A thought that went on for two decades and was written for nine years was “Mo”, a comedy-drama series that is finally out on Netflix. It is comedian Mohammed Amer’s first scripted series, which follows the life of a Palestinian refugee living in Houston, Texas, who is currently seeking asylum and citizenship in the United States.
The series has earned precarious recognition for being one of the first main American television shows to depict a Palestinian-American evacuee as the protagonist. It now holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. with the critic’s consensus on the site being: “Frequently hilarious while possessing an absorbing sense of place, Mo is a thoughtful depiction of the immigrant experience that is light on its feet.”
The show’s co-creators and showrunners are Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef, who also are the executive producers alongside Ravi Nandan, Hallie Sekoff, Solvan, “Slick” Naim, Harris Danow, and Luvh Rakhe. The director of the show is Solvan “Slick” Naim, and the production companies are A24, Mo-Amer, and Cairo Cowboy. Mohammed previously had his own comedy special, Mo Amer: The Vagabond, on stream. The main setting of this dramedy is the Houston suburb where Amer grew up. In the story based on his life, many dramatic flourishes are used for comedic or storytelling purposes.
Mo Release Date
The full season of the show released on August 24, 2022, with 8 episodes of 30 minutes each. In case you still haven’t watched it, you can now binge the whole show in one go!
Mo Cast
The Actor and stand-up comedian Mohammed “Mo” Amer plays the titular role in the new original series. Besides Amer, the show also starred Teresa Ruiz, Farah Bsieso, Omar Elba, and Tobe Nwigwe. If Ramy on Hulu excited you, this show is equally entertaining as it reunites Youssef and Amer. Amer was seen playing Ramy’s Muslim cousin Mo in the series. We also witnessed the American rapper and DJ Paul Wall and Bun-B as guest stars on the show.
Mo Storyline
This semi-autobiographical show gives insight into the trauma of displacement. Mohammed Amer’s family was first forced to leave home and travel to another part of Palestine in the 1940s. They were then displaced to Kuwait and then again in the 1990s during the Gulf War. He and his family eventually ended up in a suburb of Houston as refugees. It took Amer 20 years to become a US citizen.
The Netflix synopsis states, “Mo Najjar straddles the line between two cultures, three languages, and a ton of bullshit as a Palestinian refugee constantly living one step away from the asylum on the path to U.S. citizenship. His family — including his resilient and spiritual mother, sister, and older brother — flee to Houston, Texas. Laughing the pain away, Mo learns to adapt to his new world through getting ahead in life comes with several setbacks”.
It shows how his character, while in immigration limbo, cannot legally become an employee. So, he ends up sneakily selling knock-off luxury goods in order to provide for his family. He then winds up getting accustomed to codeine after he has to be considered for a gunshot wound at a tattoo parlor because of not being able to afford medical insurance. There are a number of themes on the show that illustrate the American experience: gun violence, healthcare problems, and immigration issues that force people to circumvent the law. “It’s tragic. It’s heartbreaking. It almost forces you to do illegal things while you’re trying to be an upstanding citizen,” Amer said.
Mo Episode Guide
Here is a brief of all eight episodes of the show:
Episode 1- ‘Hamoodi’ (August 24, 2022) Mo, an asylum-seeking Palestinian, gets fired from his job at a mobile store. He then ends up trading in merch and forgery products, irrespective of the disappointment in the people closest to him.
Episode 2- ‘Yamo’ (August 24, 2022) Even after enduring a difficult incident, Mo refuses to slow down, attending a wake with Maria. On the other hand, legal tensions rise to the surface, causing a family dispute to become more complicated.
Episode 3- ‘Remorse’ (August 24, 2022) A broken Mo is disturbed by nightmares and stress but comes to instant aid. Unfortunately, he is exposed to an alarming truth at a meeting with his new immigration lawyer.
Episode 4- ‘Moola’ (August 24, 2022) Just when Mo finds stability in his new gig, a merch deal goes downhill. In an attempt to expand the shop, Maria meets with an investor, but the pitch fails to meet her expectations.
Episode 5- ‘Tombstone’ (August 24, 2022) Mo visits an alienated family member to acquire a document for the Najjars’ refuge case. When Sameer gets into trouble, the family unites to help.
Episode 6- ‘Holy Matrimony’ (August 24, 2022) It’s Hameed’s wedding and Mo is in a tough spot- he is forced to work for Dante, but cannot even inform Maria or any of his family members.
Episode 7- ‘Testimony’ (August 24, 2022) As their asylum trial date approaches, Lizzie prepares the Najjars, and Yusra gets truthful, which leaves Mo tensed and drained as he struggles to deal with his new truth.
Episode 8- ‘Vamos’ (August 24, 2022) Mo discovers and accepts Yusra’s and Sameer’s business ideas, and later makes a deal with Buddy that leads him into uncharted territory.
Mo Trailer
The official trailer for the show was released on August 9, 2022. It describes the title character, Mo, who copes without citizenship in the U.S., or in Palestine, where his family is from. Mo does not have immigration documents and can’t receive a decent job, so he sells goods from the trunk of his car. In addition to operating his turbulent life as a refugee, Mo has to control his relationships with his religious girlfriend Maria. Arbitrary mother Yusra, and distressed brother Sameer. The preview hints that Mo will be a heartfelt dramedy full of bitter criticism of race, identity, and life in America as a migrant.
Where to watch Mo?
Mo is streaming exclusively on Netflix. One must purchase a subscription in order to enjoy the show.
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