Expats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone notice that Hilary only wears cream-colored outfits? Everything looks exactly the same.

I really can't stand Hilary's clothes and even my husband has noted that they are strange looking. She wears a ton of very tight, light colored jumpsuits or fitted blouses with tight pants. She is a beautiful woman but these clothes are not that flattering for her. They look extremely uncomfortable and impractical. I feel like they are trying to convey something specific with her costume design but I can't quite figure it out. Maybe the unsuitability of her life for motherhood (no mom, even a rich one with nannies, is running around in cream-colored jumpsuits and four inch heels all the time). Maybe her discomfort in her life? I don't know but for a show about wealthy expat women in a foreign capital, I'm sort of bummed that all we get are Hilary's weird outfits and then Nicole Kidman mostly wearing grief clothes (no shade -- she appropriately wears clothes that convey a sense of distraction and lack of care towards herself, same with her hair).

The most stylish person on the show is Mercy's new friend. I have known other young women from different Asian capitals who dress similarly and I always covet the look. They can make loose cotton overalls and combat boots look straight off a runway. I love it.

[Anonymous]

How is Hilary Beautiful? Wtf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is Hilary Beautiful? Wtf?

Np. I think she’s beautiful.

[Anonymous]

I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

My read on the ending:

Puri was supposed to get the morning off for her competition (she mentions to her friends that Hilary has given her the morning off for it). So Hilary asking for breakfast and being very hungover and saying nothing about it does not bode well for Puri going. I think the resigned look on her face indicates that she's not even going to try. It's really sad.

Regarding Essie, from her conversation with Puri about Gus and the family, it's clear she has a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the family and is genuinely worried about the kids (who she has helped raise for the last several years). Essie tells Puri that her kids are telling her she should retire and move back to Manila to be near them and her grandchildren, but that Essie hasn't done it because especially with Gus's disappearance, she can't bring herself to leave the family. Kind of in the same way that the family is having a hard time leaving Hong Kong without Gus because it feels like giving up on them.

I don't think Margaret was pressuring her, necessarily, but I did find it presumptuous that it doesn't seem to occur to her that Essie has children and grandchildren in Manila who it would become very hard for her to see if she moved to the US. Unclear how often she sees them now but from her conversation with Puri, it sounds like they speak often and are very much in touch. Manila is about 2.5 hours from Hong Kong and flights can be found pretty cheap. But from the US you are talking about a really difficult time difference and travel to see them would cost thousands. It is strange to me that Margaret doesn't even seem to have considered this -- perhaps to offer to pay for her to travel to Manila every year or something, I don't know. Margaret says she knows it's a big ask, but it's just felt like a bizarre myopia about Essie's own family, given what Margaret has been through with Gus. Essie would be leaving all her children and grandchildren behind. To not acknowledge that feels callous or at least oblivious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

My read on the ending:

Puri was supposed to get the morning off for her competition (she mentions to her friends that Hilary has given her the morning off for it). So Hilary asking for breakfast and being very hungover and saying nothing about it does not bode well for Puri going. I think the resigned look on her face indicates that she's not even going to try. It's really sad.

Regarding Essie, from her conversation with Puri about Gus and the family, it's clear she has a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the family and is genuinely worried about the kids (who she has helped raise for the last several years). Essie tells Puri that her kids are telling her she should retire and move back to Manila to be near them and her grandchildren, but that Essie hasn't done it because especially with Gus's disappearance, she can't bring herself to leave the family. Kind of in the same way that the family is having a hard time leaving Hong Kong without Gus because it feels like giving up on them.

I don't think Margaret was pressuring her, necessarily, but I did find it presumptuous that it doesn't seem to occur to her that Essie has children and grandchildren in Manila who it would become very hard for her to see if she moved to the US. Unclear how often she sees them now but from her conversation with Puri, it sounds like they speak often and are very much in touch. Manila is about 2.5 hours from Hong Kong and flights can be found pretty cheap. But from the US you are talking about a really difficult time difference and travel to see them would cost thousands. It is strange to me that Margaret doesn't even seem to have considered this -- perhaps to offer to pay for her to travel to Manila every year or something, I don't know. Margaret says she knows it's a big ask, but it's just felt like a bizarre myopia about Essie's own family, given what Margaret has been through with Gus. Essie would be leaving all her children and grandchildren behind. To not acknowledge that feels callous or at least oblivious.

