Mo Amer is back on our screens with his hilarious alter ego (Mo Najjar) battling the complexities of the U.S-Mexico border. Netflix’s comedy series Mo, makes its return to the streaming platform for its second season airing January 30.
The show, cleverly created by comedian Mo Amer in collaboration with Ramy Youssef, took audiences on a journey through the life of Mo in its first season. In season 2, Mo — a Palestinian refugee who resides in Houston — finds himself stuck in Mexico with neither a passport nor a clear path home after being stranded for six months.
The show depicts the day-to-day challenges and humorous encounters as he waits for a favourable decision on his asylum case. Now, Mo must navigate a foreign land as he clings to the hope of reuniting with his family on the other side of the border.
Season two takes a deeper dive into Mo’s resilient spirit. Despite dealing with one misadventure after another—including learning that his girlfriend, Maria, has moved on—Mo’s optimism doesn’t waver. In a classic Mo style, even the darkest of moments are infused with a touch of comedy and brightness.
The season also sees the return of familiar faces like Farah Bsieso, who plays Mo’s ever-supportive mother, Yusra, and Omar Elba, Mo’s well-meaning brother. This season also welcomes an interesting lineup of guest stars including Hannibal Buress, Liza Koshy, and rapper Slim Thug, promising to add even more spice to Mo’s already colorful journey.
Mo excels in shedding light on the opaque realities faced by many refugees and immigrants. It tackles profound questions about identity, the often cold mechanics of the immigration system, and the dehumanizing processes that can strip away one’s sense of belonging. Yet, the show handles these themes with a delicate and compelling mix of humor and poignancy that only Amer seems able to master.
With the storytelling retaining the same sharp wit and cultural insights as its first season, “Mo” strikes an important balance between comedy and serious social commentary. It’s this dual nature that keeps viewers thinking long after the laughter fades.