“The Sympathizer."

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“The Sympathizer” (HBO) historical black comedy drama, based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Premise: A North Vietnam plant in the South Vietnam army is forced to flee to the United States with his general near the end of the Vietnam War. While living within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he continues to secretly spy on the community and report back to the Viet Cong, struggling between his original loyalties and his new life.



       Honestly, if these guys simply told the story as is or the way stories were used to be told in Hollywood--no artsy pretensions such as “black comedy” detours--I'd enjoy this series more.

       Central character is the Captain, convincingly played by Hoa Xuande though he lacks schtick to deliver some “comedy.” However, I couldn't sense humor or laughter in such a heavy-ass premise. At times lumbering, sometimes moralizing, somewhere I couldn't imagine how'd they end the ride. 

       Thanks to Robert Downey Jr. whose several antagonist roles provided the much-needed entertainment. An agent who mentors the Captain; the Captain's “Orientalist” grad school professor; a Congressman in Southern California trying to appeal to the local Vietnamese American population; an auteur filmmaker making a film on the Vietnam War, inspired by Francis Ford Coppola and John Landis; and The Priest who is the Captain's father. 🎥📺📽

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