Netflix’s Bling Empire is More Than Crazy Rich Asians or a Bravo TV Cast-Off

(Last Updated On: February 13, 2021)

There’s been a lot of buzz about Netflix’s new show Bling Empire. It’s been sold as a real-life Crazy Rich Asians, and at first, I was afraid I’d be watching one of those reality shows that only chronicles the parties and lives of the idle rich. However, Bling Empire features diversity and substance over the course of eight episodes as we get to know each of our main characters.

Credit: Netflix

Bling Empire uses their lavish parties and fashionistas to entice viewers but there is so much more to this show. At the center of the series is model and actor Kevin Kreider. He’s newish to Los Angeles and to the Asian community. He’s quickly befriended by this group of sparkly, Asian-American friends. His best friend is Kane Lim, the son of a Singapore billionaire. Kane becomes Kevin’s social and fashion influencer and teaches him to dress properly. These two are really fun together.

We learn the main reason that Kevin doesn’t know Asian culture is that he’s adopted and he’s beginning to want to find his birth parents. He meets Kim Lee, a famous DJ in East Asia, who wants to find her biological father, even though she’s close to her mom and stepdad. The two of them bond over this and Kevin helps Kim with her issue. It was scenes like this that were my favorite.

Credit: Netflix

Christine Chiu, a couture fashion hunter seems to be the one most likely to appear on the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” or a “Real Housewives,” spin-off. She’s married to a plastic surgeon and has a one-year-old referred to as “Baby G,” Her husband wants to have another child, but they’d have to use a surrogate and that’s frowned on in Asian culture. Instead, she throws Baby G a birthday party that had to cost at least a million dollars. Christine and Anna Shay, the daughter of a billionaire defense contractor, seem to always be butting heads. Anna is not afraid to speak her mind and push Christine’s buttons.

I had the privilege of chatting with beautiful and sweet Kelli Mi Li. I felt for her in this series. She’s with a controlling boyfriend Andrew Gray, whose biggest claim to fame was that he once played a Power Ranger. She’s also a love interest for Kevin.

Credit: Netflix

Throughout the series, we see petty conflicts like any reality series. We had an entire episode about a penis pump theft. However, the series covered many serious issues, cultural expectations, unhealthy relationships, surrogacy, adoption, and birth parents. It’s just difficult with reality shows to know how much of it is truly authentic and how much of it is prompted or scripted.

I would like to believe it’s authentic because we need more diversity on TV and from what the cast and crew have stated, it’s almost impossible for Asians to be open and vulnerable. This show gave them that chance.

At this point, I’ve binged six out of the eight episodes. I applaud what the cast has done. It was brave for them to be that personal about parts of their lives. Bling Empire premieres on Netflix today.

4/5

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