The Brothers Sun: A Tale of Gangsters and Brotherhood
The Brothers Sun is set with Charles, a malevolent Taiwanese hoodlum whose father is shot dead and thus makes him flee to join his family in L.A. The actions and opportunities for comedy are seamlessly interwoven so that the Family saga is a dramatic heist filled odyssey of brother’s love and the complexity of the moral choice. It was gripping to watch how the static of Charles’s past conflicted with the theme of the protector.
Loyalty, who one is as well as redemption are themes that this show successfully combines. A rooted feeling of suspense and lots of comedy at the same time, reflecting the full palette and spectrum of life experiences within the two different worlds of gangs and families. I also like the conflict of two tones that increase the tension and at the same time do not let the audience get bored. Justin Chien and Sam Song Li show a great chemistry with one another; especially in their depiction of brotherly bond. With such selection of the main characters and great chemistry between them it is evident that the actors and the rest of the cast display an authentic and convincing performance full of emotions. Their performances remain fresh even after each episode.
Kevin Tancharoen as well as Viet Nguyen ensure that the series is as smooth and entertaining as it can be. Every episode takes its sweet time, always holding a viewer’s attention through taut direction that masterfully interweaves adrenaline with feeling. It’s their work is most effective when it comes to the suspenseful scenes which need accurate visuals.
The sound track of The Brothers Sun helps to emphasize the melodrama and the action scenes as well as the moments of family drama. Soundtrack adds to the complexity of the show and helps the viewer immerse in the series experience.
Careful attention is paid to both grand cityscapes and close family scenes. The series provides a clear atmosphere of Taipei and Los Angeles, visible distinction, yet observable similarities. I think the director is fantastic, he emphasizes the essence of the show through the lens.
The look of the show is distinct, the mise-en-scène of gangland Taipei and suburban Los Angeles feels very real. The sets carefully constructed in a manner that enriches the narrative and gives depth to the character, .
Again grandeur without deviating from the films theme, the special effects employed are few but efficiently used. They enhance the look of the action sequences while keeping a realistic feel to them that stays with the series.
Pacing is sharp which helps to keep the suspense as well as emotional investment to shows high at all times in episodes. This is beneficial because it can easily switch back and forth between action and exposition, thus never letting the entire series become too monotonous or too slow. This rhythm gives the watcher an active flow without saturating the work with attempts at genre jumping.
The dialogues are crisp and meaningful which add value and volume to the character dynamics. The script is well-written and contains both humour and suspense along with the action and adventure which fits perfectly within the shows genre and watching it leaves one with some memorable lines.
This is well done throughout many aspects of the show but sometimes this high pace jumping between completely different genres is a bit awkward. There are some secondary plotlines which could be more developed. However, these minor drawbacks do not quite spoil the overall concept and the show.
The Brothers Sun is a highly original series that successfully blends the tropes of the action show with the focus on the characters’ inner lives. It was interesting until the end and I also enjoyed the characters and story arcs at the end. Both the familair and the cultural aspects run deep, meaning it is a series one should consider exploring.
