I should mention this as it will come out in a later review but over the past few weeks, the US has been experiencing attacks on the Asian community recently. On January 28th, Vicha Ratanapakdee was attacked in the driveway of his home and died in the hospital. Two other Asian elders have been attacked by slashing and beaten due to Racism.
This is nothing new when the pandemic started last year, it is sad as the Asian elderly have done nothing to deserve any of this, and people brush off these attacks as Asians are supposed to be the model minority. As I am writing this, it’s getting much worse than 2020.
This goes for everyone, if you see a racially motivated attack, it’s time to step up. Time to expose these people and it is time to stand up and stand together. Even Canada has its racism and flaws. It’s a hard road but we need to fight back against it. I don’t have any answers and writing my frustrations in a review is not going to do any better but I will state… History doesn’t change. Especially when we get to Episode 9.
If you want to show your support for Asian Americans, Asian Canadians and Pacific Islanders, here’s a link to show your support.
Picking up from Episode 3, O’Hara sends Lucy and his children away to keep them safe but Lucy blames him for the invasion. O’Hara reveals to Lee that he has been collecting for the Fung Hai, causing Lee to distrust him and causing his attack.
Sophie brings her date Spencer to the Banshee which he is unsettled by the environment and her openness. She introduces Spencer to the back alley brawl where Leary approaches them both. After an exchange of ethics of combat, Spencer chooses to leave but Sophie stays with Leary.
Mai Ling buys a laundry business which Li Young questions, she explains that buying a legitimate business will see the future of Chinatown if the Government cracks down on all the Tongs. Ensuring that her endeavor will survive with a future which Li Young tries to comprehend.
The Chinatown Police Force gear up after O’Hara’s attack and Wang Chao asks for O’Hara. Chao informs not to go after the Fung Hai as they will expect it so he offers an alternative. Chao lets O’Hara in on the plan that he and Li Young discussed in the last episode. The police get their swordsman and Chao gets his merchandise returned and protection.
Sophie discusses with Leary on his planned attack on the Mercer Steel Mill but he hasn’t made a move yet because of their interactions. Mayor Blake speaks with Chief Flanagan about the Fung Hai attack as O’Hara informs him of their plan. Mayor Blake supports O’Hara’s input while Buckley brings up Crestwood’s disapproval on Blake’s position and Penny’s business.
During a Chinatown demonstration, Ah Toy and Mai Ling meet for the first time. As both women’s reputations have been at their forefront, they hide the fact they do not respect each other’s business. Penny pays Ah Sahm for the protection, trying to connect with him again. He shares the same sentiment but he takes his leave and finds Leary and his men waiting outside.
Leary expresses his bigotry towards the Chinese, Ah Sahm immediately fires back on the fact that it’s probably the characterization that Leary and his people present. Leary finally learns Ah Sahm’s name proclaiming they will face off where Ah Sahm reacts with confidence, causing Leary to walk away.
Ah Toy invites Nellie Davenport to the brothel, letting one of her girls to go with her. Nellie invites Ah Toy to Sonoma for her to see the life that Nellie is offering the women she helped.
Penny discusses Mayor Blake’s statement to the public on his stance on the Chinese population. She informs him the other business managers are wanting another candidate to support as his stance has changed, Blake retaliates by pulling the cable car contract on Mercer Steel Mill, thinking her business is inactive. Penny fires back with the details of the contract if breached and probably exposing his flaws to the public.
Penny disapproves of Sophie’s treatment of the date with Spencer, Sophie reacts with how she disapproves Penny not hiring the Leary’s men in favor of Chinese labor. After attacking each other’s characters and views, Sophie goes to Leary, informing him of a way in to destroy the Mercer Steel Mill.
Mai Ling meets with Nichols on information pertaining Buckley. Lee visits Ah Toy’s brothel, offering him Opium for his pain. Chao asks Ah Toy for her sword to plant on Zing while securing a favor in return.
Sophie leads Leary and his men into Mercer Steel Mill, killing the Hop Wei guards and blowing up the Mill. Sophie sees the wreckage and regrets her decision as she returns home, sitting beside Penny.
With Lee walking away, O’Hara has no one to turn to as he plans his assault with the police force against the Fung Hai. Now this is an impulsive motive but just. And Chao presenting an opportunity, gives O’Hara somewhat a legal way even though it’s tampering and framing.
This shows O’Hara in a way that he must try and do something on his own now that he has nothing. Lucy, his kids and Lee were steering him into a proper direction but his faults finally caught up to him, and he lost them.
The very first meeting of Ah Toy and Mai Ling finally happens in this episode. It took me a lot of re-watching and aside from Season 1 Episode 9, this is actually the first time we get to see them talk face to face.
The two are aware of each other’s reputations and characters but they do not know each other at all. Going back with the judging a book by its cover, the two know what they see on the outside but unaware of the history they have encountered. And both being women of business in Chinatown, they share the same struggle.
Sophie and her relationships with Penny and Leary. The two Mercer sisters have been shown only joking and showing love to each other but this is the first time we see them bring out each other’s flaws. Sophie attacks Penny on how she is high class and looking down at people like Leary. Penny attacks back with Sophie having no purpose, you see what’s happening here right?
And of course by impulse, Sophie turns to Leary to destroy her father’s business. Now this can be seen as how someone who has no direction can be influenced by coercion, manipulation of political or personal views. Again I’m no historian and the only example I can give is the film “American History X”. That says it plain and simple there.
Sophie sees Leary’s views, beliefs and understanding the reasons he does it. Seeing his actions though, creates the conflict. Leary is a man who has his purpose and he stated that his emotions will not hinder it. This conflict shows that even though she supports Leary, emotionally she cannot come to terms what she has done.
Sophie and Leary’s relationship will shift after this while her relationship with Penny is going to be on equal footing in some sorts.
The idea of being part of something because you believe in it and act upon it has both positive and negative actions and reactions. And people have done many things for that purpose. The problem though is people have to live with the decisions they have made. Consequences are coming.