Ep 1. Mr. Song

Little America is a heart-warming anthology series that tells the stories of immigrants and their experiences living in America. Season 2 episode 1, titled Mr. Song, follows the journey of a Taiwanese immigrant named Ai-jen Song who moves to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player.

The episode begins with Ai-jen, who is now an elderly man, packing up his belongings and leaving his home in Virginia to move to an assisted living facility in California. As he drives across the country, he reflects on his past and the journey that brought him to America.

Flashback scenes take us back to the 1960s, when a young Ai-jen is living in Taipei, Taiwan. Tennis is his passion, yet he is not taken seriously by his family or peers. They believe that playing tennis is a frivolous pursuit and that he should focus on finding a more practical career. However, Ai-jen is determined to pursue his dream and convinces his family to let him study abroad in the United States.

Once in America, Ai-jen encounters many difficulties. He struggles to find a tennis coach who will take him seriously and cannot afford the expensive equipment required to play at a competitive level. Despite this, he continues to practice tirelessly, often playing against brick walls or practicing footwork on his own.

Ai-jen also faces discrimination and prejudice due to his race. In one powerful scene, he is denied entrance to a tennis club because he is Asian. It is a stark reminder of the racism and xenophobia that immigrants like Ai-jen faced during this time period.

Despite the odds, Ai-jen perseveres. With the help of a kind-hearted tennis coach who takes him under his wing, Ai-jen begins to gain recognition as a talented player. He is scouted by college coaches and offered a full sports scholarship to play at a university in California.

The episode also explores Ai-jen's personal life. He falls in love with a woman named Maria, who is also Taiwanese and studying in America. Their relationship faces obstacles due to cultural differences and the pressures of their families back home. Ultimately, Ai-jen's drive and passion for tennis put a strain on their relationship and he chooses to focus on his career.

Back in the present day, Ai-jen arrives at the assisted living facility in California. He is initially hesitant about his new living situation, but soon makes friends with the other residents. He also discovers that there is a tennis court on the grounds and begins to play again for the first time in years.

Overall, Mr. Song is a touching and inspiring episode that highlights the resilience and determination of immigrants who came to America in search of a better life. It is a story of chasing dreams, facing discrimination, and finding connection and community in unexpected places.