"The Sympathizer" tells the story of a man caught between two worlds. He appears to embody the traits of both but truly belongs to neither. "I will sympathize with many others. That is my flaw," he reflects.
The show has received a lukewarm reception, with modest viewership and limited media buzz. Director Park Chan-wook's intricate storytelling might be better suited for films. Additionally, the Vietnam War remains a sensitive topic for American audiences, and in an era of polarized opinions, a narrative seeking a middle ground, especially from a Vietnamese perspective, struggles to gain traction.
Robert Downey Jr.'s perceived snub of presenter Ke Huy Quan during his Oscar acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor sparked controversy. Ironically, Downey's reputed arrogance makes him an ideal fit for playing the show's unsavory white characters. Downey portrays five different roles: a CIA agent, a university dean, a Republican congressman, an arrogant film director, and the protagonist’s father, a priest. His over-the-top acting style complements these caricatured roles, countering old Hollywood stereotypes about Asians.
However, I'd like to return to the essence of "The Sympathizer" itself, leaving its popularity and critical reception to be judged over time. "The Sympathizer's" cold reception was almost inevitable, mirroring its protagonist's fate of being scorned and regarded as an outsider from birth. Despite this, the series deserves the support of anyone who values quality storytelling and should be seen by audiences who appreciate its subtle charm. If a show like this fails to resonate with the public, the issue lies not with the series itself.
“I am a double agent, living a double life.”
On the surface, "The Sympathizer" is a 1970s undercover spy story tied to the Vietnam War.
The protagonist, known as "The Captain," is ostensibly a secret policeman for the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government and an aide to a South Vietnamese general. However, his true identity is that of a North Vietnamese spy, a committed communist revolutionary. After the fall of Saigon and the liberation of South Vietnam, The Captain wishes to serve openly in his homeland. However, his superior and sworn brother, Man, insists that his revolutionary value lies in continuing to monitor their enemies in America. Thus, he follows the general to the United States, where he continues to spy on the remnants of the South Vietnamese military.
On a deeper level, "The Sympathizer" explores the identity crisis of a man caught between East and West. The Captain, a French-Vietnamese mixed-race individual, received his education in the United States. He studied American history and literature, boasts an impressive English vocabulary, and speaks with a flawless accent. He prides himself on his superior command of English, surpassing even that of well-educated Americans. His extensive knowledge of Western pop culture is evident: "Some of my compatriots can speak English as well as I do, but few can discuss American baseball rankings, the charm of Jane Fonda, or the merits of the Rolling Stones versus The Beatles like I can."
It's hard to imagine that someone so immersed in American culture could wholly reject its mainstream ideology. Yet, that's exactly what he must do.
His initial goal was to learn about the colonizers to better fight for Vietnam's independence and freedom. But in doing so, he finds it challenging not to appreciate some aspects of the enemy's values, causing a shift in his mindset. This change is subtly noted by Man when they reunite in Vietnam: "Your Vietnamese sounds like it's translated from English... I bet you even dream in English now, don’t you?"
Even his sworn brother no longer sees him as a true Vietnamese, and the same goes for other compatriots. Meanwhile, Americans do not fully accept him due to his skin color and he continuously faces racial stereotypes.
"The Sympathizer" portrays the story of such a man, standing on the threshold between two worlds, appearing to embody both but truly belonging to neither.
This predicament and mindset not only resonate with post-war Vietnamese immigrants but also with many Asian Americans today. From this perspective, "The Sympathizer" provides a deeper, more understated portrayal of the Asian American experience than the more flamboyant "Everything Everywhere All at Once," also produced by A24.
"I will sympathize with many others. That is my flaw."
The Captain’s dual identity places him in an awkward position. What makes it worse is his ability to empathize with conflicting sides. He sympathizes with his fellow countrymen oppressed by Western colonizers and those who resist living under Ho Chi Minh's rule. He feels for his comrades rebuilding their homeland and for South Vietnamese exiles embracing the American Dream. He sympathizes with those who gained a liberated nation and those who lost their homeland, sinking into despair and hopelessness.
This pervasive empathy often paralyzes the Captain, leading him to drift along with events. He sardonically explains in the original novel: "I will sympathize with many people. That is my flaw. This flaw is largely due to my mixed heritage... I must thank my gentle mother who taught me not to divide 'us' and 'them' too sharply, for blurring the lines is a worthy endeavor. She’s right; if she hadn't blurred the line between maid and priest, or allowed it to be blurred, I wouldn't exist."
The Captain’s empathy is also the source of his guilt and nightmares.His intense compassion causes him constant inner turmoil and self-doubt about his mission. But as his mother said: "Being of mixed race doesn’t make you half as weak as others, it makes you twice as strong." His strong empathy provides him with a profound insight into human nature.
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