Web Series Review: "Do Better" Puts Black and Asian-American Millennials Front and Center
What makes independent creators unique is their ability to make something out of nothing. Take Issa Rae, for example. Best known for her work in the HBO show Insecure, the quirky creative jump-started her career in the entertainment industry by creating and starring in the hit web series, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl. By being in front and behind the camera, Rae was able to portray herself as a nerdy, funny, and well, awkward Black gal. And thanks to the show’s popularity and successful Kickstarter campaign, Rae was able to carve herself a path to Hollywood. Now the star is in several television shows and films, including Little, A Black Lady Sketch Show, and The Lovebirds.
I see alot of Rae in Black writer Amie Darboe and Asian-American director Christine Chen. Like Rae, these women of color utilize their talents to create content for people who look and act them. With their new web series Do Better, Darboe and Chen are putting Black and Asian-American faces on the digital screen while tackling hot button issues such as interracial dating, income inequality, and mental health.
Living Single with a dash of Girlfriends, Do Better follows six Black and Asian-American friends living it up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Together, this eclectic bunch navigates everyday problems such as love, finances, and careers. A little messy, but lovable, this crew will always find ways to support one another. That is until Brenda (Lucy Nguyen), an Asian-American woman, invites her white boyfriend of a couple of months, Liam (Jonathan Flanders), to dinner with friends. This relationship immediately creates a rift between the buds as they try to decide if Brenda’s boo is right for her. To some, Liam is a decent dude, while for others, he’s a privileged nuance.
Other members of this diverse friend squad include troubled married interracial couple, Justin and Malika (Jeremy Rashad Brown and Sanchita Malik), outspoken Asian-American gay man, Tom (John Elvis), cool boho biracial artist, Priscilla (Shay Yo-Welch), and proud single Black girl, April (Fatsuma Abdulkadiri).
In terms of the story, Brenda’s arc is the most intriguing. Though interracial dating is much more accepted, some people still have problems with these types of relationships. With Darboe manning the script, the show discusses all sides of the issue, including the concept of Asian fetishization and the dynamics of raising multiracial children, all while being lighthearted and fun. Watching Brenda and Liam get interrogated by her friends through forced hang out sessions is both cringeworthy and hilarious. And the fact that these friends are real with each other is refreshing. No matter if it’s marital problems or sexual health, these friends are willing to talk their problems out.
Ensemble casts can either make or break a television series. And the stakes are even higher for short-form web series since you don’t have alot of time to flesh out the characters. Thankfully, the actors who portray the crew are a solid bunch. From having dinner at the pad to interrogating Liam at the spa, these cast of characters plays off of each other well. Notable performances include John Elvis as Tom. Funny and assertive, Elvis’s performance as Tom is thrilling to watch. His charisma and smile light up the screen. It is also great to see an Asian-American man, particularly a gay Asian American, on the screen, which is sadly a rare thing to see. Moreover, Malik and Abdulkadiri do a great job showing how women navigate their mental and sexual health. Sure it is super awkward to watch Malika, a gynecologist, give April a pap smear, but they carried the scene with care.
But the most intriguing thing about Do Better is how gorgeous it looks. Director Chen films Black and Asian bodies exceptionally well. You can tell this director studied from the likes of Ava DuVernay and Lulu Wang, who are known for shooting BIPOC actors with spectacular lighting. One notable example of this is when Brenda introduces Liam to her friends at a swanky hipster restaurant in episode one. The combination of the LED string lights, the greenery, and the actors' placement makes for a beautiful scene. And the musical choices are good too. You cannot help but bop your head to the fresh electronic beats of Flames by Dan Henig or the soothing tone of Sleeplessness by The Brothers Records. That said, the sound quality can get a bit wonky at times, particularly in episode one, but that’s a minor detail.
Darboe and Chen are an interesting duo. Their ability to create a web series during a pandemic is inspiring. And thanks to the drama’s tight writing and beautiful directing, Do Better manages to capture the lives of young Black and Asian-American millennials realistically. With their unique voices and point of view, these women of color have the creative chops to make it in Hollywood and beyond. I look forward to seeing what these talented ladies create next.
The first five episodes of Do Better is currently available on YouTube. The series finale will premiere on Thursday, July 16th, at 7:30 PM CT. You can also watch the entire first episode below.
Poster And Video By Darboe Productions, LLC
- - -
How to Support Hi, Phylecia: Like, follow, or share my work on Twitter or Instagram. And please feel free to buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. Your contributions allow me to work on this blog.
