The Brothers Sun Review (Netflix) Tell the story of the Chinese mindset in America through the mafia culture!

The Brothers Sun The 8-episode Original Netflix series concludes with the story of Charles Sun, the top assassin in Taiwan, who has to go to LA to protect his mother and younger brother after his father is mysteriously assassinated. His younger brother, unaware of the family’s dark secrets, is thrust into the world of danger.

 

The Brothers Sun Revew (No Spoilers)

 

The series from Brad Falchuk , the creator of renowned shows like Glee, American Horror Story, and Pose, reflects the diversity of stories in American society. “The Brothers Sun” explores a unique narrative by delving into the Taiwanese gang influence in America, blending action and drama with dark comedy. The story revolves around the Sun family, where the father and elder brother wield power in Taiwan, while the mother and younger brother hide in LA. The younger brother, unaware of the family’s criminal activities, discovers the truth when their father is mysteriously assassinated. The elder brother must journey to protect his mother and younger brother, uncovering a complex web of gang rivalries and conspiracies. However, the narrative takes unexpected turns when he finds his mother and younger brother leading lives distinct from the gang, And he also meets a childhood Girl friend who has grown up in America and is now an prosecutor here.

The series focuses on showcasing action scenes as its main highlight, particularly those designed with beautifully choreographed martial arts sequences, reminiscent of Chinese and Hong Kong action films. However, it upgrades the style to a more stylish and sophisticated look, similar to Hollywood action movies. Firearms are incorporated into the fight scenes, and the series immediately opens with a display of impressive martial arts from the very beginning. These intense action scenes are seamlessly woven into each episode, with each one featuring unique and diverse characters, each portraying their own distinct and non-repetitive action sequences. Each scene is consistently action-packed, providing a continuous and satisfying flow of intense moments throughout the series.

But what is even better is the well-written narrative about the social and cultural life of Chinese people in America. This is portrayed through characters of a mother and a brother who adapt so well to being Chinese-Americans. However, they have to deal with an older brother who still holds on to traditional Chinese values and respects the parents more than anything else. This creates conflicts as the older brother, who often has conflicting views, sees the mother protecting the younger sibling in a way that he deems inappropriate. Despite this, he reluctantly goes along with it. He begins to learn about life in a new society that differs from the one he has known throughout his life.

The storyline portrays him as someone who enjoys cooking and finds happiness in small things. However, his personal choices are limited by the role of an assassin imposed on him by his strict father. This makes him unable to live the life he truly desires. This is in contrast to the mother, who is flexible and allows her child to follow their desired path. As a result, the mother decides to estrange the younger brother from the gang and wants him to become a doctor, which conflicts with the older brother’s role as an essential assassin under the father’s orders. The older brother tries to resist and pull the younger brother into the gang, claiming a connection through their family lineage in accordance with the traditional Chinese beliefs.

In addition, there is also the story of a close female Chinese friend who turns out to be an prosecutor in LA. However, she has such a positive impact on him that he starts to feel and wish to reciprocate her feelings. Yet, they are bound by the gang’s rule that strictly prohibits any contact or communication with the police. The love that develops between them becomes even more complicated as it contradicts both of their duties. These conflicting issues seem like common problems, but the series gradually intensifies this storyline, putting immense pressure on the characters until they seem almost trapped with no way out.

Before finding a resolution, the series skillfully explores the deep wounds of the characters, especially Charles Sun, in a reasonable and unexpected manner.

Although the main character who shines in both action and dramatic scenes is the older brother, Charles Sun, the role of the younger brother, Bruce, is not inferior. He moved to America at a young age, not knowing much about his older brother and the gang life. Despite his initial dream of becoming a live comedy performer on stage, he is compelled to study medicine to meet his mother’s expectations. His life is somewhat nerdy, but getting to know his older brother gradually strengthens him. He develops a desire to help his family escape from the gang’s problems. He sees the emotional scars on his mother and older brother from a father he never knew, but whose influence reached America.

Bruce has unconventional ways that bring surprising and comical twists to the story, providing a humorous escape route from challenging situations. The character of the mother, played by Michelle Yeoh, is instrumental in planning and supporting him, even though she may have a supporting role. She consistently contributes to crucial scenes, serving as the main brain behind the gang with important secrets. Her presence is a significant reason for being in America, beyond the desire for Bruce to have a different life.

 

This series is filled with cultural stories, thought processes, and the way of life of Chinese people in America in a straightforward manner, touching on almost everything. The only exceptions are small comedic parodies. Moreover, the characters, aside from Bruce, often speak Chinese among themselves, even though they are perfectly fluent in English. Viewers who choose to use dubbed audio must rely on subtitles, making it a bit annoying. There is also a mix of English and Chinese dialogue in each conversation, aiming for authenticity by using Chinese idioms and keeping outsiders from understanding. For example, when characters don’t want Bruce to know something, they speak in Chinese since he can barely understand it. There are also many jokes that play on Bruce’s limited Chinese language skills, highlighting the issues faced by the younger generation of overseas Chinese who often neglect or ignore their heritage.

The series concludes with a clear resolution of the entire storyline in just 8 episodes, but it leaves a small post-credit scene suggesting that there could be more to come. From the looks of it, a continuation seems likely, especially considering the positive reception from Asian viewers who are likely to appreciate it. The series has been well-received, and it seems to have successfully satisfied the audience.

 

This action-packed dark comedy drama series revolves around a Taiwanese-Chinese gang in America, delivering a unique and entertaining experience. The show features stylish and intense action scenes with bloodshed in every episode. The characters possess distinct charms and identities, and the plot delves deep into the power struggles within the gang, centered around the Sun family’s differing perspectives as Chinese immigrants from Taiwan compared to those from the mainland. The narrative gradually intensifies, squeezing out a compelling and complex storyline. While there are occasional plot twists, the series manages to conclude the storyline satisfactorily in this season, leaving room for potential continuation, as hinted in the post-credits scene.

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