The Brothers Sun

The Brothers Sun is a Netflix series created by Barron Wu and Brad Falchuk who also was the person behind Glee and American Horror Story. This is a Shakespearean.style show filled with action fighting sequences much like Jackie Chan along with John Wick killing spree throughout the show. The script follows Charles Sun, a Taipei.gangster's son, who must travel to Los Angeles to protect his brother and his mother after his father is ruthlessly shot and left in a coma. Loved the comedic style of writing and the culinary journey in the San Gabriel area. The wonderful cast is lead by Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chief, Sam Song Li, and Johnny Kou. Overall great first season, wonderful funny script and it was great to see my old school grounds of Woodbury University. Definitely add this to your list.

This show borrows from the themes any fan of 90s Jackie Chan movies or even Chinese movies from Hong Kong- a little funny, tongue in cheek, violent emotional romance. Well written and choreographed, I enjoyed all the references and carefully signposted references to living life- Asian. From demanding parents, to cut throat women who use both brain and brawn to get what they want, to sons trying to find their way through societal expectations and stereotypes... All delivered in humourous witty dialogues. Very entertaining and ofcourse it requires some suspension of belief in it's story line and thank God that's the case. Who needs reality in a world such as ours!

I went into this show for Michelle Yeoh. I stayed for the Sun family. I had read some reviews in between so I was prepared to dislike Bruce but surprisingly I could understand him. He's basically the odd man out and he's barely surviving but one thing to note here is the central theme of "Protecting your family". He is real with how he reacts because who wouldn't? Honestly I would've been more annoying especially if my family is just determined to shelter me so what else can you do but focus on your life? He's dopey but makes it up with his determination to protect his family. As Michelle said about her son. He's not weak he's just a good person.

We get one pov from Charles the older brother, the experienced one vs the sheltered younger brother and they both clash. I like that dynamic of like big guy with the small guy trope. Where in the big guy isn't only a badass but also a big softie and the small guy isn't there to be protected but can kick ass too. Add to that family bonding. I loved the development between them made me wish to also have an older brother. I honestly feel so bad for Charles. His character is by far my favorite and hopefully if this gets renewed we get to see more development of his "real" personality.

The show is a mix of action comedy. It doesn't really take itself that seriously. I do wish the action has little bit more... bite? It also got slow early on but picks up again come episode 5. Overall a good binge, nothing too heavy. Just some light family action drama.

I hate when they mix comedy with action. It is very rarely done great. But this is actually not that bad on occasion, when it's not done by the comedy-plants. Like when the action guy cleans up the action woman's appartment, or when Michelle Yeoh does a "I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me" scene.

I found it brave of Netflix in this age of diversity to only have Asian actors. I would have thought Hollywood would insist on a diverse cast.

The story is pleasantly simple. When I watch a streaming show, I want to be entertained. When I want to use my brain, I read a book.

Easy to understand story, great action and fight choreography. Occasionally great humor - better than most comedy shows these days anyway.

What's not to like. This is, for now, the best show on Netflix this year.

An outstanding cast, led by the ever-evolving Michelle Yeoh who again shows us a truly amazing range of acting. The writing is crisp, leans into the violence Leitch-like and does a really good job of melding culture through old movies and styles, with a more modern approach to action.

The underlying conflict of what is evil and bad, is constantly there in the dialogue, and as a viewer you get sucked into the family drama, while you're still asked to take a step back and understand the impact overall. There could have been more of this though, and further explorations of the macro universe would have done more to establish the contrasts.

Overall, this is an absolute fantastic ride from start to finish, and the whole cast works as we move from flying severed heads, to cheap cultural jokes and all the way to the classical dramas of family, love and loss.