was Netflix’s “Companion Monitor,” starring former “Teen Wolf” actress Arden Cho. Since portraying Kira Yukimura within the critically acclaimed MTV sequence, Cho has appeared in NBC’s medical drama “Chicago Med,” the 2018 movie “The Honor Record,” and way more. However this might be her first lead function, spreading her wings as a authorized eagle.
Starring Cho as Ingrid Yun, a Harvard-bred lawyer working at a prestigious “massive regulation” agency in New York Metropolis, “Companion Monitor” follows Yun as she balances values, ardour, and profession. An adaptation of Helen Wan’s 2013 novel “The Companion Monitor,” the Netflix sequence is created by Georgia Lee and seeks to inform the story of “an Asian American lady attempting to interrupt the glass ceiling.” Nonetheless, tradition reporters Ruth Etiesit Samuel and Marina Fang discovered that the sequence’ lackluster capability to handle identification and marginalization — together with a mismatched plot — really eroded our pleasure for the sequence.
Ruth Etiesit Samuel: Upon seeing the trailer for this sequence, I’ll admit I used to be upset. For the reason that “Teen Wolf” period, I hadn’t watched Arden Cho in a daily sequence function in ages. When the sequence was introduced on Deadline, I used to be anticipating a extra severe, “HTGAWM” method — not one other story a few lady of colour caught between two random, medium ugly white males. Marina, you’ve learn the ebook “The Companion Monitor,” which the sequence was tailored and it’s supposedly heralded in regulation faculties, per the ebook’s description on Amazon. What are your ideas?
Marina Fang: Oh, Ruth. I remorse to tell you (and our readers) that I used to be disenchanted by this sequence. I don’t wish to spend an excessive amount of time on the ebook versus display screen comparability as a result of there are lots of methods to method variations which have their varied deserves. However general, I used to be underwhelmed by the sequence’ surface-level exploration of what the ebook is fairly centrally centered on: How race and gender and sophistication intersect in a hierarchal and structurally inequitable business like company regulation. It’s not that the sequence doesn’t get into any of that in any respect. However by foregrounding the rom-com plotline, it misses so many alternatives the place it may have gone deeper. Within the ebook, the rom-com parts are there however are much more secondary than they're right here.
Look, I like a superb rom-com! However I simply didn't suppose that was the fitting method right here. And even the rom-com plots weren't good! I used to be not invested during which one among these mediocre white males she’d find yourself with.
I feel there's a approach to bridge all of those completely different parts: make a enjoyable and entertaining rom-com AND get deep into the structural racism, sexism, and classism of company regulation. I didn't suppose this sequence did both of these issues significantly nicely.
I don’t imply to counsel this present is in any respect on the extent of “Emily in Paris,” however it gave me some “Emily in Paris” vibes.
Ruth, I’ve outlined some broad matters. The place do you land on them, and which of those do you wish to get into in additional element?
Samuel: Let’s begin on the exploration of identification and marginalization within the office, or the dearth thereof in a sequence that's allegedly about these matters. Watching “Companion Monitor” versus listening to and studying about it felt like a bait and change. The advertising and marketing feels disingenuous — and the story feels too colorblind to be about breaking the proverbial glass ceiling as an Asian American feminine legal professional.
Arden’s character Ingrid is a Harvard Legislation College graduate with six years of professional expertise at this agency and is so rattling naive. She genuinely thought her white bosses would do the fitting factor (Why would you ever imagine that at your massive age?) after getting used and tokenized time and time once more. Like, lady, STAND UP! The present doesn't legitimately grapple with identification till 4 episodes in. Furthermore, she’s virtually a facet character in her personal story and the wrestle for these very common white males turns into a focus. There are such a lot of extra attention-grabbing threads that might’ve been pulled — from respectability politics and the “mannequin minority” trope to her relationship along with her sister. I can't overstate how irritated I'm with the execution of this present.
I feel it will’ve been much more attention-grabbing to see her break the glass ceiling, whereas additionally navigating a aggressive working relationship along with her Black homosexual male colleague and unpacking what solidarity amongst folks of colour appears to be like like, privilege, and so forth. The rom-com simply appears so oddly positioned in all of this! What do you suppose?
Fang: Completely oddly positioned! And like I stated, it’s not that you could’t do each.
You watched the screeners earlier than I did, and I bear in mind you telling me that it will get higher about halfway via — and also you had been proper! Nevertheless it was oh so fleeting. With out spoiling, there are moments the place the sequence exhibits what it may have been and the substance it may have had! Nevertheless it’s actually restricted and buried in the course of the season.
Curiously, a number of of the main plot factors, the place Ingrid comes up in opposition to racism and sexism and realizes how tokenized she’s been, are pretty just like how they play out within the ebook. Some are barely altered or introduced in a special order. However for some cause within the sequence, they arrive out actually watered down and simply don’t land with the identical pressure. Partly, I feel it’s as a result of they're occurring alongside this uninteresting love triangle.
