Expat
Episode 1 – “Hello You!”
Julian Jakos leaves behind heartbreak and mounting debt in the U.S. to start over in Vietnam. But his dreams of a peaceful reset vanish the moment he steps off the plane. Jet-lagged and disoriented, he is bombarded by Saigon’s chaotic rhythms: honking motorbikes, aggressive vendors, sex workers, and hustlers at every corner. He meets Gary, a charismatic but shady expat who quickly takes Julian under his wing, offering a crash course in surviving the city's scams, street culture, and nightlife. As Julian acclimates to the madness, he’s unknowingly being scoped by a syndicate of criminals working behind the scenes. A chance encounter in a dark alley reveals that Gary might be recruiting Julian for more than just a teaching gig. What begins as a misadventure in self-reinvention ends with a lingering sense of unease: Julian didn’t just arrive in Vietnam—he was expected.
Episode 2 – “Kinky, Horny, Masturbate”
The chaos of Saigon begins to seep under Julian’s skin. While Gary negotiates a shady deal involving human trafficking in a rural shack, Julian drifts through the city’s surreal rhythms—teaching, smoking joints, and trying to make sense of it all. He gets swept into the expat party scene, meeting Charlie, Dempster, and a trio of British girls: Margaret, Payton, and Janice. At Ice Blue Bar, weed-fueled games devolve into sharp flirtation and quiet judgment, setting the stage for future tensions. Julian’s teaching gig is derailed by an awkward exchange when a student innocently asks him to define “masturbate,” leaving him flustered and questioning his presence in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Thi Duong and other teen street girls are introduced in haunting contrast—smoking meth, getting sex advice, and preparing to hustle Western men. A final encounter between Julian and men tailing him outside Lily Bar hints that he’s being watched. Beneath the laughter and bar banter, something more sinister is unfolding—and Julian is too green to see it yet.
The chaos of Saigon begins to seep under Julian’s skin. While Gary negotiates a shady deal involving human trafficking in a rural shack, Julian drifts through the city’s surreal rhythms—teaching, smoking joints, and trying to make sense of it all. He gets swept into the expat party scene, meeting Charlie, Dempster, and a trio of British girls: Margaret, Payton, and Janice. At Ice Blue Bar, weed-fueled games devolve into sharp flirtation and quiet judgment, setting the stage for future tensions. Julian’s teaching gig is derailed by an awkward exchange when a student innocently asks him to define “masturbate,” leaving him flustered and questioning his presence in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Thi Duong and other teen street girls are introduced in haunting contrast—smoking meth, getting sex advice, and preparing to hustle Western men. A final encounter between Julian and men tailing him outside Lily Bar hints that he’s being watched. Beneath the laughter and bar banter, something more sinister is unfolding—and Julian is too green to see it yet.
Episode 3 – “Mexican Suicide”
As Julian sinks deeper into Saigon’s underbelly, this episode weaves multiple threads of disillusionment, corruption, and the quiet violence pulsing beneath the expat lifestyle. At Lily Bar, Julian observes the disturbing normalcy of the sex trade and its transient, disposable cast of girls. Conversations with Charlie and others highlight how these women disappear without explanation, replaced as easily as barstools. Julian's discomfort grows, but so does his numbness. Meanwhile, Piers begins to unravel, and Rupert takes Charlie and Nev to an underground dogfighting ring, where they spot Hieu—the same man who mutilated a bargirl with a machete—confirming the depth of criminal overlap between entertainment and violence. In a parallel storyline, Dempster overdoses alone while smoking heroin and having sex with Mama Phuong, leading to a grim, pornographic death. Charlie discovers the body and frantically calls Rupert, who dubs it a “Mexican suicide.” As the episode closes, Khang returns Thi Duong to her family, having paid their debt, but what should be a moment of redemption feels more like abandonment. Everyone is used. Everyone is watching. The episode marks a tonal shift—what seemed absurd now feels quietly monstrous.
