The Vietnam War is one of the most important chapters in both American and Vietnamese history. Like any other war, it brought suffering and tragedy. This show provides a Vietnamese point of view on it, which is rare and exciting. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, the show follows the journey of our protagonist, who is just referred to as “captain”, brilliantly portrayed by Hoa Xuande, as he grapples with his identity, loyalty, and the harsh realities of war.
The story is not really bothered to dive deep into the roots of the war and its causes, instead, it is interested in the consequences of war and how it has impacted the Vietnamese and the country itself. Our protagonist is a French-Vietnamese communist agent. He remains unnamed throughout the story, which is an interesting choice and one that drives a part of the intrigue. He is a man of two worlds, or as his mother called him, “twice of everything”. He often juggles his dualities, not only in his heritage and language but in almost every aspect of his life. He was raised in Vietnam but attended college in the US, He is a North Vietnamese mole, but he is friends with South Vietnamese soldiers while also being a CIA agent.
He often struggles to balance the two, and other is also a very interesting underlying theme about our oriental and occidental selves and how we use them. Hoa Xuande, who is still arguably finding his feet in the industry won the role and he knocked it out of the park. He truly took advantage of the opportunity and portrayed the man of two minds very convincingly. Sandra Oh is charming as always. Fred Nguyen Khan and Duy Nguyen also support well.
But the real scene-stealer here unsurprisingly is Robert Downey Jr. He plays multiple supporting roles here, most of which are antagonistic, and he is hilariously sharp and witty in each of the characters. You can clearly see that he had a ton of fun playing these wicked, and often over-the-top roles. Fresh off of his Oscar win, he seems to have set his eye on winning the Emmy next, and by his performance and the variety he displays, he definitely has a strong shot at claiming it.
Park Chan Wook, one of the most prominent filmmakers in South Korea, is one of the showrunners and also directed most of the episodes. He is known for his handling of dark humor with a brutal subject matter. His direction is nothing short of exemplary. He expertly crafts the right setting and tone with his unique vision of visual storytelling. He regularly leverages his actors’ skill with expressions and gestures for storytelling, which works most of the time to great effect. He is also one of the writers on every episode and the storytelling is what makes this show so good.
This is not just a story about a spy, but also about war, politics, differing ideologies and cultures, friendship, immigration and in many ways a story about cinema itself. One would imagine that it would be difficult to juggle so many themes at once while creating a captivating narrative at the same time, but writers do it with ease. The episodes are thoroughly engaging and well-paced. It keeps you invested in our lead’s journey as he deals with the struggles of being an undercover spy.
Another one of the show’s most compelling aspects is its unflinching portrayal of the reeducation policy imposed by the Vietnamese government following the war. The story is told through flashbacks and the captain narrates his experiences and interactions with his friends, comrades and adversaries. It also sheds light on the challenges of reconciliation and rebuilding in the aftermath of a conflict of such a magnitude, while also offering insightful commentary on the complexities of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring scars of war.
The Sympathizer is easily HBO’s best miniseries in years. It is a thematically rich and thought-provoking look at the Vietnam War through the eyes of an undercover spy. Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. both deliver exceptional performances, in what is largely a character-driven story. Park Chan-Wook is at the top of his game here and his vision and storytelling style are what make it a compelling and impactful miniseries. This show will surely resonate with audiences and do very well within the awards circuit.
The Sympathizer will premiere on HBO on April 14 and will air weekly until May 26.
