Mind Your Manners

I enjoyed this show on the whole, especially Sara the etiquette coach who seemed genuine and really wanting to help. However, I had a few issues. There was only one male student in the series. As a man, I would have appreciated more. Some of the etiquette stuff seemed a bit dated. I would have preferred more etiquette about social media, smartphone usage, texting, etc. (I did like the guy's Tinder lesson). Also, they kept showing an image of New York City at the end, but the show does not take place there. The last time I checked, NYC does not have palm trees. This seemed a little disingenuous and pointless. Perhaps if it gets a second season they can do more.

Never heard of Sara Jane Ho until I stumbled on a review of this series, watched it in an afternoon. I hope all her students follow through with the healthy beginnings she made for them. She gets to the heart of the matter it seems, and helps people look for their best selves. She seems sweet and empathetic, stylish and relatable. The short episodes don't go into a lot of depth but are full of positive energy and multi-cultural zest. Her regular etiquette class of older Chinese women join in with each new client, becoming wonderful " aunties" to her lifestyle students, who range from moms looking to regain a sense of self, to a wild child who hides pain under caked on makeup and heavy drink. Worth enjoying for so much human interest. Would like to see a second season.

This show was cute with some likeable and relatable stories, There's a whole theme of self acceptance, body positivity, and improving goals. Sara seems so kind and genuine and just overall a classy woman. It had some cute and adult themed jokes. So, I didn't feel like I wasted time watching this show. However, I did had a few issues with the overall show... First it seems like Sarah had been reading some 1980s Cosmo magazines about "how to be a model" and watching too much My Fair Lady or something as there were many "gimmick" etiquette tips. For example walking with a book on your head for posture, saying the tongue twisters "the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" to help diction, even conversation tips ripped straight off Love on the Spectrum. These "tips" are something most of us already knew and if I was paying big bucks for an etiquette coach and they tried to teach me this I would have laughed.

The other major issue I had with this show is with all the etiquette out there, there were sooooo many repeated "lessons" almost like Sara or the writers ran out of material so not only does she "teach" her solo students but then the lesson is repeated later in the show with her class in the exact same way.

Anyway, overall cute show, and I learned a fact or two but don't expect to watch it and a Queen at your next event because most of the etiquette is basic knowledge or totally useless. Watch it for the heartfelt stories, body positivity and acceptance themes but just know you will probably recognize a lot of "tips" taken directly from other movies, tv shows, social media, and print.

I was hoping to learn something new or different, manners used by high class or something along the way. But there was nothing in particular, there are all basic good manners of eating, dressing, standing straight, walking etc.

Surprisingly a lot of Chinese propaganda, grew boring and predictable by episode 3 Chinese tea, chinese tai chi, chinese feng shu, chinese medicine, chinese doctor, chinese cutlery, chinese dumplings, chinese hot water, chinese outfit, chinese this, chinese that. OK I get it. I love the culture, but you don't have to remind me how great and unique and special it is at every 5 minutes. I KNOW, I got it the first time.

And what was the deal with the doctor being like "you seem to have a weak and tired heart" (while pressing on the hand pulse ) "OMG HOW DID YOU KNOW?" ... really now? He just did a very basic checkup, prescribed vitamins and a bit of acupuncture. Relax with the "You cannot hide anything from your Chinese doctor, he know everything! Chinese medicine is the best"

A likeable and easy enough to watch show. Sara Jane Ho is refreshingly charming and not at all the pompous host one might come to expect for a series about etiquette. The rapport she makes with many of the clients seems very genuine and spirit lifting. What i found very weird though is how the producers seemingly make every effort to disguise the fact that this is clearly filmed in Australia. Instead, scenes from various American cities are inserted to imply (?) that this is where the client now lives. The lighting, flora, street signs and abundance of Aussie accents repeatedly foil their attempts, however.