As Julian sinks deeper into Saigon’s underbelly, this episode weaves multiple threads of disillusionment, corruption, and the quiet violence pulsing beneath the expat lifestyle. At Lily Bar, Julian observes the disturbing normalcy of the sex trade and its transient, disposable cast of girls. Conversations with Charlie and others highlight how these women disappear without explanation, replaced as easily as barstools. Julian's discomfort grows, but so does his numbness. Meanwhile, Piers begins to unravel, and Rupert takes Charlie and Nev to an underground dogfighting ring, where they spot Hieu—the same man who mutilated a bargirl with a machete—confirming the depth of criminal overlap between entertainment and violence. In a parallel storyline, Dempster overdoses alone while smoking heroin and having sex with Mama Phuong, leading to a grim, pornographic death. Charlie discovers the body and frantically calls Rupert, who dubs it a “Mexican suicide.” As the episode closes, Khang returns Thi Duong to her family, having paid their debt, but what should be a moment of redemption feels more like abandonment. Everyone is used. Everyone is watching. The episode marks a tonal shift—what seemed absurd now feels quietly monstrous.
Episode 4 – “Hotdog City”
Alfie, a Malaysian expat running a hotdog shop in Saigon, finds himself caught in the crosshairs of General Thach, a powerful Vietnamese official and his girlfriend’s uncle. When a Vietnamese-American family shows up at his shop, claiming it as their ancestral home taken after the war, Alfie tries to help—only for General Thach to dispatch police to detain them. Alfie’s loyalty is then tested even further: Thach accuses him of bringing shame to the family and demands Alfie spy on Julian Jakos, whom he suspects of sowing anti-government sentiment. Over tea and veiled threats, Thach makes it clear that Alfie owes him—and his price is surveillance. As Alfie tries to maintain his business and sanity, the episode paints a chilling picture of state control, postwar trauma, and the cost of cultural missteps. Meanwhile, Julian remains unaware that a quiet war is being waged behind the smiles and sidewalk beers.
Alfie, a Malaysian expat running a hotdog shop in Saigon, finds himself caught in the crosshairs of General Thach, a powerful Vietnamese official and his girlfriend’s uncle. When a Vietnamese-American family shows up at his shop, claiming it as their ancestral home taken after the war, Alfie tries to help—only for General Thach to dispatch police to detain them. Alfie’s loyalty is then tested even further: Thach accuses him of bringing shame to the family and demands Alfie spy on Julian Jakos, whom he suspects of sowing anti-government sentiment. Over tea and veiled threats, Thach makes it clear that Alfie owes him—and his price is surveillance. As Alfie tries to maintain his business and sanity, the episode paints a chilling picture of state control, postwar trauma, and the cost of cultural missteps. Meanwhile, Julian remains unaware that a quiet war is being waged behind the smiles and sidewalk beers.
Episode 5 – “The Fire in Bac Lieu”
Julian takes on a freelance journalism assignment to cover the trial of a dissident blogger in the rural province of Bac Lieu. Although he’s warned that he won’t get close, Julian believes the attempt itself is the story. As he travels deeper into Vietnam’s bureaucratic backwaters, he’s stonewalled at every turn—ignored by government workers, rejected by the subject’s mother, and watched by party officials. His presence triggers a quiet but intense reaction: a black SUV tails him, and he comes face-to-face with the menacing General Thach, who cryptically tells Julian he doesn’t “know this country.” Meanwhile, disturbing news reaches Julian from Saigon: a girl named Thi has made a serious accusation, and her life may be in danger. Julian returns to Saigon rattled and unnerved. The fire of the episode isn’t just political—it’s personal, burning through Julian’s idealism and warning him that the rules of Vietnam are different… and lethal.
Julian takes on a freelance journalism assignment to cover the trial of a dissident blogger in the rural province of Bac Lieu. Although he’s warned that he won’t get close, Julian believes the attempt itself is the story. As he travels deeper into Vietnam’s bureaucratic backwaters, he’s stonewalled at every turn—ignored by government workers, rejected by the subject’s mother, and watched by party officials. His presence triggers a quiet but intense reaction: a black SUV tails him, and he comes face-to-face with the menacing General Thach, who cryptically tells Julian he doesn’t “know this country.” Meanwhile, disturbing news reaches Julian from Saigon: a girl named Thi has made a serious accusation, and her life may be in danger. Julian returns to Saigon rattled and unnerved. The fire of the episode isn’t just political—it’s personal, burning through Julian’s idealism and warning him that the rules of Vietnam are different… and lethal.
