HBO might definitely be a modern-day alchemist, as whatever they make is pure gold. From Euphoria to The Last of Us, they have one of the most competitive line-ups for any network. And now they are cooking up something bombastic with Robert Downey Jr. and Hoa Xuande; The Sympathizer is definitely something really special.
Talking about the opening of the show, it is entitled with positive ratings left, right, and center. Especially on Rotten Tomatoes, the show is crowned with an 88% on the Average Tomatometer, but the praises don’t really stop there. The Sympathizer is equipped with some of the most positive reviews of recent times.
The early reviews are saying that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel is getting justice, but what exactly are the reviews saying?
Firstly, Park Chan-wook is massively admired, and the Oldboy director nails the show. Hoa Xuande’s character doesn’t really have a name in the series; The Captain does make a name for himself with every frame.
In this narrative, the enigmatic figure of the Captain emerges as a complex amalgamation of cultural identities and allegiances, navigating a tumultuous landscape with skillful ambiguity. Actor Xuande adeptly embodies the character’s multifaceted persona, blending charisma with inscrutability in a portrayal that captivates and intrigues viewers.
And RDJ’s character is nothing but genius, or we have to say, RDJ’s characters are genius. All of them showcased a different aura, a different personality. And the makeup and hairstyling team did one of the best jobs of their lives; that’s for sure.
One great aspect of the show is the narration style; the story is multilayered, similar to the original novel, and it doesn’t disappoint. Even when the makers took liberty regarding what to show and went outside the book, they flawlessly made transitions and didn’t leave a trace of errors.
The Sympathizer also juggles between several serious topics which might look tougher on paper. Now, as a general viewer, this show might be a tidy but complicated, especially with such layered storytelling, but in terms of quality, this is unparalleled.
Is it the next big thing on HBO?
See, based on the quality and the execution, the show has immense potential, but sometimes, some things are just too complicated for general viewers to consume. Will The Sympathizer be one of them? On paper, it does look that way, but some shows were far more complicated than this band yet got some of the most amazing reactions ever. Let’s pay our homage to Dark.