Sandra Oh and Holland Taylor in 'The Chair' on Netflix.
When the new Netflix dramedy The Chair premiered on August 20 it was an immediate conversation starter with subject matter that includes sexism, racism and ageism.
The series covers all the “isms” but goes on to also highlight gender inequality in what are often patriarchal workplaces and it dives into how women of color, specifically, are forced to navigate near impossible standards and challenges their white male counterparts will never have to endure or even understand.
Sandra Oh stars as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, a woman navigating her new role as the Chair of the English department at the prestigious Pembroke University in New England. She faces a unique set of challenges as the first woman of color to chair the department and as one of the few staff members of color. In this role, she efforts to meet the demands and high expectations of her position while simultaneously trying to save her failing department.
Topics also include the struggles of single parenthood, the heartache of caretaking for an elderly parent, the death of a spouse, the loneliness and isolation of an empty nest, what it’s like to be stuck between two cultures, and the swift and dire impact of a cancel culture just waiting to pounce with the oh-so-convenient smart phone at the ready to record a mistake and take down an entire career in the span of minutes.
The genius of the six-episode series is that it tackles all of this with a sharp-edged, smartly-written and superbly acted humor. It’s a fast-paced ride that packs so much into its roughly 30-minute episodes.
Jay Duplass in 'The Chair' on Netflix.
Ji-Yoon fumbles alongside Professor Bill Dobson (Jay Duplass) who makes a foot-in-the-mouth error in the form of a Nazi salute in his classroom and is immediately taken down on social media. Also starring in this brilliant ensemble are Holland Taylor as Professor Joan Hambling, Bob Balaban as Professor Elliot Rentz, Nana Mensah as Professor Yaz McKay, David Morse as Dean Paul Larson, Everly Carganilla as Ju-Hee “Ju Ju” Kim and David Duchovny makes a memorable appearance as, well, himself.
This is Amanda Peet’s debut as a TV series writer and showrunner, though this isn’t her first time writing. Peet previously penned two plays: “The Commons of Pensacola” in 2013 and “Our Very Own Carlin McCullough” in 2018.
Nana Mensah in 'The Chair' on Netflix.
The Chair is a standout for its relevant subject matter, sharp, clever writing and the absolutely extraordinary cast. Oftentimes, a series is excellent but it's fair to say there's an actor that didn't nail a role or perhaps a scene that could've been cut. In this case, every single line of dialogue is exquisitely delivered and each scene is necessary to move the story forward. There isn’t a wasted moment of screen time.
Joining Peet as executive producer are Oh, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernie Caulfield and Daniel Gray Longino. Writers include Annie Julia Wyman, Richard E. Robbins, Jennifer Kim and Andrea Troyer. Longino directed all six episodes.
One question remains: Will there be a second season? If any series deserves another go around it’s The Chair.
