Secrets Of China - 2015 - 5/10
Maddening three part BBC doc ought to be called Billie Takes Selfies In China.
Presenter Billie JD Porter whines, complains, pouts, acts disrespectful, and helps us understand China.
Evidently, she did no homework before filming began. Not even a few Mandarin words.
In one episode, she visits a boot camp for kids failing in school because of attitude problems or games addiction.
Billie encourages one of the girls to fight on, resist!
Yet Billie will return to her posh life soon enough, and her advice could be disastrous if any students followed it.
Another episode focuses on marriage mania, and the insane money involved.
Third show displays the widening gap between poor and ultra rich. Hey, didn’t Mao lead a revolution?
Billie pretends to embrace and commiserate with common folk, but she is obviously drawn to glitz and wealth.
Interesting points are made throughout, though the self absorbed host is distracting and culturally clueless.