Thanks for giving the series the attention it deserves. I really enjoyed it!. As a native Vietnamese speaker I agree with some of the criticism surrounding the accent. Though I don't think it takes away the storytelling, the brilliant acting. The lead (Hoa Xuande) sounds a lot like viet folks growing up overseas. HOWEVER, several points you have to consider: 1. In the finale Mẫn scorns the captain for thinking like an American and translating his thoughts from English into Vietnamese. 2. It's nearly impossible to cast the male lead, who is mixed race, fluent in both languages **and** can command the screen presence, next to Robert Downy Jr. Also some actors in Vietnam declined to participate because the role would negatively affect their career (the book was banned in VN and so was the production). In the end I think they made the right choice by casting Hoa Xuande. Remember HBO audience is English speaking Americans. In some interview actor Duy Nguyen (Mẫn) said he auditioned for the lead role. While his Vietnamese is better it would not have worked to have him play the captain.
Interesting I thought they shot part of the show in Ho Chi Minh? I guess not. Duy Nguyen is Vietnamese born and raised so that makes sense but he doesn't look mixed (tbf neither does the lead but certainly more so) and his English isn't that great.
@@VietNguyen-el9sd Where I grew up everyone was mixed. And no one had blue eyes ;) But I get it... they wanted a non-mixed actor to be more believable to an audience as "mixed".
HOW DOES THIS PIECE OF ART NOT GET THE ATTENTIONT IT DESERVES????? Omg i just finish the show and i thought I would find more people talking about it. I really hope they get all the recognition and awards they can win.
Just finished the last episode tonight and I thought it was excellent. I do want to actually read the book though as I can't possibly believe that the author confessed to multiple homicides in it. I feel like the Vietnamese who were allies with the U.S are often forgotten too easily and that the ARVN really was a much better fighting force than what they get credit for. Many of them were brave and laid down their lives in what was to them a fight for their country not to suffer under communist rule. They even successfully held off the north in battles even after the U.S left and they were outgunned and outnumbered. Interesting to see the conflict through the eyes of each side.
Glad we agree! I'm not much of a book reader but this one has me very intrigued, and i think the show served as a great way to get people locked into the deeper story in the novel
@@VietNguyen-el9sd That I know. I was referring to the comment I replied to. @mikelomez9313, on top, wrote, "I do want to actually read the book though as I can't possibly believe that the author confessed to multiple homicides in it."
Hoa Xuande is Vietnam's version of Patrick Swaize. Similar facial bone structure, good posture, good looks, good acting chops and a studied hint of vulnerability in his approach to the character. After having read the book I had doubts whether any actor could play the main character and , man , oh, man, Hoa Xuande does an amazing job. And ... of course.... the book is better..... one of my favourites ever. Well, this series is one of my favourites ever too. And..... the book has a sequel..... the Committed, which I hope will be made into a miniseries too (problem being that the plot takes place in France).... and.... there's more violence in it..... so...... I don't know.....
Just finished the last episode and I was born in the 90s I honestly have no association with the war time but now I understand why my parents would always long for the old time
I think that what the producers did was brilliant : having Robert Downey jr (Iron Man's Tony Stark .... of all people) playing 4 different characters ..... which is clearly meant to appeal to Western audiences..... while also having mostly Asian characters .... and most of them frequently speaking their native language (Vietnamese)..... which .... well .... will at least be very appealing to the Vietnamese spread all around the world. If this series breaks big in places such as Japan, South Korea and China.... then there will be a sequel (maybe based on the second book)..... even it does poorly in America. If not .... well..... we still have the books. Peace.
Thank you for making me aware of this series. the Vietnamese are amazing people and I'm not surprised that they are great actors, that is a country that's headed for greatness. I imagine Chinese type capitalism but with American Quality. Vietnam rocks! from Colorado
Of course!! I'm not super well versed in the history of what the series covers but it truly takes and empathetic yet double sided look at culture, super excited to see what you think!
really enjoyed ur video, but i can’t agree with the robey downey jr, tons of actors have done awesome work playing multiple characters (split for example) and I think oppenheimer is his best acting. But respect ur opinion🤝🤝
I think Downey has quite a broad "actorly" style. These aren't realistic or subtle portrayals but his style worked very well with the show's pastiche quality.
i’ve been really enjoying this show honestly, you’re absolutely correct, Downey OWNED this role and mesmerized me. I’ve gotten my family and friends to hop on, can confirm the characters here are really immersive. Thanks for the awesome review!
Thanks for the technical review on the show. I agree with most of what you said. On the other hand, the series seemed a little off after the novel was adapted to the screen. I love the novel, which I read several years ago before I knew it was being optioned for HBO. And RDJ is good in terms of his acting, but there was something too on-the-nose about his performances that took me away from the central storytelling about the narrator's internal conflict. The tone is another matter, because there are moments of humor that shift the series into another kind of show. Is that CSI or James Bond? In closing, I am glad that show was made but the production could have been stronger.
My only complain with this show is the horrible Vietnamese spoken by Vietnamese characters except a few, both because of the weird accents of the actors and the weird wording that makes the lines sound like they're translated from English instead of being written in Vietnamese. I watched a cast and crew interview and the Vietnamese language expert wasn't that good at Vietnamese either :(, like good enough but not native level, the show should have gotten someone with native level Vietnamese.
@@AryanP oh yes, shogun is better than the sympathizer by MILES, and I say this as someone who have read and watched both shows and the books they're adapted from.
@@AryanP I will say though, the sympathizer has much more out-of-the-box inspiring directions and editing. but I'm also very in love with how shogun does lighting
@@iamai_iggs I loved Shogun but there is no reason to compare them. Completely different shows with completely different stories and goals other than "showcasing an asian culture".
@@GwaiZai SPOILER (see below) . . --- She was sexually assaulted/tortured. The captain didn't actually intervene and wrote down a different version in his confession which didn't match up with her version.
I just finished it. I binged eps 2 to 7. I was high and lowkey tripping a bit. I liked it but I was shaken internally by the plot twists + the back and forth with tine + and the themes of one’s identity disintegrating in the multi-performance of being a spy. By the end my mind was in strange places.
The book is a masterpiece, both in term of literature and English. The show is good but doesn't make justice for the book. It's fine, but it's not that great and the multiple roles acting of Robert Downey Jr is so distracting. Like he's unnecessary everywhere in this show.
![⭐ฮิตในTikTok!! ( มะมะมะหมูเด้ง MooDeng ) Ver. แดนซ์ ReMix BY [ ดีเจกิต รีมิกซ์ ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4noyAoMa7bQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Are you guys planning to check out The Sympathizer?
The introduction of the Captain as the inconsistent narrator was a brilliant foreshadow to the final episode.
Thanks for giving the series the attention it deserves. I really enjoyed it!.
As a native Vietnamese speaker I agree with some of the criticism surrounding the accent. Though I don't think it takes away the storytelling, the brilliant acting. The lead (Hoa Xuande) sounds a lot like viet folks growing up overseas. HOWEVER, several points you have to consider: 1. In the finale Mẫn scorns the captain for thinking like an American and translating his thoughts from English into Vietnamese. 2. It's nearly impossible to cast the male lead, who is mixed race, fluent in both languages **and** can command the screen presence, next to Robert Downy Jr. Also some actors in Vietnam declined to participate because the role would negatively affect their career (the book was banned in VN and so was the production). In the end I think they made the right choice by casting Hoa Xuande. Remember HBO audience is English speaking Americans.
In some interview actor Duy Nguyen (Mẫn) said he auditioned for the lead role. While his Vietnamese is better it would not have worked to have him play the captain.
Interesting I thought they shot part of the show in Ho Chi Minh? I guess not. Duy Nguyen is Vietnamese born and raised so that makes sense but he doesn't look mixed (tbf neither does the lead but certainly more so) and his English isn't that great.
@@GwaiZai It's shot in Thailand and California. The lead wears blue contacts which I thought is a bit forced. Mixed kids can have brown eyes.
@@VietNguyen-el9sd Where I grew up everyone was mixed. And no one had blue eyes ;) But I get it... they wanted a non-mixed actor to be more believable to an audience as "mixed".
HOW DOES THIS PIECE OF ART NOT GET THE ATTENTIONT IT DESERVES????? Omg i just finish the show and i thought I would find more people talking about it. I really hope they get all the recognition and awards they can win.
Just finished the last episode tonight and I thought it was excellent. I do want to actually read the book though as I can't possibly believe that the author confessed to multiple homicides in it. I feel like the Vietnamese who were allies with the U.S are often forgotten too easily and that the ARVN really was a much better fighting force than what they get credit for. Many of them were brave and laid down their lives in what was to them a fight for their country not to suffer under communist rule. They even successfully held off the north in battles even after the U.S left and they were outgunned and outnumbered. Interesting to see the conflict through the eyes of each side.
Glad we agree! I'm not much of a book reader but this one has me very intrigued, and i think the show served as a great way to get people locked into the deeper story in the novel
What do you mean the author confessed to multiple homicides?
@@josealejandrogarcia484 Spoiler
.
.
The protagonist, aka the captain, killed several people
@@VietNguyen-el9sd That I know. I was referring to the comment I replied to. @mikelomez9313, on top, wrote, "I do want to actually read the book though as I can't possibly believe that the author confessed to multiple homicides in it."
Hoa Xuande is Vietnam's version of Patrick Swaize.
Similar facial bone structure, good posture, good looks, good acting chops and a studied hint of vulnerability in his approach to the character.
After having read the book I had doubts whether any actor could play the main character and , man , oh, man, Hoa Xuande does an amazing job.
And ... of course.... the book is better..... one of my favourites ever.
Well, this series is one of my favourites ever too.
And..... the book has a sequel..... the Committed, which I hope will be made into a miniseries too (problem being that the plot takes place in France).... and.... there's more violence in it..... so...... I don't know.....
