Binge Or Cringe: ‘The Brothers Sun’ Paints A Dysfunctional Family Lost In A Violent World
Netflix’s The Brothers Sun harkens back to classic Hong Kong action films as the series depicts a family learning how to be whole. The dramedy follows Bruce Sun (Sam Li) as his family’s violent history is thrust upon him, flipping his mundane college life upside down. With the help of his mom (Michelle Yeoh) and his assassin brother Charles (Justin Chien), he navigates the politics of Taipei’s most hardened gangs while teaching his family how to love in a world of violence. While The Brothers Sun’s blend of comedy, nihilism, and camaraderie somewhat disjoints the narrative, impressive stunt choreography and heartfelt characters brings a new twist to the dysfunctional family trope.
Meet The Suns
A compassionate and optimistically naive STEM student, Bruce leads a mundane life until an assassination attempt on his dad, Big Sun (Johnny Kou), invites Charles back into his life. Separated as kids, they serve as foils to each other, with Charles’ cold demeanor contrasting Bruce’s meek personality. It’s hard not to want Charles to open up, especially when his persona begins to crack, culminating in a violent fit of emotion that releases years of pent-up rage. However, Chien’s performance is incredibly one-note without anyone for him to punch; especially when Yeoh and Li give stellar performances, Chien pales in comparison with questionable direction and a middling emotional payoff. Conversely, Bruce must learn who he is when confronted with everything he’s opposed to — murder, drugs, and family disputes — and challenge his passive nature when faced with difficult decisions for himself and his family. Bruce is easily the star of the show, and while his arc doesn’t stray from typical conventions of the fish-out-of-water trope, his charismatic personality brings laughs in between the emotional, violent world in which he now resides.
The Sun family is dysfunctional and entirely focused on their family business, yet an underlying anxiety lies hidden beneath the facade. After abandoning her dreams in Taipei to protect her family in Los Angeles, Yeoh perfectly portrays a mother compromising a life that was never meant for her. Bruce tries to appease the identity his mom assigns him but struggles with his desire to become an improv actor. Charles wants to protect the family at the expense of his empathy and humanity. Their selflessness is self-destructive yet their growing sentiment towards each other unites a family once left astray. Their chemistry, alongside the 70s Kung fu inspired fight scenes, veers the series away from a typical action drama, instead painting a unique story of a family learning to love each other.
Was It Binge Or Cringe?
Despite stellar character work, disjointed comedic scenes tonally derail any emotional intensity. Fight scenes either end abruptly or get interrupted with lackluster jokes, and the show lacks a cohesive balance between its comedy and violence. The pacing is jarring, with serious scenes meandering for minutes while action-heavy episodes eagerly chase the action, pushing scenes at a rapid pace. While its writing is consistent, the series can’t decide whether it wants to be funny or serious. Despite this, the series’ characters are vivid, colorful, and shine a light that pierces through the veil of its nihilistic violence. Charles’ friends from his family’s organization alleviate tension, providing much needed laughs and, eventually, emotionally hitting scenes. Obvious plot twists don't take away from the show, instead heightening character motivations and amplifying decisions they must make. Bruce constantly battles his need for peace with the realization that he needs to step out of his shell. Charles’ monotone personality is challenged as he learns how to care for others, regardless of Chien’s underwhelming performance leaving much to be desired. However, the excellent fight choreography on top of beautiful set designs add an extra layer to the show that is impossible not to gush over.
The beautiful blend of intense action and amazing characters make The Brothers Sun an incredibly enjoyable watch full of good laughs and heavy emotions. Bruce is a fun-to-root-for protagonist, especially amplified by Li’s hilarious and emotional performance. The heart of the show lies in the reunion of a once lost family, presenting a whirlwind of hilarity and compassion that displays the nuances of craving acceptance. Bruce becomes an outsider to his own family, and the series uniquely illustrates the pain of living in a violent world as someone pure of heart. Mixing classic Kung fu cinema with contemporary Asian culture, The Brothers Sun creates an eccentric blend of past and present that is visually stunning and emotionally evocative.
Who Will Like It?
Fans of classic Kung fu films will absolutely adore the inventive fight choreography that creators Byron Wu and Brad Falchuk incorporated. While the show is predictable at times, the story of a disconnected Asian family desiring unity breaks cultural barriers and demonstrates the importance of family and empathy. Despite mediocre character endings, it’s incredibly easy to care about everyone on screen, and the ending leaves enough room for future seasons to build off. The series isn’t inventive, but it doesn’t have to be with effective action and shining characters. It is sincere, funny, and intense, perfectly portraying a family learning to keep it all together. All eight episodes of The Brothers Sun can be streamed on Netflix.