REVIEW: Sandra Oh takes ‘The Chair’ to the top of its class

“The Chair” is on Netflix. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 September 2021
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REVIEW: Sandra Oh takes ‘The Chair’ to the top of its class

  • New Netflix comedy isn’t afraid to find laughs among serious issues

LONDON: In a world dominated by true crime, big-budget fantasy and reality TV, Netflix has stumbled upon that rarest of gems — a truly great original comedy show. Perhaps ‘stumbled upon’ is a little unfair. Any show that casts Sandra Oh and Jay Duplass as its leads and includes David Duchovny playing a ludicrous version of himself clearly has an instinct for comedy. But in addition to the laughs, “The Chair” is packed with smarts too.




Oh plays Dr Ji-Yoon Kim, the new chair of English at the fictional (yet clearly New England-inspired) Pembroke University. (Supplied)

Oh plays Dr Ji-Yoon Kim, the new chair of English at the fictional (yet clearly New England-inspired) Pembroke University. With enrolments dropping in classes taught by her aging staff, and her exciting young professors butting heads with the out-of-touch senior management, Kim has more plates spinning than most. So the last thing she needs is for her recently bereaved friend, colleague and crush Dr Bill Dobson (Duplass) to wind up at the center of a scandal surrounding an off-hand comment during a lecture.

“The Chair” somehow manages to cram a plethora of different issues into its six short episodes. And all of them — be it cancel culture, systemic racism, institutional misogyny, freedom of speech, the gender pay gap or a dozen others — avoid being glossed over or skirted around. And what’s even more impressive is it’s done without scrimping on the laughs, whether scripted or physical.

At the heart of the show’s success is Oh’s pitch-perfect balance of quiet strength, empowered agency, and brilliant comedic timing. Duplass is equally entertaining, and when two lead actors clearly enjoy sparking off one another so much, the rest of the show takes care of itself — though creators Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman deserve great credit too.

“The Chair” is funny, clever and smart — and unafraid of tackling some pretty serious issues. Jokes about topics such as fascism don’t typically make for great comedy shows, but this one is a welcome exception to the rule.


Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris

Updated 3 min 45 sec ago
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Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris

DUBAI: Siblings Razan and Ahmed Hassan presented their Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, continuing the rapid rise of their KML label.

The duo has gained international recognition since launching the brand in 2022, most recently being named semifinalists for the LVMH Prize — a prestigious annual award for emerging designers.

Creative director Ahmed’s minimalist designs and sharp tailoring mean KML — owned by his sister, Razan — has built its identity around reimagining traditional Saudi garments through a contemporary lens. Jackets are paired with shawl-like elements, large leather belts recall those historically worn by Bedouin men, and skirts nod to silhouettes once worn by men in the Eastern Province, Jazan and the Hijaz.

The collection leans on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions. (Getty Images)

The approach is reflected in the new collection, which features a restrained palette of black, white and muted earth tones, leaning on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions.

Flowing skirts, structured wrap tops and robe-like coats dominate the lineup, with some looks referencing classical draping while others lean toward utilitarian dressing, defined by sharp shoulders, cinched waists and clean, architectural lines.

In a previous interview with Arab News, Ahmed said their grandmother was a huge influence on their lives as he and his sister grew up in Riyadh. He fondly recalled both her progressive nature and inimitable style. As a young boy, Ahmed would often accompany her to fabric shops so she could get her designs stitched by a local tailor. The experience left an impression, though fashion was not an obvious initial career path.

Ahmed studied architecture and became an intern at Zaha Hadid Architects, where he developed an appreciation for structure and form. Razan, meanwhile, pursued law at Prince Sultan University and she went on to practice full-time.

“One summer, we both realized we weren’t doing what we truly wanted to do, so I decided to go to the UK to study creative writing, and Ahmed went to Central Saint Martins (in London) for a few courses,” Razan explained.

That was the catalyst for KML. In August 2023, they launched their debut capsule collection and towards the end of that year they applied to the Saudi 100 Brands program. The Fashion Commission recognized their potential, helping KML launch collections at fashion weeks in Paris, Riyadh and Milan.