Bling Empire: New York review: Grating display of opulence & an impossible binge

Bling Empire: New York sees extremely wealthy Asian-American socialites leading lives of luxury, comfort, and endless parties in the titular city.

Story

Episode 1 of Bling Empire: New York introduces all the wealthy characters the camera crew will follow around for the rest of the series as they go about their many lavish vanities at parties, gatherings, and just about anywhere.

Dorothy Wang, whose family net worth is $4 billion, moves to New York City, to start anew and dive into the pool of possibilities when it comes to bachelor, available young men.

When the Hungs throw a couture party, the outspoken and free-spirited Dorothy arrives fashionably late. However, it doesn’t go well with Deborah Hung and her husband Stephen Hung.

This ignites the rivalry between Deborah and Dorothy which will remain asunder throughout the runtime of the series. Next up, Richard Chang of the wellness businesses throws a party, which is also a charity for pancreatic cancer treatment.

However, Dorothy and Tina are rubbed the wrong way, citing Richard’s one-sided and business-minded approach to this new friendship. Meanwhile, Nam Laks, the daughter of an ultra-rich Thai businessman, spends a bit too much on the shopping spree, attracting her father’s disappointment.

Couture jewelry designer Lynn Lam’s husband, Jett, offends her friend Blake, a fashion magazine editor/actor. Elsewhere, Richard faces backlash from Dorothy and Tina when they feel continually used by him.

A trip to Long Island is planned and in spite of all the flaring in-group tensions, the following events end up on a sweet note. Another trip, this time to the Bahamas, sees everyone trying to help Tina contend with a really tough period that she’s currently going through in her life.

Vika, Richard’s girlfriend, has a fight with him before the trip and while she stops responding to his messages, she has Lynn’s judgments to endure after she tries sharing some of her problems with her.

Tina has a breakdown, triggered by trauma, while Dorothy finds great company in a man named Ari she meets during the Bahamas trip. The last day of the trip sees everyone grow a bit closer than before, while Jett and Richard have a bonding session playing basketball and shopping for saucy outfits.

While Tina tries to give dating another shot, facing a real stinker of an experience as a result, Dorothy’s dynamic with Ari continues to grow more and more solid as their romance blooms.

Richard and Vika make up while Blake meets his mother after having met his cousin and talked about how his family’s expectations regarding his life partner and children differs from his expectations regarding the same.

Bling Empire: New York ends with Nam graduating, Jett making a big decision, and Dorothy finding love, while Richard and Vika stand still as a result of conflicting expectations regarding the appropriate time to move forward with their relationship.

Positives

Every now and then, there appear certain glimpses of some cool fits and fashion, even if most of the stuff just assaults the senses with its overblown maximalism.

Negatives

The point of Bling Empire: New York may elude many as it’s hard to grasp what kind of relatability or lessons in empathy for the opulent is one supposed to enjoy here.

The battles and rivalries in the series are incredibly taxing on mental health as scripted sequences are delivered anything but justice.

The background tracks change at every other scene cut and a new putrid piece of music provides the fitting backdrop for an equally putrid conversation playing out between the socialites.

Verdict

Even for reality TV trash, Bling Empire: New York is exceptionally vexing. From despicable displays of vanity, juvenile jealousy, and underserved wealth, the series makes it nearly impossible for the viewer to get through to the end in one sitting.

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