OPINION
Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
July 17, 2017
Volume 27 Number 14
July 17, 2017
ISSN: 1094-9453
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MY TURN
n Dmae Roberts
Summer viewing
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t’s summertime … And the viewing is easy.
Back in the day, when there were only three or
four television channels, summer meant rerun
time. Though I spent most summer daylight hours
outside, the evening meant watching replays or
perhaps sitting through shows I didn’t really
appreciate, but there were no other options. Read a
book, you say? Of course I did that as well. But I was
part of the TV generation, a low-cost way for
families to sit together after dinner, watch our
favorite shows, and talk during commercials.
The tradition still exists for families who have a
tight budget. These days, however, the era of 500-
plus cable channels in multiple languages with on-
demand platforms provides many options to satisfy
one’s television fix. In addition, there are also shows
and films that actually feature Asian American and
Pacific Islander (AAPI) talent. During the
primetime television season (fall through spring),
there are a plethora of options, but summer is fast
matching that number during a time of year that
was once considered a programming desert.
A good number of my friends have cancelled their
cable or satellite service and now rely on Roku,
Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV to view shows. With
these options, one is able to watch cable networks
and pay individually per channel. My favorites are
Netflix, which costs $10 per month, and Amazon
Prime Video, a service that is included with a yearly
$99 Prime membership that also allows free
two-day shipping on many Amazon purchases. Both
providers now create their own films and television
series. They have also brought more — not a lot, but
more — opportunities for AAPI actors and directors
to produce work.
Though Amazon is a great service for watching
international Asian films, its only television show
featuring AAPI talent is the high-concept,
Emmy-winning “The Man in the High Castle,” a
reimagining of the 1950s era had Germany and
Japan been victorious during World War II. The
show gives AAPI actors such as Joel de la Fuente
and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa meaty roles.
Netflix certainly places near the top when it
comes to offering more original content to AAPIs.
Besides numerous options for Asian-language films
and television shows, Netflix originals have
featured many top-notch AAPI offerings. The most
recent is “Master of None,” a co-production of Aziz
Ansari (who also stars in the show) and Alan Yang,
and the new film Okja, directed by Bong Joon Ho,
the director of the environmental-disaster
monster flick The Host, which is also available on
Netflix.
I
“Master of None” has evolved into a cinematic
masterpiece in its second season. Each of its
episodes play out almost as art films, especially the
first one — aired in black and white — which is a
take on the Italian classic film The Bicycle Thief. It
features Ansari in Italy and New York continually
breaking new ground with social commentary. The
recent season focused on Dev (Ansari’s character)
realizing he’s in love. Though there was criticism
his love interest was not another South Asian, I
enjoyed the handling of the poignant love story,
which allowed for an AAPI male lead to be seen as
an attractive and compelling love interest.
The “Thanksgiving” episode played out the entire
friendship of Dev and his lesbian best friend Denise
during Thanksgiving dinners since the ’90s. In it,
viewers witness Denise coming out to her family
and watch the family’s gradual evolution of their
acceptance.
In Okja, viewers see the marvellous young lead
actress An Seo Hyun and Steven Yeun of “The
Walking Dead” in a film that does the seemingly
impossible — combines a family film with serious
messages about animal rights, corporate crime, and
the ethics of genetically modified food. While I
wouldn’t recommend the film for anyone younger
than 13 or 14 years old, it could help create
thoughtful family discussion. For adults, it is
cinematically stunning, well acted, entertaining,
and a moving summer film.
What’s helpful for viewers who watch Asian and
AAPI content using online services is their interests
are noted and recommendations are suggested
about similar content based on past viewing. It’s
almost like voting. And in turn, the more
subscribers who view AAPI shows and films, the
more likely the companies might produce and
acquire more AAPI content.
So during the next few months when you come in
from the great warm outdoors and want to relax by
watching some shows, here are a few more Netflix
offerings featuring AAPIs. For families, I suggest
AAPI-starring films such as Moana and The Jungle
Book. Those who love international films and tele-
vision should simply enter “Asian” into the search
window to generate a list. For the sci-fi/fantasy/
action set like me, I heartily recommend program-
ming with AAPI lead characters such as “Sense8”
(an MA-rated wild international show), “The
Magicians” (Narnia gone wrong and adult), “Dark
Matter” (space opera with dark twists), and “Agents
of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (from the Marvel comics universe),
which features two, count them two, AAPI female
leads. Happy summer viewing!
Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication.