If there is something positive about the existence of streaming platforms in recent times, it's the explosion of quality television series that we haven't experienced for several decades. There is something for everyone, even for TV sceptics who are not easily convinced to step out of the cinema or from what they concern as a serious screening content. Almost four years ago, during the Mastercard event at the Venice Film Festival, Brian de Palma confessed that he was hooked to the comedy-drama series “Dead To Me” starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, admitting that he was watching television more than ever before due to a big improvement in quality of productions. Liz Feldman wasn't in the audience, but I was, glad to hear that such a legend and I are sharing the same passion for the show.
“The Brothers Sun” had me at “Michelle Yeoh”. I wasn't interested in reading the synopsis, and I don't think that I even watched the trailer before deciding to board that ship. And little did I know, it was even better than expected.
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The pilot episode kicks off with a dapper looking man baking a dream cake by following instructions from a cooking show, while listening to Ruth Brown's classic “I Can Dream, Can't I”. Minutes later, he is attacked by three masked men in his own kitchen. The opener is a fast, action loaded introduction to the series that stays entertaining until the very end. It also contains the promise of an excellent soundtrack that is kept all along. In all honesty, the music is so good that the sheer genius of the show's music supervisor keeps the fun going even during the scenes when there is not much happening, and almost every song is the commentary on what's going on screen or about the life of Asian diaspora in the USA. If you don't fall head over heels for Betty Chung's cover of Nancy Sinatra's hit from 1976 “Bang Bang”, try not humming to Bo Wang's cover of Cat Stevens' “The First Cut is The Deepest”.
The action is omnipresent, and the impressive fight scenes choreographed by seasoned professionals in the film industry (Michael Lehr, Eric Brown and Kyle Potter) and stunt coordinator Justin Yu are inspired by some of the greatest martial arts icons such as Jet Li, Jackie Chan or Donnie Yen. To make all those human (and dinosaur) legs and arms flying in a perfectly synchronized manner, a team of stunt legends was gathered together, among them brothers Brian and Andy Le who choreographed the famous fight in “Everything Everywhere All At Once”. And if the actual staged fight scenes are not enough to entertain you, enjoy watching a couple of scenes from Robert Clouse's disastrously bad martial arts movie “Gymkata” (1985) with the Suns and their friends, starring the USA Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Kurt Thomas.
The man who easily dodoes his attackers in the opening scene is Charles Sun (Justin Chien), the son of the most powerful triad boss Big Sun (Johnny Kou) in Taiwan. But as his father arrives at the crime scene to see why this murder attempt happened in the most unlikely of all places, he gets hit by a shot coming from a sniper through the living room window. Sure as hell, the whole thing was staged just to get his head. Before being taken away to the hospital by his bodyguards, Big Sun whispers in Charles' ear his wife's name.
The story moves from Taipei to Los Angeles with Charles' arrival, where he gets on time to prevent another masked killer to harm his mother Eileen (Michelle Yeoh) and younger brother Bruce (Sam Song Li) whom he hasn't seen for fifteen years. Slightly in shock to see that Bruce is a momma's boy and nerd who couldn't harm a fly, he is stubbornly trying to wake a “Sun” in him by taking the lad to all places Eileen forbids him to do.
The enemy is believed to be the boss of another Taiwanese triad – Sleepy Chan (Ben Wang), and it will take his death to prove otherwise. But on the way to truth, many spectacular fights will take place, adding to the body count. The things get more exciting when two killers close to Big Sun join Charles in Los Angeles. “No one stands a chance against a Taiwanese mama”, says one of them, nick-named Blood Boots (Jon Xue Zhang) before telling the shocking story of Eileen as someone who has built the Jade Dragons triad to what it is together with her husband, and who is known as “The Rolodex”. That's not just news to Bruce, but for Charles as well since they both believed their mother were just a nurse. Slowly, his journey to Los Angeles starts making sense.
Little less sense is built in the subplot involving the deputy DA Alexis (Highdee Kuan), a childhood friend of Charles from Taipei who brings a romantic element to the show. Besides the question surrounding her career as a district attorney after only 15 years in the country, there are those regarding her involvement with the suspect while actually investigating the case, which no one questions too much because she delivers all the tougher bad guys. The show is losing its ideas towards the end of episode six, then slowly picks up on them, but eventually delivers a hastened end to open the door to season two, which may or may not happen. If it comes to its continuation, the story will probably be moved to Taipei where Eileen is headed to to take over the Jade Dragon triad in her own hands.
“The Brothers Sun” introduces a couple of fresh faces, notably Joon Li playing a dorky wanna-be-gangster TK and British actress Alice Hewkin as a martial arts badass June. The series could also catapult the career of Sam Song Li who is seen in a leading role for the first time. Needless to say, Michelle Yeoh gives another great performance as a woman with double identity.
If you think your family is hell, go take the look at the Suns, and you might end up keeping the money you wanted to spend on the psychotherapy and get rid of the daddy issues forever.
