A wickedly humoured show that combines a little slapstick, dark-dry lines, satirical wit, brilliant insights into modern life, and a merge of our history. If you haven’t seen The Chair you’ve missed out. Starring Sandra Oh as Kim Ji-Yoon, the chair of an ailing English department at Pembroke College, the show looks at eccentric professors, the blame game, social media, relationships, family and a surprising amount of hope regardless of the obstacles put in the way.
The shows characters delicately fail to tread in today’s modern world, and are anything but subtle, while their life and job are not quite what they imagined. Between all this, and the college that wants to see a departmental shake-up, is first-time Chairwoman Ji-Yoon. The position of the Chair not being the idyllic dream she had hoped for, but a sinking ship that she’s become more than professionally invested in.
Filled with a great deal of relevant social concerns, the film explores humanities past and future; both its partnership, to its butting of heads. This is made particularly clear with the character Joan Hambling, played by the exceptionally talented Holland Taylor, who shows the head-on collision of a society changing, but at the same time surprises the viewer with her realisation of its improvements as much as its negatives – resulting in her navigating it better than most. She’s abrupt, rude, loyal, and cunning, but she’s able to steer her way through it and in her own style. One of her best scenes being when she challenges the credentials of a staff member who is charged with university policy and protection, and who wears to Joan’s horror, very short-shorts.
“How did you get this job?”
“I came from a non-profit where I helped place refugee immigrant children into foster families.”
“Well, I hope they didn’t have to look at your fucking fanny while you did that” – Joan
Charm oozes out of the cast and their endearing ways – even though you will certainly cringe with their apparent out-of-touch reality. At the same time the show will take you by surprise in challenging assumptions; the characters not being the stereotypes you first perceived, but multi-layered and complex characters you’ll love, hate, and be frustrated by in equal measure.
Many of the characters refuse to bow down to what’s expected whilst acknowledging there needs to be a change. Meanwhile the changes we make as society; apologies, statements, distancing, online anonymity aren’t necessarily the way forward, and so the show looks instead to do things in a different light.
One character however refuses to budge on how things are done, his old ways are best, he knows what is right – but as he watches a group of students truly engage with the subject matter, and in a more open environment, is there a glance of hope in understanding not all change is bad? Displaying a perfect blending of times, opinions and views, and like the Chair Kim Ji-Yoon, you can see both points of view, leaving you stuck between them.
Death, romance, sex, humour, drugs, and oh David Duchovny who plays his role, in this case “himself,” to perfect detestability, portraying a celebrity obsessed with “seen” achievements. Duchovny is beyond a good sport in playing such a version of himself, his role highlighting an obsession within society; of popularity versus reason. But he’s not the only character led by desire with most of the characters seeking to reclaim something; stability, family, desire, need, pride and love – with The Chair having no small amount of charm in the romance section.
Sandra Oh is the glue that holds the show together, much like the character she portrays; treading life’s obstacles with apparent ease and normality. In the end producing a person and life you can resonate with. All the while admiring her character from the side lines, and feeling more than a little bit of her frustration, sadness and hope – especially in the scenes where she tries to connect with her daughter.
Quirky, deadpan, and relevant for today’s world, The Chair doesn’t hide away from society’s problems; gender inequality, racism, trolling, technology vs history, or the fact of how easy it is to be misconstrued and for things to spiral. But alongside this there is a sense of optimism, even in the midst of a theatrical drama. The Chair is the perfect blending of reality, humour, escapism and an understanding of another’s shoes.
Creator: Amanda Peet
Creator: Annie Julia Wyman
