Some borders don’t physically exist — they are man-made separations that can have great or tragic consequences, depending on the cosmic lotto number assigned to us before birth.
We don’t get to choose our skin colour, name, family, or place of birth. Yet, we must deal with the consequences of the winning or losing combination picked.
Blending humour with heartfelt moments, Mo is a binge-able Netflix series that follows the steps of Mo Najjar, portrayed by American stand-up comedian Mo Amer.
Mo is a Palestinian refugee who does everything he can to earn a living while being one step away from securing his US citizenship. The series authentically depicts the challenges and joys of his turbulent journey.
“Telling the story of undocumented immigrants within strict time constraints and the comedic genre is no easy task, but each episode gives viewers fresh insight, quips to laugh about and definitely things to ponder,” Meera Navlakha of Mashable wrote.
Despite the situations Mo finds himself in, the series hits home because of the delicate balance with which relatable themes such as family, resilience and pursuing our dreams are brought to the screen.
The cast members bring the characters to life with great depth and authenticity.
Omar Elba’s performance as Mo’s autistic brother, Sameer, has been praised by the autism spectrum disorder community for its accuracy.
“As someone who worked with special needs children, Elba’s performance was incredible and done so well,” a social media user wrote.
“As a mum of a kid with special needs, [Elba’s] tremendous portrayal is so touching,” another said.
Mo masterfully balances comedy and drama, making the series an enjoyable and thought-provoking watch.
“Mo is the real deal. This is your new favourite Netflix show of the week. Promise,” journalist Graeme Tuckett wrote.
Mo is also a refreshing watch. Muslim and Arabic people are depicted in a different light — none of the usual ‘terrorist’ cliches often seen on screen. To me, this is unprecedented, but it is about time! Representation matters, and Mo adds to the diversity we’re only just starting to see more of in TV. It’s a significant step forward.
Seeing all the hoops Mo must get through to survive and take care of his family, always with humour, allows viewers to reflect on the realities of being undocumented and makes you even more appreciative of your life. In the end, Mo celebrates the incredible grit and resilience we show as humans when faced with challenges.
Mo has a perfect 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Mo has won the Gotham Award for Best Breakthrough Series and the Peabody Award for Best Entertainment, while Mohammed Amer was nominated for Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Mo’s first season is on Netflix, and the second season is supposed to drop this year (no date has been released).
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