Episode 6 – “Two Million Dong”
As Saigon swelters, tempers boil over. The episode follows three parallel threads of humiliation, coercion, and fracture. Piers, fresh off a failed motorbike sale, is shaken down by local police and forced to bribe his way out—twice—eventually handing over two million dong in a scene that exposes the raw absurdities of power, pride, and foreigner fatigue. Meanwhile, Payton confronts Rupert about his friend Nev, who raped a child sex worker, Thi. Rupert’s brutal indifference sends Payton reeling. Simultaneously, Alfie and Thong Le are released from prison under General Thach’s orders and reinserted into the expat community to serve as reluctant informants. Gary and Tran spiral further into addiction. General Thach reveals himself not just as a ruthless state enforcer but a calculating tactician with plans to manipulate both Julian and the syndicate. As party lines blur, and with silence serving as currency, Julian begins to sense that something irreparable is breaking beneath the surface.
As Saigon swelters, tempers boil over. The episode follows three parallel threads of humiliation, coercion, and fracture. Piers, fresh off a failed motorbike sale, is shaken down by local police and forced to bribe his way out—twice—eventually handing over two million dong in a scene that exposes the raw absurdities of power, pride, and foreigner fatigue. Meanwhile, Payton confronts Rupert about his friend Nev, who raped a child sex worker, Thi. Rupert’s brutal indifference sends Payton reeling. Simultaneously, Alfie and Thong Le are released from prison under General Thach’s orders and reinserted into the expat community to serve as reluctant informants. Gary and Tran spiral further into addiction. General Thach reveals himself not just as a ruthless state enforcer but a calculating tactician with plans to manipulate both Julian and the syndicate. As party lines blur, and with silence serving as currency, Julian begins to sense that something irreparable is breaking beneath the surface.
Episode 7 – “Paranoia & Balls Y’all”
As paranoia thickens across the expat scene, each character spirals in their own chaotic orbit. Julian tries to maintain his composure while caught between Margaret’s manipulations, his attraction to Le Ly, and General Thach’s growing interest in his movements. Maitland, Charlie’s new roommate, steals every scene with his bizarre behavior and ball-obsessed tics, eventually drawing the attention—and threats—of Khang, a menacing enforcer for Nam Cam. Khang orders Maitland to move into a controlled guesthouse and to bring Charlie with him, turning a joke character into a pawn in a much darker scheme. Meanwhile, Connor’s drug-fueled collapse and Rupert’s madcap monologues showcase the degeneracy cloaked in humor. Payton, Janice, and Margaret navigate their own shifting alliances at a debauched hot tub party, where fantasy, jealousy, and power games explode. The episode crescendos with a chemical attack at a karaoke bar—blurring satire and violence—and ends with Maitland fleeing Vietnam, twitchy and broken.
As paranoia thickens across the expat scene, each character spirals in their own chaotic orbit. Julian tries to maintain his composure while caught between Margaret’s manipulations, his attraction to Le Ly, and General Thach’s growing interest in his movements. Maitland, Charlie’s new roommate, steals every scene with his bizarre behavior and ball-obsessed tics, eventually drawing the attention—and threats—of Khang, a menacing enforcer for Nam Cam. Khang orders Maitland to move into a controlled guesthouse and to bring Charlie with him, turning a joke character into a pawn in a much darker scheme. Meanwhile, Connor’s drug-fueled collapse and Rupert’s madcap monologues showcase the degeneracy cloaked in humor. Payton, Janice, and Margaret navigate their own shifting alliances at a debauched hot tub party, where fantasy, jealousy, and power games explode. The episode crescendos with a chemical attack at a karaoke bar—blurring satire and violence—and ends with Maitland fleeing Vietnam, twitchy and broken.
Episode 8 – “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”
Julian continues investigating Gary’s disappearance while navigating a tangle of conflicting allegiances and cryptic warnings. General Thach pulls strings behind the scenes, assigning Thong Le to monitor Julian’s activities more closely while orchestrating the quiet return of Alfie to the expat circle. Meanwhile, the women of the series—Payton, Margaret, and Janice—bond over drinks, gossip, and growing disillusionment with Saigon’s expat dating scene, with Janice still recovering from a traumatic assault. Piers, now unemployed, begins a downward spiral that culminates in a surreal and dangerous night with Dewi in Indonesia—a flashback that ends with a violent mob and shameful retribution. In Saigon, Julian meets with Thong Le, who unveils a wider surveillance apparatus targeting expats. At Ice Blue, Piers recounts his ordeal to Julian and Charlie in drunken disbelief. The episode is a tonal swirl of confession, manipulation, and unraveling identity as Julian inches closer to understanding how deep the web truly goes.