I must have missed the part about her getting the morning off, that makes sense now. I felt her putting the dress back was akin to giving up on her dream.

I still don’t get Essie’s problem. She told her family that she’s coming home bc the family is moving. She didn’t expect to follow them. Then the question is asked if she wants to follow them. All she has to do is say no, I’m going home to my family. I was thinking she was torn by the $$$ since us wages would be much higher. But idk, seems like an easy out still.

[Anonymous]

Hillary is the worst. No empathy, no personality. Her mom is hilarious

[Anonymous]

I still can't believe Puri didn't gently remind Hilary of her competition. It wouldn't have been a huge deal and Hilary would have been fine once she remembered. That part really irritated me.

As for Essie, yes, I think she definitely wants to return to the Philippines and her family, and I don't think Margaret was pressuring her at all. She said several times that she understood what a big deal a move to the U.S. would be and that Essie should really think about it. I think Essie is just concerned about Margaret's kids, though I think she'll come to the conclusion that the kids are old enough now to not really need her. I hope she returns to her own family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why Puri didn’t simply make Hilary’s breakfast and then say “I’m on my way now.” Or not even make the breakfast and just remind Hilary of the competition. Good grief.

And Mercy’s new friend/girlfriend - what is her connection to the older woman and her son? Is she the daughter/sister?

Was this the final episode?

I think Puri was nervous about a conflict. She doesn't want to appear too demanding. Also Hilary seems unstable at the moment.

Mercy's friend is a classmate/friend of the guy who was going to the protests. No she is not his sister-- we see her in her own home with her family at one point. They have a conversation about an exam coming up and studying.

No, there is one episode left.

Oh please. She was just hungover. People are going overboard with the supposedly cruelness here. Puri could have readily have gone on her way to the competition. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

My read on the ending:

Puri was supposed to get the morning off for her competition (she mentions to her friends that Hilary has given her the morning off for it). So Hilary asking for breakfast and being very hungover and saying nothing about it does not bode well for Puri going. I think the resigned look on her face indicates that she's not even going to try. It's really sad.

Regarding Essie, from her conversation with Puri about Gus and the family, it's clear she has a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the family and is genuinely worried about the kids (who she has helped raise for the last several years). Essie tells Puri that her kids are telling her she should retire and move back to Manila to be near them and her grandchildren, but that Essie hasn't done it because especially with Gus's disappearance, she can't bring herself to leave the family. Kind of in the same way that the family is having a hard time leaving Hong Kong without Gus because it feels like giving up on them.

I don't think Margaret was pressuring her, necessarily, but I did find it presumptuous that it doesn't seem to occur to her that Essie has children and grandchildren in Manila who it would become very hard for her to see if she moved to the US. Unclear how often she sees them now but from her conversation with Puri, it sounds like they speak often and are very much in touch. Manila is about 2.5 hours from Hong Kong and flights can be found pretty cheap. But from the US you are talking about a really difficult time difference and travel to see them would cost thousands. It is strange to me that Margaret doesn't even seem to have considered this -- perhaps to offer to pay for her to travel to Manila every year or something, I don't know. Margaret says she knows it's a big ask, but it's just felt like a bizarre myopia about Essie's own family, given what Margaret has been through with Gus. Essie would be leaving all her children and grandchildren behind. To not acknowledge that feels callous or at least oblivious.

I don’t share this view at all. Essie is a much older women with grown children (or
maybe just the one grown child we’ve seen?). It’s not rude/clueless/cruel/whatever for Margaret to not be peppering Essie with questions about her kids (or grandkid(s) - and grandkids aren’t the same as kids in terms of one’s responsibilities anyway) or have that top of mind. People in this thread seem to be bending over backwards to find things to criticize about the westerners here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

My read on the ending:

Puri was supposed to get the morning off for her competition (she mentions to her friends that Hilary has given her the morning off for it). So Hilary asking for breakfast and being very hungover and saying nothing about it does not bode well for Puri going. I think the resigned look on her face indicates that she's not even going to try. It's really sad.

