The Sympathizer
Summary
The brand - new MAX seriesThe Sympathizer , co - create and directed by legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan - Wook , looks to continue the theme of the auteur ’s underrated Vengeance Trilogy . Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen , The Sympathizerchronicles the write up of an nameless communist spy during the wane days of the Vietnam War . As Saigon shine , mainThe SympathizercharacterThe Captain ( play by Hoa Xuande ) is pressure to undertake a more dangerous mission infiltrating the United States . The germ material is equal part tragic , thrilling , and hilarious , and is proving to be a perfect fit for Park Chan - Wook .
The first instalment shows The Captain sour for the secret police force operating within Saigon while at the same time assist as a spy for North Vietnam . His unfeigned loyalties are enshroud from the General he works for ( Toan Le ) , his CIA handler Claude ( Robert Downey Jr. in multipleSympathizerroles ) , and even his best ally Bon ( Fred Nguyen Khan ) . As the South Vietnamese army collapses , it becomes obvious who ’s going to win the warfare . The Captain is hold the task of arrange for an escape to Americaso that the General and member of the secret police can fend off coarse retribution for their actions during the war .
Robert Downey Jr. ’s novel limited series The Sympathizer is usable solely on HBO & MAX . Here ’s how to watch the entire serial .
The Sympathizer TV Show Sets Up A Series-Long Revenge Plot
The General’s Path of Revenge
The Captain is forced to follow the General to America to continue spying on him because it ’s explicitly stated that the General intends to seek revenge against the raw communist authorities of Vietnam . This wee common sense because the General suffer everything : his riches , his status , and his land . In the preview for the upcoming episodes , it ’s even shown that he ’s put up a small army , potential with a plan to violently infiltrate Vietnam and cause further ferment . The rest of the series will follow this hard desire for revenge within the General , and within the man still loyal to him .
The General ’s entourage barely makes it onto the plane active while being bombarded by enemy heavy weapon , and several of them cash in one’s chips during the effort . Bon , The Captain ’s salutary friend and blood brother , loses his wife and infant son when they ’re kill in the blast . Already a unswerving anti - comunist , Bon will belike join in on the General ’s plans to recapture Vietnam . This could turn up violently disastrous , and if it ’s ever revealed that The Captain is on the QT a communist then their friendly relationship will be torn to shreds . The wide-eyed attain consequences of retaliation often show to be powerful thematic material , and it ’s something that Park Chan - Wook has explored before .
Park Chan-Wook Could Continue His Vengeance Trilogy Through The Show
His Vengeance Tales Could Explore Consequences
Park Chan - Wook is a notable filmmaker within his home base country of South Korea , but his most well known film worldwide is still the 2003 revenge thrillerOldboy . What fan may not realize is that Oldboy is the second celluloid in a trilogy that concenter on the theme of revenge , known on the side as Park Chan - Wook ’s Vengeance Trilogy . This underrated set of celluloid , includingSympathy For Mr. VengeanceandLady Vengeanceare disturbing , wild , and unflinching in their characterisation of how the desire for revenge can consume people and destroy not only their own lives , but the lives of everyone around them .
The Sympathizeris shaping up to be a chance for Park Chan - Wook to return to these ideas , and explore them on an even grander scale than in his earliest films . It ’s not just family appendage or freedom that the grapheme lose , but an entire country . Whatever plan the General concocts will almost surely give out , and the fallout could cause irreparable damage . Park Chan - Wook , given the running sentence of a miniskirt - serial vs that of a movie , will have the opportunity to delve into these consequences and continue the Vengeance Trilogy ’s rich thematic bequest .
Robert Downey Jr. will earn more than $ 2 million per episode on HBO ’s upcoming series The Sympathizer from Oldboy theater director Park Chan - wook .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
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Based on the novel by Viet Thanh Nuyen , The Sympathizer explores the last days of the Vietnam War through the eye of a half - Vietnamese , half - Gallic undercover agent serving for the communist regime . The TV serial publication adaption is set - up as a mini - series and will likely still be framed as a confession from the protagonist as they make their room through the war . Photo is of the original novel cover .
Based on the novel by Viet Thanh Nuyen, The Sympathizer explores the last days of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a half-Vietnamese, half-French spy serving for the communist regime. The TV series adaptation is set-up as a mini-series and will likely still be framed as a confession from the protagonist as they make their way through the war. Photo is of the original novel cover.
