New Gold Mountain Season 1 Episode 1 Propriety Ep. 1

New Gold Mountain is a period drama set in late 19th century Australia, centered around the Chinese community in the goldfields. In the first episode, titled "Propriety Ep. 1," viewers are introduced to Lu Sheng, a Chinese immigrant who arrives in the bustling goldfields of Victoria looking for work and fortune. Lu Sheng is a former soldier who has fallen on hard times and lost his family, seeking refuge in the land Down Under.

We see Lu Sheng arriving in a train station and being stopped by the authorities for questioning, as the fear of Chinese immigrants taking jobs and resources from white Australians is rampant. After proving that he has a job lined up, Lu Sheng is allowed to proceed to New Gold Mountain, a Chinese mining settlement at the heart of the goldfields, where he is greeted by his sponsor, a successful merchant named Mei Quong Tart.

Mei takes Lu Sheng under his wing and shows him around the settlement, where he introduces him to the workings of the community. We see how the Chinese community has built their own institutions, complete with a school and ancestral halls, as they are barred from associating with white Australians and facing rampant discrimination. Mei explains to Lu Sheng the importance of propriety in their community, how every action reflects on their people as a whole, and how they must work together to ensure their survival and prosperity.

As Lu Sheng starts his job at a local mine, we see how the Chinese miners are forced to work longer hours and for less pay than their Australian counterparts, and how they are constantly in danger of being attacked or robbed by white gangs. Lu Sheng makes friends with a fellow miner named Zhang Wei, who he discovers is hiding a secret: he is actually a woman in disguise, trying to escape the fate of being sold into prostitution by her family.

As Lu Sheng becomes more involved in the community, he also meets the local Euro-Australian characters who are interwoven into the show's plot. We see Mayor William Henry Fancourt Mitchell, who is in charge of law and order in the region, but whose sympathies are clearly with the white Australian community. We also meet a reporter named Margaret, who is keenly interested in the Chinese community's stories, but is also struggling with her own internalized biases.

Overall, Propriety Ep. 1 sets up the foundation for the series, introducing the viewers to the world of New Gold Mountain and the complicated dynamics between the Chinese and Euro-Australian communities. We see how the Chinese community has built their own institutions and are fighting for their survival in a hostile environment, while also dealing with internal conflicts around tradition and modernity. The episode also hints at the larger themes the show will delve into, including gender dynamics, racism, and justice. It is a strong opening for the series and leaves the viewers eagerly anticipating the next chapter of the story.