What to watch: 6 shows that celebrate Asian American and Pacific islander stories

Tatler Asia

16-05-2025

2. 'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)
When Chinese-American professor Rachel Chu accompanies her boyfriend to Singapore, she discovers his family is obscenely wealthy—and that his mother considers her utterly unsuitable. Adapted from Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel, the box office hit is the first major Hollywood studio film with an all-Asian cast in 25 years.
Beyond showcasing jaw-dropping opulence, the film explores distinctly Asian hierarchies, the weight of familial obligation, and the tension between those who migrated and those who remained. The mahjong showdown between Rachel and matriarch Eleanor Young (played by Michelle Yeoh) remains a masterclass in storytelling, communicating volumes through the strategic positioning of tiles.
Also read: Everything we know so far about the 'Crazy Rich Asians' sequel 3. 'Saving Face' (2004)
Among the groundbreaking Asian romance films, Saving Face revolves around Wil Pang, a Chinese-American surgeon juggling her mother's expectations, her community's traditions, and her growing feelings for a ballet dancer.
Long before representation was a Hollywood buzzword, Wu crafted this tender exploration of lesbian identity within the constraints of a traditional Chinese-American community in New York. When Wil's widowed mother arrives pregnant and unmarried at her doorstep, both women find themselves navigating shame, secrecy, and the possibility of redemption.
Saving Face has become a touchstone for Asian-American queer cinema—and a thoughtful choice for what to watch if you're seeking powerful, under-the-radar love stories. 4. 'Shōgun' (2024)
When a mysterious European ship washes ashore in 17th-century Japan, English pilot John Blackthorne becomes entangled in the power struggle that will determine Japan's future.
FX's TV adaptation of James Clavell's novel marks a revolutionary shift in how Japanese feudal history is presented to Western audiences. With most of the dialogue in subtitled Japanese, the series meticulously recreates the Edo period, from the political machinations of rival daimyo to the social codes governing every interaction.
Hiroyuki Sanada, who also serves as producer, brings gravitas to Lord Toranaga, while Anna Sawai, in her Emmy-winning role as Lady Mariko, portrays the constraints placed on even the more influential women in feudal Japan. If you're browsing what to watch this week, Shōgun is a visually stunning and culturally grounded pick.
Also read: Who is Anna Sawai? Get to know the first Japanese woman to win an Emmy for best drama actress 5. 'Never Have I Ever' (2020-2023)
High schooler Devi Vishwakumar's quest for popularity and romance is complicated by grief over her father's death and familial expectations as a first-generation Indian-American. Mindy Kaling's semi-autobiographical Netflix series reinvents the teen comedy by placing a brown girl with anger issues at its centre.
From navigating cultural customs to dealing with comparisons to more successful cousins, the show explores the nuances of growing up Indian in American suburbia. Tennis legend John McEnroe as the unexpected narrator perfectly complements Devi's hot-headed personality. The show's frank discussion of arranged marriages, Hindu traditions, and intergenerational trauma provides specificity without being didactic.
Also read: Exclusive: Netflix's 'Never Have I Ever' star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan talks season two 6. 'Moana' (2016)
In an effort to save her island, a Polynesian chieftain's daughter embarks on an ocean voyage with the help of ancient wayfinding traditions and a reluctant demigod.
The film's Oceanic Trust, composed of Pacific Islander experts, ensured that Polynesian wayfinding wasn't just a plot device but the spiritual backbone of the narrative. Their feedback helped shape the film down to the small details in Moana singing to the ocean and Maui recounting his feats through his tattoos. The soundtrack, which weaves Samoan, Tokelauan, and Tuvaluan lyrics with contemporary elements, amplifies this cultural specificity.
Following the success of the original film and its 2024 sequel, anticipation builds for next year's live-action adaptation, which brings back Dwayne Johnson as Maui and debuts Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana. If you're looking for what to watch as a family while celebrating Pacific Islander heritage, Moana remains a joyful, generation-spanning favourite.