Regarding Essie, from her conversation with Puri about Gus and the family, it's clear she has a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the family and is genuinely worried about the kids (who she has helped raise for the last several years). Essie tells Puri that her kids are telling her she should retire and move back to Manila to be near them and her grandchildren, but that Essie hasn't done it because especially with Gus's disappearance, she can't bring herself to leave the family. Kind of in the same way that the family is having a hard time leaving Hong Kong without Gus because it feels like giving up on them.

I don't think Margaret was pressuring her, necessarily, but I did find it presumptuous that it doesn't seem to occur to her that Essie has children and grandchildren in Manila who it would become very hard for her to see if she moved to the US. Unclear how often she sees them now but from her conversation with Puri, it sounds like they speak often and are very much in touch. Manila is about 2.5 hours from Hong Kong and flights can be found pretty cheap. But from the US you are talking about a really difficult time difference and travel to see them would cost thousands. It is strange to me that Margaret doesn't even seem to have considered this -- perhaps to offer to pay for her to travel to Manila every year or something, I don't know. Margaret says she knows it's a big ask, but it's just felt like a bizarre myopia about Essie's own family, given what Margaret has been through with Gus. Essie would be leaving all her children and grandchildren behind. To not acknowledge that feels callous or at least oblivious.

It was an initial conversation! Surely that term could be negotiated later. Also, on US wages, a flight home to Manila per year is not that much to afford. Obviously she’s be staying with her family, too, it’s not that expensive.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but Margaret kind of sucks too. When Essie comes home, Margaret asks very warmly how Essie's day off was and then immediately becomes distracted and tells her to go change and then to get dinner ready. Margaret is like "you're family" but Essie is NOT family and us not treated like family.

I don't think Margaret pressured Essie to come to the US at all and I give her credit for explaining to Essie why she took the kids to meet Mercy that day and took responsibility for her own feelings of jealousy. So I don't think she's as bad as Hilary. But I think she is faking her warmth/kindness toward Essie. She wants to be that person, but she's not. Essie is just the help to her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

My read on the ending:

Puri was supposed to get the morning off for her competition (she mentions to her friends that Hilary has given her the morning off for it). So Hilary asking for breakfast and being very hungover and saying nothing about it does not bode well for Puri going. I think the resigned look on her face indicates that she's not even going to try. It's really sad.

Regarding Essie, from her conversation with Puri about Gus and the family, it's clear she has a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the family and is genuinely worried about the kids (who she has helped raise for the last several years). Essie tells Puri that her kids are telling her she should retire and move back to Manila to be near them and her grandchildren, but that Essie hasn't done it because especially with Gus's disappearance, she can't bring herself to leave the family. Kind of in the same way that the family is having a hard time leaving Hong Kong without Gus because it feels like giving up on them.

I don't think Margaret was pressuring her, necessarily, but I did find it presumptuous that it doesn't seem to occur to her that Essie has children and grandchildren in Manila who it would become very hard for her to see if she moved to the US. Unclear how often she sees them now but from her conversation with Puri, it sounds like they speak often and are very much in touch. Manila is about 2.5 hours from Hong Kong and flights can be found pretty cheap. But from the US you are talking about a really difficult time difference and travel to see them would cost thousands. It is strange to me that Margaret doesn't even seem to have considered this -- perhaps to offer to pay for her to travel to Manila every year or something, I don't know. Margaret says she knows it's a big ask, but it's just felt like a bizarre myopia about Essie's own family, given what Margaret has been through with Gus. Essie would be leaving all her children and grandchildren behind. To not acknowledge that feels callous or at least oblivious.

It was an initial conversation! Surely that term could be negotiated later. Also, on US wages, a flight home to Manila per year is not that much to afford. Obviously she’s be staying with her family, too, it’s not that expensive.

