THE SYMPATHIZER
Starring: Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, and Sandra Oh
Creators: Don McKellar, Park Chan-wook
ADRIANO
I can't quite explain the joy of watching a show like The Sympathizer on a weekly basis. With Park Chan-wook at the helm, his style and unapologetic pacing make way for an entertaining show that's also gripping and stunning to experience. While its themes of colonialism and loss of identity hit home, the show never misses out on an opportunity to get into the weeds of its central character. Robert Downey Jr.'s headline-making performance (or performances, I suppose) is great, but Hoa Xuoande deserves just as much praise, if not more. There's simply nobody doing it like Park Chan-wook.
AMARÚ
There’s a very peculiar tone to Park Chan-wook’s The Sympathizer that is as eccentric as the many characters Robert Downey Jr. portrays. That energetic frequency enhances the dynamic nature of Chan-wook’s direction and Kim Ji-yong’s cinematography, but creates a massive tonal whiplash when compared to the show’s subject matter. This kept me constantly detached from the story no matter how engaging it appears to be, mostly because, even with a first-person narrative guiding you through it, I could never fully connect with its characters. The show is gorgeous to look at, but I couldn’t really tell you a memorable thing about it.
CALEB
The Sympathizer is a snappy, fine-tuned, political thriller bursting at the seams with intrigue and suspense. All the double-crossing and espionage are made even more exciting by Park Chan-wook’s unhinged directorial decisions. With all the wild transitions, wacky needle-drops, and intricately costumed Robert Downey Juniors (yes, plural), Chan-wook’s creativity seems almost endless. Underneath all of the visual insanity lies a genuinely moving story about identity that’s elevated by Hoa Xuande’s dynamic lead performance. The finale definitely becomes a little too convoluted for its own good, but The Sympathizer is still one of 2024’s best shows.