Julian continues investigating Gary’s disappearance while navigating a tangle of conflicting allegiances and cryptic warnings. General Thach pulls strings behind the scenes, assigning Thong Le to monitor Julian’s activities more closely while orchestrating the quiet return of Alfie to the expat circle. Meanwhile, the women of the series—Payton, Margaret, and Janice—bond over drinks, gossip, and growing disillusionment with Saigon’s expat dating scene, with Janice still recovering from a traumatic assault. Piers, now unemployed, begins a downward spiral that culminates in a surreal and dangerous night with Dewi in Indonesia—a flashback that ends with a violent mob and shameful retribution. In Saigon, Julian meets with Thong Le, who unveils a wider surveillance apparatus targeting expats. At Ice Blue, Piers recounts his ordeal to Julian and Charlie in drunken disbelief. The episode is a tonal swirl of confession, manipulation, and unraveling identity as Julian inches closer to understanding how deep the web truly goes.
Episode 9 – “Go Fuck Someone”
As Liberation Day nears, Saigon's intensity fractures into unrelenting chaos. Julian, still reeling from the surveillance and silence around him, attempts to make sense of Thach’s growing influence, Alfie’s complicity, and Gary’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Payton, Margaret, and Janice grapple with exhaustion and trauma. What starts as a lighthearted plan for solo holidays turns grim when Payton’s beach trip descends into horror: a fellow expat named Matt assaults multiple women, culminating in a grotesque and violent outburst that leaves one man wounded and the group traumatized. In a parallel arc, My Anh is punished and expelled from the sex trade zone after damaging “company property”—a brutally candid view into the economics of exploitation. Thong Le plays both sides while Gary, now held captive by Nam Cam’s men, is stripped of his bravado and forced into rural labor. As the episode closes, Julian senses the tightening grip of a system where silence, shame, and complicity are the only accepted currencies.
As Liberation Day nears, Saigon's intensity fractures into unrelenting chaos. Julian, still reeling from the surveillance and silence around him, attempts to make sense of Thach’s growing influence, Alfie’s complicity, and Gary’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Payton, Margaret, and Janice grapple with exhaustion and trauma. What starts as a lighthearted plan for solo holidays turns grim when Payton’s beach trip descends into horror: a fellow expat named Matt assaults multiple women, culminating in a grotesque and violent outburst that leaves one man wounded and the group traumatized. In a parallel arc, My Anh is punished and expelled from the sex trade zone after damaging “company property”—a brutally candid view into the economics of exploitation. Thong Le plays both sides while Gary, now held captive by Nam Cam’s men, is stripped of his bravado and forced into rural labor. As the episode closes, Julian senses the tightening grip of a system where silence, shame, and complicity are the only accepted currencies.
Episode 10 – “Try the Skene’s Gland”
As Janice’s head injury worsens, she receives confirmation of a skull fracture and contemplates returning home, fearing neurological damage and a deeper psychological unraveling. Meanwhile, Julian finds himself pulled further into General Thach’s orbit, receiving cryptic messages and being warned through intermediaries like Alfie that he’s a person of interest—perhaps even leverage. In one of the episode’s darkest arcs, My Anh robs a drunk foreigner in a staged scam, showcasing the ruthless economic survivalism of Saigon’s street-level hustlers. Gary, still in the Mekong Delta under syndicate observation, appears increasingly drug-addled, presenting gifts to Thao’s family in an awkward, miscalculated show of charm. Elsewhere, Linh and Paul engage in drug-fueled sex that blurs lines between pleasure and power, culminating in the title’s grotesque and ironic namesake. As surveillance intensifies and Julian begins piecing together the structure behind the chaos, he realizes: Saigon’s darkest corners are lit not by neon, but by intent.