Ruth, you and I are each “Business” followers. It’s most likely due to recency bias, however I couldn’t assist however have “Business” in thoughts whereas watching this. This might have been “Business.” A wildly entertaining and riveting present that’s additionally a deep exploration of race, gender and sophistication in a company setting, all seamlessly woven collectively.
I do surprise how a lot of this stems from us anticipating one factor and getting one thing wildly completely different.
Samuel: HELLO! I needed that – or a Michaela in “HTGAWM,” Olivia Pope in “Scandal” second!
Nevertheless it felt just like the present was put within the incorrect order. From each a topic and plot perspective, simply fully buried probably the most attention-grabbing components. And I hate to be that individual, however I’m going to be that individual. I merely didn't perceive why everybody was so comfy with their associates dishonest on their companions. LIKE???
I used to be baffled! As a result of there was no cause for among the issues that occurred, apart from to offer us a messy “Emily in Paris”-esque storyline and create some faux-ambiguity for a second season. I swear Netflix can pay for its crimes. If one other community picked this up, it’d be completely different — and arguably higher.
Fang: Yep, I ponder concerning the Netflix of all of it. The manufacturing high quality may have had status drama vibes. Nevertheless it’s truthfully fairly mediocre. The aesthetic of the present is so one-note and bland. And the writing simply doesn’t crackle. This can be a minor instance, however there’s a scene when Ingrid’s finest pal Rachel finds out her consumer has died, and she or he says: “She’s useless.” That doesn’t need to be a written line. We all know primarily based on her facial features! Sure, tiny second, however I feel it exemplifies among the limitations of the writing.
Because the episodes progress, it’s fairly clear the present is being arrange for a second season (and Netflix’s head of drama lately hinted they’re hoping to resume it). There are a number of characters and plot traces that weren’t within the ebook, seemingly so the present can open up some multi-season storylines. And the final episode ends on a (not very compelling, I feel) cliffhanger. Against this, the ebook ends fairly definitively. Once more, it’s positive to depart considerably from the ebook and create extra storylines. Typically this works fairly nicely, permitting for extra depth than the unique materials. (Alternatively, generally you get a “Massive Little Lies” Season 2.)
With out spoiling it for anybody who may wish to take a look at the ebook (and you must), the ebook’s extra definitive ending helps the thesis assertion it’s asserting about whether or not it’s potential to alter these entrenched programs. However once more, the large downside with this present is that it lacks a transparent perspective. It doesn’t really feel prefer it’s attempting to say something substantive.
Samuel: The best way the ebook ends is such a much more enthralling and richer approach to delve into one other season as nicely! As a substitute of all these odd love kaleidoscopes — as a result of they’re barely triangles at this level — I’d wish to see Ingrid in her Annalise Keating period!
Fang: Sure!
Samuel: The reality is, I wish to love this present. I needed to, however I simply can’t. Like, sure, I wish to see an Asian American lady be wanted (although I’d just like the suitors to be enticing on the very least... to every their very own.) And sure, it’s so refreshing and much-needed to see a Black homosexual couple in love. And — as a result of a number of issues could be true right here — it felt a bit... trope-y to make his character in command of the luxe items division. And general, I’d just like the story to not be cringy. The dialogue felt compelled. The massive regulation attorneys I do know don’t willingly hearken to M&A podcasts to place themselves to sleep. It’s not soothing!
Furthermore, I do know individuals are making the case that POC-led exhibits ought to be allowed to be mediocre since we now have an abundance of horrible white tv — and I get that. Nevertheless it nonetheless doesn't erase how disenchanted I'm. I needed higher for Arden. I do know she’s immensely gifted and I needed to see her in her character performing bag.
Now that we’ve dwelled on the unhealthy had been there any redeeming components of the sequence in your eyes? It’s OK to say no, sis…
Fang: Lol. Every part you simply stated, I really feel so deeply. And sure, I'm a kind of individuals who has generally made the case that possibly the true mark of progress is attending to be mediocre as a result of there are such a lot of mediocre white exhibits that get to exist. The extra exhibits we get, the much less weight every particular person present has to hold. After which not each present will due to this fact be anticipated to be all issues to all folks. So possibly it’s OK that this one simply didn’t do it for us. However such as you stated, it’s disappointing. I maintain going again to the expectations versus actuality. This present had all of the substances to be an engrossing and juicy present. Nonetheless, to borrow one thing from a really completely different Netflix present, they had been overproved and underbaked.
Fang: So, do you have to watch it?
Samuel: My reply isn't any, however folks will anyway.
Fang: I say sure, however solely below particular circumstances: when you actually, actually alter your expectations and put together to principally flip your mind off. I do know, it pains me to say that.
Samuel: I second that 500%.
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