When life gives you heartbreak, sometimes the grief can push you to do stupid things, but in The Accidental Influencer, it becomes a surprise social media sensation that changes the life of Red Ho. Based on the real life story of Taiwanese blogger Jhai Nyu Siao Hong, The Accidental Influencer isn’t afraid to get goofy with the story, turning a break-up that was devastating at the time, to something silly to laugh at, especially with Red Ho’s over-the-top imagination. While the show is a familiar story, it’s certainly a relatable one, and it’s executed in a fresh, if a bit ludicrous, way that makes it a decent pick. If, like Red, you happen to break up just before an important occasion (like this Valentine’s day), then The Accidental Influencer might be the show to watch to soothe your woes.
When Red’s boyfriend breaks up with her on her 30th birthday and throws himself at her new boss, she quits her job and signs up for a new Instagram account to start ranting about her shameless ex. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her posts go viral.
After her boyfriend leaves her for another woman, the life plans of 30-year-old Red Ho gets derailed, so she airs her grievances on social media– accidentally becoming a viral sensation.
The Accidental Influencer is certainly satirical, but it’s not totally mocking or dismissive of Red Ho, or the real life influencer the series was inspired by. That’s because while Red re-imagines the break-up with Chihming, or when her male manager dismisses her social media posts as frivolous, the series characterizes Red as someone who prioritizes other people’s feelings and expectations over that of her own, not necessarily because she wants to, but because she’s expected to. It’s sadly a relatable experience plenty of women share. When the humor isn’t focused on this idea and involves plenty of unhinged behavior, the humor falters, but when it focuses on the heart of things, The Accidental Influencer works.
No man is not worth all this trouble though!
