by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Historical dramas have always been a strong part to the TV landscape. This year has seen several released on the various streaming services. So far, I’ve seen almost 10 of them. Most of them are World War II related and a handful have to do with the early days of America. One show had the guts to deal with the Vietnam War, and naturally, HBO was the place to take it on.
The Sympathizer, based on the book by Viet Thanh Nguyen, follows the Captain (Hoa Xuande), a Communist spy for North Vietnam planted in the South. After the fall of Saigon, the Captain is sent to Los Angeles by his CIA handler, Claude (Robert Downey Jr.), as he tries to collect intel on the United States and help the Communist Party’s cause. As he gets more ingrained into life in America, the Captain feels conflicted about his beliefs.
Like many of this year’s historical dramas, The Sympathizer is amazing on a technical level. The costumes, hair, makeup, and set design are all outstanding. From Vietnam to Los Angeles, The Sympathizer feels like it was shot in the 1960s and ‘70s. Downey Jr. is the one who gets to benefit from the costumes and makeup the most, as he plays several characters, taking advantage of the eclectic wardrobe and hair styling. Even the way the series is shot is creative, as it feels grainy and looks like it was shot on actual film.
From a story standpoint, the bookends of the plot surround the Captain telling his story. This helps frame his experience and evolution. At first, you think he’s simply retelling his story. But throughout the series, he grows tremendously as a character, specifically in his beliefs. Since there are several layers to his character, the Captain has the luxury of telling things from his perspective, which also means his actions are justified in his eyes. Although he’s the main character and narrator, he’s wildly unreliable. Due to his spy work, the Captain can’t be taken at face value, even when he’s being debriefed at a camp. The structure of the story is all over the place, but the chaos makes sense. Because everything feels uneven, it feels symbolic of the belief in communism and the nature of being a spy.
The Sympathizer would not work without the two leads giving their all. Downey Jr. he plays five different characters, all of whom are rather unique, and play integral parts in the Captain’s story. Claude, the Captain’s CIA handler, thinks he’s being used to spy for America. It’s a chess match between the two, as Claude feels like he’s always one step closer to figuring out what the Captain is doing. Professor Robert Hammer helps the Captain get an education and gives him sponsorship to leave his encampment. Ned Godwin is a congressman who uses the Vietnamese population in Southern California to fuel his campaign. Niko Damianos is a movie director who helps bring the Captain back to Vietnam for a film. Downey Jr. is the only one who could have played all these roles. It just goes to show that he. is still the most talented performer in Hollywood.
The real star of the series, though, is Xuande, as the Captain is an extremely complicated character. We see so much of the bad the Captain does, but we also see the struggles and challenges his beliefs go through. Xuande showcases this struggle perfectly. Throughout the series, the Captain goes through an evolution of his beliefs when he finally has to conclude whether his life and mission have even been worth it. Xuande balances this struggle, and embraces American life effectively. I hope that he becomes a household name after The Sympathizer, and I can see, at minimum, an Emmy nomination for his performance.
That theme of how much someone’s beliefs can be challenged is paramount to the series. I enjoyed watching the Captain go from a loyal servant to questioning if his mission is even worth it. With every betrayal that he gets from his superior officers, to witnessing how much American life makes him happy, the Captain eventually realizes that he needs to make a choice. His experiences in both Vietnam and Los Angeles help him figure out what he believes. I like how ambiguous the ending is on those beliefs.
The Sympathizer has amazing performances, great aesthetics, and challenging themes. It’s so much more nuanced than I was originally expecting. I shouldn’t be surprised, since it is a Park Chan-wook series (along with Don McKellar) from A24 and HBO. It is a think piece where people talk about their justified actions and whether the ends justify the means, and a rare shining light from HBO this year.
Rating: Liked It
The Sympathizer is currently streaming on Max
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd