The shots/scenery of Hong Kong from the sea-view to the unusual perspectives of apartment high-rises are just two of the reasons this show kept me enthralled. Sure, the main character took risks that I'm not sure the average Joe or Jane would take, but his pursuit of the truth about his wife gave credence to his semi-stupid mistakes. Unlike a previous reviewer, I did not find the pace slow...it seemed driven to me, and I always wanted to see what happened next. I found the show well done and easy to watch.
87 Reviews
Straining my credibility
trademarcdesigns26 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
As I watched the first episode of this show, something vague was gnawing at the back of my brain. It wasn't until the episode concluded that I was finally able to put my finger on it - none of the characters had a normal emotional response to anything going on in the drama. It's as if the screenplay was written by a robot...
The Hong Kong family is apparently completely indifferent to Megan's death (and her bigamous lifestyle) - not even mildly curious - and the local authorities are treating a dead (and possibly murdered) English woman with a double life as nothing out of the ordinary. The only person who seems to be emotionally invested in this woman's sudden death is her "second" husband, and he doesn't seem to be overly broken up by it. And his desire to remain behind in a country he hates and play detective is unfathomable. He's supposed to be clever enough to realize some mysterious plot is afoot, but not clever enough to realize it might be a good idea to get outta Dodge?
I don't mind being asked to suspend my disbelief a little - after all, television drama is not real life - but this show is asking way too much of me. I may try to catch another episode in the hopes of seeing some improvement, but it's really a very slim hope...
The Hong Kong family is apparently completely indifferent to Megan's death (and her bigamous lifestyle) - not even mildly curious - and the local authorities are treating a dead (and possibly murdered) English woman with a double life as nothing out of the ordinary. The only person who seems to be emotionally invested in this woman's sudden death is her "second" husband, and he doesn't seem to be overly broken up by it. And his desire to remain behind in a country he hates and play detective is unfathomable. He's supposed to be clever enough to realize some mysterious plot is afoot, but not clever enough to realize it might be a good idea to get outta Dodge?
I don't mind being asked to suspend my disbelief a little - after all, television drama is not real life - but this show is asking way too much of me. I may try to catch another episode in the hopes of seeing some improvement, but it's really a very slim hope...
An unexpected gem.
capn_jazz22 July 2019
I should start by telling you that I'm an American whose never been to Europe or Asia. So I'd like to voice some simple concerns right off the bat. There appears to me way too many Chinese people with near perfect British accents. There's also plenty of postings in English that makes me wonder.
I'm great at suspending my disbelief for shows and therefore certain bewildering plot points don't affect my ability to enjoy a show. I don't wish to introduce any new doubts to viewers so I'll keep those to myself.
I'm bothering with this review because I see so many people claiming this is a boring show and the pacing, the story, the actors are leaving the viewers with much to be desired.
I randomly came across this show, read a couple episode synopses and gave it a go.
I've never seen Hong Kong in 4k. For me the plot being in China and having UK actors really intrigued me. This is a slow burn series. It's a drama, mixed with long-term suspense. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I'd bet oodles of dollars that if HBO made this series, people would praise this. Instead, Amazon is known for their hit or miss shows and I think it sets a perspective subconsciously that automatically makes it easier to dismiss their shows.
However, I believe, as prime shows continued to grow, we'll look back on this and dig it.
So in conclusion, it's a drama! With some suspense and a little action. The point is to become enveloped in the story and not worry about sex and violence.
I'm great at suspending my disbelief for shows and therefore certain bewildering plot points don't affect my ability to enjoy a show. I don't wish to introduce any new doubts to viewers so I'll keep those to myself.
I'm bothering with this review because I see so many people claiming this is a boring show and the pacing, the story, the actors are leaving the viewers with much to be desired.
I randomly came across this show, read a couple episode synopses and gave it a go.
I've never seen Hong Kong in 4k. For me the plot being in China and having UK actors really intrigued me. This is a slow burn series. It's a drama, mixed with long-term suspense. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I'd bet oodles of dollars that if HBO made this series, people would praise this. Instead, Amazon is known for their hit or miss shows and I think it sets a perspective subconsciously that automatically makes it easier to dismiss their shows.
However, I believe, as prime shows continued to grow, we'll look back on this and dig it.
So in conclusion, it's a drama! With some suspense and a little action. The point is to become enveloped in the story and not worry about sex and violence.
