Netflix’s ‘The Chair’ Doesn’t Pull the Seat Right from Under You

Greetings fellow English Majors and Professors! Are you tired of the jokes and misrepresentation of our beloved department? Well, Sandra Oh is here to provide laughs, uncomfortable realities, and show it off to the world. The Chair is a new Netflix dramedy about the first appointed woman to lead the English department at Pembroke University. When you’re seen as the “underdog” major that’s facing threats of downsizing, every move you make feels like it can domino effect into a tragedy. I’d like to call to attention an important matter; academic hierarchies can create layers of trouble. In a predominantly white system that looks quick to cut out Black, Indigenous, and people of color, a seat at the head of the table can feel like a time of celebration and frustration. The Chair proves that even when you’re the head, you’re still seen as an appendix. Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim (Sandra Oh) consistently having to fight for respect among her colleagues, while fighting for her voice to her superiors, and while trying to address love and accountability in her personal life gets exhausting to look at. There’s always something. Which makes Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim so believable. Arrogant and Believable

THE CHAIR (L to R) HOLLAND TAYLOR as JOAN in episode 103 of THE CHAIR Cr. ELIZA MORSE/NETFLIX © 2021

Overall, I really appreciated how accurate The Chair handled some characters. Honestly, I’ve seen each of these professors at my college. Whether it’s the professor that chooses not to build on their curri…