Sandra Oh, centre, stars as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, newly elected chair of the English department at a prestigious university., which starts streaming Aug. 20, by stating my bias. As soon as I saw the trailer for the show starring Sandra Oh as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, newly elected to the titular position at the English department of the prestigious Pembroke University, I immediately pleaded my case to review it.
No sooner than she sits and falls off of her chair – a perfect image of the state of affairs in the department – and chairs a meeting with the faculty, she’s summoned to Dean Paul Larson’s office. He hands her a list with the names of professors who are “averaging about five students a class” highlighted. Kim needs to get rid of colleagues who aren’t performing.
The setup for the series felt familiar. As someone who delighted in wandering around the downtown U of T campus, attending classes and enjoying the classics, as well as “world literatures in English” – while at the same time was figuring out a thesis topic through a postcolonial studies lens – there was a contrast between enjoying and critiquing the institution I was a part of. I intimately understood the mental gymnastics someone like Kim has to perform.
And even if you aren’t familiar with this particular outpost of the ivory towers, have no inclination toward Chaucer or roll your eyes every time you hear a reference to Moby Dick, the interpersonal relations between Kim, her colleagues and her family, will be of interest.The way in which Kim is pulled between two of her closest friends and champions – McKay and Joan Hambling – is especially compelling.
when is mr doyle returning?
“Peek”, not “peak”. Unless it was intentional 🙄 and a “pun” on the foibles of an English department…