Very entertaining
mygomail-8448218 February 2019
I liked this show and found it captivating. The writing was lacking at times and like another reviewer felt the handing over of cell phone in scene 2 was not realistic and far fetched. This show has the potential, with better writing, to be really good.
CANCEL THAT FLIGHT?
idearz-429-63817511 March 2019
HongKong should be on the "Most Dangerous" list of places to visit category, if one were to see this series. Awful people doing awful things. Everyone seems to be corrupt...the Brits and the Chinese. No longer the glittering city so often depicted in Gettyimages, this series should do wonders for travelphiles. I hear the food is to die for.
Decent
chrisjsanders27 September 2018
A solid thriller set in Hong Kong
Tweekums31 October 2018
When Jonah Mulray's wife of three years, Megan, is killed in a traffic accident in Hong Kong he flies out from London and finds himself in a mystery he couldn't possibly have expected. Her last phone message, made at the time of her death, suggests she was shot but after the police examine the phone the message is shortened, then her body disappears from the morgue... this isn't his biggest surprise though; he learns that Megan had a husband, David, in Hong Kong and had been married to him for twenty years; not only that she had a teenaged daughter. Peter and David find themselves unlikely, and somewhat reluctant, partners as they try to find out what happened. As they investigate they find murky connections to powerful people locally as well as the local British consulate.
As others have said this is something of a slow burner so it won't be for everybody. Personally I enjoyed the way the story built up even if it might have been a bit better if it had been limited to six episodes. The opening episode quickly grabbed my attention and the twist at the end came as a genuine surprise. While that was the biggest twist of the series there were more to come as Jonah learnt more about his wife's second life in Hong Kong. John Simm, as expected, does a fine job as Jonah but it is Anthony Chau-Sang Wong who impresses most in the role of Megan's other husband, David. The rest of the cast, which includes plenty of familiar faces is also pretty impressive. The Hong Kong setting created a good the atmosphere; Jonah was very much portrayed as a 'stranger in a strange land'. Overall I found this to be a solid thriller, if a little bit too long.
As others have said this is something of a slow burner so it won't be for everybody. Personally I enjoyed the way the story built up even if it might have been a bit better if it had been limited to six episodes. The opening episode quickly grabbed my attention and the twist at the end came as a genuine surprise. While that was the biggest twist of the series there were more to come as Jonah learnt more about his wife's second life in Hong Kong. John Simm, as expected, does a fine job as Jonah but it is Anthony Chau-Sang Wong who impresses most in the role of Megan's other husband, David. The rest of the cast, which includes plenty of familiar faces is also pretty impressive. The Hong Kong setting created a good the atmosphere; Jonah was very much portrayed as a 'stranger in a strange land'. Overall I found this to be a solid thriller, if a little bit too long.
Very satisfying
keith-6185 November 2018
John Simm is such a good actor because like all really good actors his acting is invisible. Without him this might not have been so satisfying. (Emilia Fox is easy on the eye but let's face it her acting is barely passable.) Many other reviews complain about the lack of pace but I found it just fine and the plotting and overall writing was good.
The series captured the claustrophobia of Hong Kong, Kowloon and Macau very well which gave the series lots of atmosphere.
Because I'd skimmed a couple of reviews prior to watching the series I expected the last episode to be a disappointment but to the contrary I found the wrap up to be totally satisfying. And it's all worth it for John Simm.
This show is called strangers
chetdehart11 March 2019
Slow or what?
andrew_james102 October 2018
Episode 4 and for the 40th time I have told my wife if something doesn't happen in the next five minutes I'm giving up. I am struggling with the pace, I appreciate there are many questions to be answered (that's the only reason I'm still watching) but there appears to be little appreciation of the frustration of the viewer who has watched 4 hours of TV and all the important bits could have been fitted in an hour. I'm not sure I'll make it to the end.
Well worth the watch...
gm-274-72316213 October 2020
Would highly recommend this show. Good story that's gets more and more interesting as it happens. It will tug at your heart strings and give you the necessary escape that we all need during this lockdown. Enjoy, you will not be disappointed.
Authentic hit of overseas stay
theknownames20 May 2020
All the necessary ingredients for a decent slow burn, but not too slow. The use of color, like the pink is intriguing.
The acting is lovely and world / setting feels quite authentic which makes I am enjoyable watch.
I am not expecting a dramatic storyline but a good old fashioned mystery is in the works. I usualll don't review this soon Into a series but don't see more happening I appening and i am curious to see it through .
