The reality docusoap House of Ho premiered on HBO Max on December 10. The show follows a Vietnamese family who live in Houston, Texas. The Ho family is led by patriarch Binh, who's an ultra-rich banker and real estate mogul. House of Ho season 1 features seven episodes.
In addition to Binh, who is considered strict and stubborn, House of Ho features the rest of his immediate family, and some extended family too. Hue is Binh's wife and she is a loving but hard to please matriarch who is especially tough on the women of the family. Binh and Hue have three children. Judy (39) has always tried to do what is asked of her. Washington (38) is a party boy and heir to the family dynasty. Reagan is the youngest and virtually absent from the series. We also meet Lesley, Washington's eager-to-please wife, as well as Aunt Tina, who is a wildcard that loves to party. There is also Cousin Sammy, whom Washington confides in. Judy and Washington have children, and yes, they too are named after former American presidents.
Binh and Hue came to the US as refugees following the Vietnam War in 1975, with no knowledge of English and very little money to their name. Quintessential examples of the American Dream come true, thanks to lots of hard work, the Hos are now Crazy Rich Asians-level wealthy, with a lavish lifestyle that most people can only dream of enjoying. Their children have known nothing but a cushy American life, and it shows. The family is tight-knit, but the show shines a light on the tension and drama, which feels familiar to most, while also being culturally specific. Throughout the series, House of Ho takes a surprisingly honest look at intergenerational cultural clashes and toxic patriarchal expectations, without diving too deeply into the land of gossipy, scripted drama. See the show's stars in the official House of Ho trailer below:
The first episode starts on a high note, with the image of a perfect family being portrayed, but this image is soon complicated by Judy. While describing the impossible standards set by her parents, Judy explains the struggle she has faced when it comes to figuring out how to forge her own path. This is followed by her confessing to her whole family that she will be getting a divorce. This is a choice that Binh immediately says he won't support. The family is staunchly Catholic, and, according to Vietnamese tradition, a divorce puts a curse on the entire clan.
Lesley, Washington's wife, is also held to an extremely high standard, though in a different way than Judy is. Working full-time as a pharmacist, she also does the vast majority of parenting, and she is expected to keep an eye on Washington. This is to ensure that he doesn't party too hard or jeopardize his future as head of the family business. Despite all of this, she has a strained relationship with Hue, who sees Washington as the golden child.
In many ways, House of Ho is enticing viewers that look for shows like Netflix's Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, and Bravo's Family Karma, but it does so in a refreshing way that focuses more on documentary and less on the soap aspect of reality TV. While some viewers enjoyed the way the series honestly explored issues that children of immigrants face, others saw it as misrepresentative, given the Ho family's elite status. Very little time has passed since House of Ho premiered, so it remains to be seen how the show will fare against many reality competitors. Until we find out if House of Ho season 2 gets the green light, season 1 is available to watch and re-watch. It provides a bit of family drama without shying away from tougher topics.
Source: HBO Max/YouTube