As Janice’s head injury worsens, she receives confirmation of a skull fracture and contemplates returning home, fearing neurological damage and a deeper psychological unraveling. Meanwhile, Julian finds himself pulled further into General Thach’s orbit, receiving cryptic messages and being warned through intermediaries like Alfie that he’s a person of interest—perhaps even leverage. In one of the episode’s darkest arcs, My Anh robs a drunk foreigner in a staged scam, showcasing the ruthless economic survivalism of Saigon’s street-level hustlers. Gary, still in the Mekong Delta under syndicate observation, appears increasingly drug-addled, presenting gifts to Thao’s family in an awkward, miscalculated show of charm. Elsewhere, Linh and Paul engage in drug-fueled sex that blurs lines between pleasure and power, culminating in the title’s grotesque and ironic namesake. As surveillance intensifies and Julian begins piecing together the structure behind the chaos, he realizes: Saigon’s darkest corners are lit not by neon, but by intent.
Episode 11 – “Thao’s Treasure”
Personal ruptures and political realignments collide as threads begin to converge. Julian continues to unravel the roles of both General Thach and Nam Cam in the expanding web of control over Saigon’s expats. His casual meeting with Thong Le turns ominous when it’s revealed that surveillance efforts have escalated—and Julian is now being shadowed more closely than ever. Meanwhile, Gary, still playing house with Thao, attempts to navigate the performance of domestic bliss while brushing against her family’s disapproval and traditional values. But it's Thao's secret—the "treasure" she's hiding—that threatens to destabilize them both. My Anh travels to a village to confront the daughter she abandoned years ago, only to be met with rejection, shame, and brutal reminders of what she’s lost. At the same time, General Thach begins mobilizing a tactical team, indicating that a violent move is imminent. The episode tightens the noose as truth, love, and history all prepare to detonate.
Personal ruptures and political realignments collide as threads begin to converge. Julian continues to unravel the roles of both General Thach and Nam Cam in the expanding web of control over Saigon’s expats. His casual meeting with Thong Le turns ominous when it’s revealed that surveillance efforts have escalated—and Julian is now being shadowed more closely than ever. Meanwhile, Gary, still playing house with Thao, attempts to navigate the performance of domestic bliss while brushing against her family’s disapproval and traditional values. But it's Thao's secret—the "treasure" she's hiding—that threatens to destabilize them both. My Anh travels to a village to confront the daughter she abandoned years ago, only to be met with rejection, shame, and brutal reminders of what she’s lost. At the same time, General Thach begins mobilizing a tactical team, indicating that a violent move is imminent. The episode tightens the noose as truth, love, and history all prepare to detonate.
Episode 12 – “The Leaving Do”
Janice’s farewell party becomes the backdrop for final betrayals, forced reckonings, and unraveling identities. As the expat circle gathers at Ice Blue for a last hurrah, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Alfie, under orders from General Thach, plants a listening device and warns Julian that he’s under active surveillance. Julian, skeptical but increasingly paranoid, attempts to act natural while scanning for signs of the missing Gary and Thong Le. Across town, Thach mobilizes a sniper team for an unknown mission, while Trieu and his family finalize their plot to disappear with laundered gold—blaming Gary as their decoy. Meanwhile, a grotesque hotel sequence involving My Anh lays bare the darkest edge of exploitation, caught in a whirlwind of sexual violence and resignation. The party itself becomes a carnival of laughter, booze, and goodbye kisses—but under every toast lies a trap. In the neon blur of the leaving do, the cost of survival comes due.
Janice’s farewell party becomes the backdrop for final betrayals, forced reckonings, and unraveling identities. As the expat circle gathers at Ice Blue for a last hurrah, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Alfie, under orders from General Thach, plants a listening device and warns Julian that he’s under active surveillance. Julian, skeptical but increasingly paranoid, attempts to act natural while scanning for signs of the missing Gary and Thong Le. Across town, Thach mobilizes a sniper team for an unknown mission, while Trieu and his family finalize their plot to disappear with laundered gold—blaming Gary as their decoy. Meanwhile, a grotesque hotel sequence involving My Anh lays bare the darkest edge of exploitation, caught in a whirlwind of sexual violence and resignation. The party itself becomes a carnival of laughter, booze, and goodbye kisses—but under every toast lies a trap. In the neon blur of the leaving do, the cost of survival comes due.