Yawn... same story, same actors, same boredom!
khunkrumark19 September 2018
Yet another slickly produced drama with all the same faces that appear in every other slickly produced drama made for British television.
This time it's John Simm who is stomping around shouting at people, demanding answers and breaking things when he doesn't get his own way. If professors act like this in real life, a university education may just not be worth it!
Some really nice Hong Kong scenery, is splashed across the screen but it's not enough to lift this alleged 'thriller' above any other of the numerous boring 'thrillers' that British TV keeps churning out.
Either the UK has only got about 30 working actors doing the whole of TV or there are more actors but their agents have wisely told them to steer clear of this cookie-cutter codswallop! I hope it's the latter!
Usually I get tricked into watching a TV serial because the first episode is really good. Bodyguard is a good example. But this one starts off slow and keeps up that pace for the entire hour.
(Also, has anyone else thought it odd how the scenes keep flitting between Kowloon side of the river and Hong Kong city)
This time it's John Simm who is stomping around shouting at people, demanding answers and breaking things when he doesn't get his own way. If professors act like this in real life, a university education may just not be worth it!
Some really nice Hong Kong scenery, is splashed across the screen but it's not enough to lift this alleged 'thriller' above any other of the numerous boring 'thrillers' that British TV keeps churning out.
Either the UK has only got about 30 working actors doing the whole of TV or there are more actors but their agents have wisely told them to steer clear of this cookie-cutter codswallop! I hope it's the latter!
Usually I get tricked into watching a TV serial because the first episode is really good. Bodyguard is a good example. But this one starts off slow and keeps up that pace for the entire hour.
(Also, has anyone else thought it odd how the scenes keep flitting between Kowloon side of the river and Hong Kong city)
Good Mystery Drama.... But....
chiumt4 August 2019
A combined british and Hongkong mystery drama. Captivating, but lacks credibility. A lot of police incompetence and corruption. And everyone speaks with a British accent, even the Hongkongers. And the British have this air of superiority.
Poor from beginning to end
chris_sedergreen12 April 2021
The premise of the story strains credulity, but we'll let that pass. The screenplay is a disaster: every cliche ever written is employed. I found myself predicting the lines of every scene before they were spoken. The acting is generally mediocre; a shame since there are some big names. Perhaps the Hong Kong heat and humidity drained their thespian energies. The camera work was equally mediocre, again a pity since Hong Kong offers some real possibilities for creative and artistic screen shots.
The Chinese charatcers were comic book caractures and quite unconvincing.
I was looking forward to this at the outset, but was sadly disappointed. Don't waste your time with this one. It doesn't get better.
Iatros.
The Chinese charatcers were comic book caractures and quite unconvincing.
I was looking forward to this at the outset, but was sadly disappointed. Don't waste your time with this one. It doesn't get better.
Iatros.
Intruiging and puzzling
meelaleks26 June 2019
Intruiging, puzzling. No, not the series itself but the reasons why I kept watching. The series storyline is promising but way to stretched and slow and the turns and twists are mostly predictable. Half the air time (max!) would have been enough. Whats worse: the characters never really come to life, its like watching puppets or an unwilling cast. No one seems to care, not really, about what happened with Megan. Or about the tole the play as actor or actress. Davids daughter, Lau, showed some promise at first in her role but even she gets dragged into the overall "who gives a sh*t* atmosphere. Yet for some absurd reason I kept watching, episode after dragging episode. Maybe because I binge watched it during a heatwave, tired, stranded on a sofa with only half my brain functioning. But in all honesty: though it's not a bad series it simply never get good and isnt worth spending quality time for. The only thing I enjoyed: the views of Hongkong.
Everything about this except
theknownames22 May 2020
Everything about this series is excellent except rid the actual story, the setting, the characters , the acting all lovely but the actual mystery and story development was delivered in a one note sort it way and just wasn't enough to carry through all 8 episodes - while it all comes together there was something off about the delivery and I found myself fast forwarding some parts. If you are interested in what it looks like to be in Asia and what it's like to experience difficult with the legal system , sure .
Interesting story, horrible cantonese dialogues
phsamuel-417 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The story is brimming with sufficient plot twists to maintain a compelling narrative. The clues are deftly integrated, so much so that their revelations were unforeseen, though I must concede, I'm not the quickest at deciphering story arcs.