Just finished the last episode and I was born in the 90s I honestly have no association with the war time but now I understand why my parents would always long for the old time
I think that what the producers did was brilliant : having Robert Downey jr (Iron Man's Tony Stark .... of all people) playing 4 different characters ..... which is clearly meant to appeal to Western audiences..... while also having mostly Asian characters .... and most of them frequently speaking their native language (Vietnamese)..... which .... well .... will at least be very appealing to the Vietnamese spread all around the world.
If this series breaks big in places such as Japan, South Korea and China.... then there will be a sequel (maybe based on the second book)..... even it does poorly in America.
If not .... well..... we still have the books.
Peace.
Thank you for making me aware of this series. the Vietnamese are amazing people and I'm not surprised that they are great actors, that is a country that's headed for greatness. I imagine Chinese type capitalism but with American Quality.
Vietnam rocks! from Colorado
Of course!! I'm not super well versed in the history of what the series covers but it truly takes and empathetic yet double sided look at culture, super excited to see what you think!
Thank you for this awesome review.
Lol. Did you refer to him as wook? His surname is Park and his given name Chanook.
really enjoyed ur video, but i can’t agree with the robey downey jr, tons of actors have done awesome work playing multiple characters (split for example) and I think oppenheimer is his best acting. But respect ur opinion🤝🤝
Fair enough! To each their own, I really enjoyed it but I respect your opinion!!!
I think Downey has quite a broad "actorly" style. These aren't realistic or subtle portrayals but his style worked very well with the show's pastiche quality.
i’ve been really enjoying this show honestly, you’re absolutely correct, Downey OWNED this role and mesmerized me. I’ve gotten my family and friends to hop on, can confirm the characters here are really immersive. Thanks for the awesome review!
Of course! More to come - Glad you loved the show!!!
100% the best show of the year so far. Storyline perfect, acting perfect, everything perfect. I love it❤
Thanks for the technical review on the show. I agree with most of what you said. On the other hand, the series seemed a little off after the novel was adapted to the screen. I love the novel, which I read several years ago before I knew it was being optioned for HBO. And RDJ is good in terms of his acting, but there was something too on-the-nose about his performances that took me away from the central storytelling about the narrator's internal conflict. The tone is another matter, because there are moments of humor that shift the series into another kind of show. Is that CSI or James Bond? In closing, I am glad that show was made but the production could have been stronger.
I enjoyed it for what it wanted to be. I havent read the book so Im pretty curious on how Downey's characters are depicted in the book.
My only complain with this show is the horrible Vietnamese spoken by Vietnamese characters except a few, both because of the weird accents of the actors and the weird wording that makes the lines sound like they're translated from English instead of being written in Vietnamese. I watched a cast and crew interview and the Vietnamese language expert wasn't that good at Vietnamese either :(, like good enough but not native level, the show should have gotten someone with native level Vietnamese.
As a Vietnamese person, I wanted to like Sympathizer more than I wound up liking it. Shogun is by far the best show of 2024.
I actually haven't finished Shogun? Saw the first 2 episodes in theaters - is it worth finishing?!
@@AryanP oh yes, shogun is better than the sympathizer by MILES, and I say this as someone who have read and watched both shows and the books they're adapted from.
@@AryanP I will say though, the sympathizer has much more out-of-the-box inspiring directions and editing. but I'm also very in love with how shogun does lighting
@@iamai_iggs I loved Shogun but there is no reason to compare them. Completely different shows with completely different stories and goals other than "showcasing an asian culture".
Such a fire show
I really enjoyed although I did get confused at times watching it
Yeah I think some of the back and forth time stuff was weird
I didn't really get the point about the bottle at the end. Why was that a big deal...
@@GwaiZai SPOILER (see below)
.
.
---
She was sexually assaulted/tortured. The captain didn't actually intervene and wrote down a different version in his confession which didn't match up with her version.
@@VietNguyen-el9sd Got it, thank you for the clarification.
I just finished it. I binged eps 2 to 7. I was high and lowkey tripping a bit. I liked it but I was shaken internally by the plot twists + the back and forth with tine + and the themes of one’s identity disintegrating in the multi-performance of being a spy.
By the end my mind was in strange places.
RDJ is about to win emmy a year after winning an oscar
The book is a masterpiece, both in term of literature and English. The show is good but doesn't make justice for the book. It's fine, but it's not that great and the multiple roles acting of Robert Downey Jr is so distracting. Like he's unnecessary everywhere in this show.
I keep thinking of Tropic Thunder whenever he is around.
Only disappointed that he didn't get to sleep with lana and live with her.
lol I think they’re gonna go for it if they make season 2 . That girl was hilarious
They DID in the book. But HBO ruled it out because LANA was under-age. Got it?
@@AveryBui1402season 2, bro? 😂
It's not even in the top 20 best shows. What a slog.
Peak story, mid performance, awful marketing.
not sure if i agree with the performance but yeah the marketing was god awful
A big joke to Vietnamese community !!
Why though, they don't demonize PAVN or SRV.
Tokyo vice is way better then this
The worst show about Vn .
Chill 😂 Vietnam doesn’t have a lot of shows in English anyway so this is by far the best 😂