It's very far. And no, I don't think that trip would be "not that much" even on US wages. For starters I bet it would be hard for her to get the time off.

I don't think it's crazy Margaret asked but I think it's crazy Essie would consider it. She was already thinking of retiring. I think it's just hard for everyone because if Gus. They are all struggling to close the door on this chapter of this time because it's admitting that Gus isn't coming back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the newest episode. I’m glad we got to see the helpers POV.
It seemed like everyone got a little crazy during the storm and then went back to normal when it cleared in the morning. I’m confused about puri, did she miss the competition? They didn’t show it either way so I thought she could still be going? She just realized her friend was right - you aren’t friends with your employers. No matter how much she wanted it to be true.
And why won’t Essie just say no if she doesn’t want to go to the us? It doesn’t sound like Margaret is forcing it and knows it is a big decision. If she wants to go home so bad just say no, it’s kind of a perfect time/opportunity to break free.

My read on the ending:

Puri was supposed to get the morning off for her competition (she mentions to her friends that Hilary has given her the morning off for it). So Hilary asking for breakfast and being very hungover and saying nothing about it does not bode well for Puri going. I think the resigned look on her face indicates that she's not even going to try. It's really sad.

Regarding Essie, from her conversation with Puri about Gus and the family, it's clear she has a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the family and is genuinely worried about the kids (who she has helped raise for the last several years). Essie tells Puri that her kids are telling her she should retire and move back to Manila to be near them and her grandchildren, but that Essie hasn't done it because especially with Gus's disappearance, she can't bring herself to leave the family. Kind of in the same way that the family is having a hard time leaving Hong Kong without Gus because it feels like giving up on them.

I don't think Margaret was pressuring her, necessarily, but I did find it presumptuous that it doesn't seem to occur to her that Essie has children and grandchildren in Manila who it would become very hard for her to see if she moved to the US. Unclear how often she sees them now but from her conversation with Puri, it sounds like they speak often and are very much in touch. Manila is about 2.5 hours from Hong Kong and flights can be found pretty cheap. But from the US you are talking about a really difficult time difference and travel to see them would cost thousands. It is strange to me that Margaret doesn't even seem to have considered this -- perhaps to offer to pay for her to travel to Manila every year or something, I don't know. Margaret says she knows it's a big ask, but it's just felt like a bizarre myopia about Essie's own family, given what Margaret has been through with Gus. Essie would be leaving all her children and grandchildren behind. To not acknowledge that feels callous or at least oblivious.

I don’t share this view at all. Essie is a much older women with grown children (or
maybe just the one grown child we’ve seen?). It’s not rude/clueless/cruel/whatever for Margaret to not be peppering Essie with questions about her kids (or grandkid(s) - and grandkids aren’t the same as kids in terms of one’s responsibilities anyway) or have that top of mind. People in this thread seem to be bending over backwards to find things to criticize about the westerners here.

She has two kids. Her son is married with his own young kids (Essie's grandkids). Her daughter doesn't have kids and I think she said is not married? She said her daughter is focusing on her career.

I don't understand why people are missing so many of the basic facts from this episode. Was it the subtitles? People keep being confused about things that were explicitly addressed in the episode, and the one PP though Puri was the one applying for the helper job with Hilary's friend with the teens and the cheating DH. Are y'all watching the show or just glancing up occasionally from your phones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still can't believe Puri didn't gently remind Hilary of her competition. It wouldn't have been a huge deal and Hilary would have been fine once she remembered. That part really irritated me.

As for Essie, yes, I think she definitely wants to return to the Philippines and her family, and I don't think Margaret was pressuring her at all. She said several times that she understood what a big deal a move to the U.S. would be and that Essie should really think about it. I think Essie is just concerned about Margaret's kids, though I think she'll come to the conclusion that the kids are old enough now to not really need her. I hope she returns to her own family.

She said she would get paid US dollars. This whole show is the rich/wealthy vs the servant class and poors. Many come to America leaving their families behind because going to America is lucrative and they send $ home. I think the conflict wasn’t just Margaret’s family but also to make more $ and get to go to America.