Anthony Wong is an extraordinary actor, yet he seems somewhat underutilized in the sidekick role to Jonah. Moreover, his character's unfortunate demise feels contrived, resembling an obvious plot device. I found the overall pacing to be satisfactory, particularly during the initial six episodes. The cliffhangers near the conclusion of each episode were well-executed and successful in keeping my interest piqued.
As a Hong Kong native, my chief criticism pertains to the Cantonese dialogue. A majority of it feels awkward and unnatural, with some lines bordering on atrocious. I question whether a native speaker was involved in reviewing the script.
Anthony Wong is an extraordinary actor, yet he seems somewhat underutilized in the sidekick role to Jonah. Moreover, his character's unfortunate demise feels contrived, resembling an obvious plot device. I found the overall pacing to be satisfactory, particularly during the initial six episodes. The cliffhangers near the conclusion of each episode were well-executed and successful in keeping my interest piqued.
As a Hong Kong native, my chief criticism pertains to the Cantonese dialogue. A majority of it feels awkward and unnatural, with some lines bordering on atrocious. I question whether a native speaker was involved in reviewing the script.
Entertaining!
kaywinfree17 February 2019
Don't know why I'm still watching
basemichelle15 October 2018
6 episodes now and I'm losing the will to live. Something needs to happen soon. At first I thought the daughter might liven it up but she's hasn't. And that journalist is beyond annoying. No doubt I'll watch next week and hope I'm proven wrong 😂
A quiet thriller.
annieroob29 October 2018
A quiet thriller, reminded me of Alec Guinness as George Smiley. Lots of threads gently woven together. Mistakes made by the characters added to the story. An ordinary man caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The David Chen character gentle desperate and sad to understand Megan, his whole life turned upside down by her death and the appearance of an englishman. A daughter who never really knew her Mother who had loved her but hidden so much from her Chinese family.
Go home, mate.
susan-wilde116 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
What keeps me watching?
Inertia? Some desire to "know" the back-story even though I am not at all convinced by the current plot/characters etc.
What can the English husband get from this? Corruption all around and his "wife" had a well established double life long established before she even met him. He has no authority and no power. He should go home. Gutted to find there's 2 more episodes!
Stick with it, it improves dramatically.
Sleepin_Dragon31 March 2019
If ever a series got huge advertising, this was it, Cinema, TV, online, wherever you looked, it was visible. For good reason, it was clearly big budget drama.
It starts off well, the first few episodes are intriguing, good characters, and a deep level of intrigue. Sadly, because it's an eight part serial, there comes a midpoint lull, and it does suffer from being padded. Plenty of scenes of Jonah walking through the streets of Hong Kong doing very little.
Fortunately from episode six onwards, the show gains real momentum, and truly delivers some excellent moments.
I love the Hong Kong setting, the buildings are incredible, and it's nice to see something a little different. John Simm is superb throughout, supported well by Tim McInnerny, Emilia Fox, and Anthony Hayes in particular.
In summary, great location work, plenty of intrigue, but it does suffer from being too long. 8/10
It starts off well, the first few episodes are intriguing, good characters, and a deep level of intrigue. Sadly, because it's an eight part serial, there comes a midpoint lull, and it does suffer from being padded. Plenty of scenes of Jonah walking through the streets of Hong Kong doing very little.
Fortunately from episode six onwards, the show gains real momentum, and truly delivers some excellent moments.
I love the Hong Kong setting, the buildings are incredible, and it's nice to see something a little different. John Simm is superb throughout, supported well by Tim McInnerny, Emilia Fox, and Anthony Hayes in particular.
In summary, great location work, plenty of intrigue, but it does suffer from being too long. 8/10
Well I made it to the end
yvonnecgabriel29 October 2018
I really wanted to like this. Beautiful backdrop, intriguing plot line, world class casting especially with regards to the Asian characters. Speaking of which were treated more like extras in a British soap, stupid, unemotional gladly taking orders from the English in Hong Kong of all places. Not sure what annoyed me more David the lecturer ordering a local police officer around the place (turn here, stop there, do this) constantly shouting stomping his foot or the ridiculous superiorty or the British over the the Locals. Entirely unemotional flat characters who lacked empathy and emotion for the death of loved ones but were so happy to help out this man from nowhere who lands and takes over. Could have been made in 4 episodes, even ten it would have been boring, I just kept watching waiting for something to happen as though I was missing something this great cast must have seen when they signed up in the first place
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