Netflix’s spunky action black comedy combines the forces of TV giant Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu. Known for his work on Glee and American Horror Stories, Falchuk has a history of creating a unique brand of cheeky entertainment. His partner in crime, Wu brings in a unique perspective on Asian American identity and highlights lesser discussed interpersonal topics. But despite its success in making a visual splash, the script and story strays from any clear, discernable message for the viewer. Nevertheless, their undertaking yields an amusing watch with an onscreen cast chemistry that easily charms the audience.
The eight-episode series follows two brothers and their mother as they fend off different rivaling groups and a power struggle erupts in the world of Taiwan’s most lethal gangsters. Charles, played by Justin Chien, heads to Los Angeles to protect his mother and younger brother after their father is gravely injured. Bruce (Sam Song Li) is stunned as the world his mother, Eileen “Mama” Sun (Michelle Yeoh), spent years shielding him from reveals its unraveling self. Their reunion is rocky in many ways: the two brothers haven’t seen each other since they were children, and their mother does her absolute best to continually segregate and distance Bruce from their family’s ultraviolence.
That said, the series lacks depth and a coherent script, which it tries to make up for with decently choreographed martial arts scenes. From lighting and remote camera heads, C. Kim Miles and Andrew Mitchell spared no expense in making sure every shot looked cinematic, including wide angle shots of Hong Kong style fight scenes. Yet, considering the high body count from ongoing triad fights, characters don’t stick around for long. Also, let’s get it out of the way: yes, the cinematography of LA’s 626 area is fantastic. Familiar businesses and streets are a welcome sight to East LA natives, especially after the very intrusive news coverage of the tragic 2023 Monterey Park shootings. Even Pomona gets a hilarious shout-out to the highest comedic affect when delivered as a one-liner by a random side character.
Arguably, the bond between the Sun brothers is what fills in the gaps between each 50-minute episode. Yeoh’s involvement is a double-edged sword as she simultaneously elevates the work—whether it be a movie, a TV series—and shackles it with the weight of her presence. As a veteran and award-winning actress, her existence demands attention, even though she’s rarely part of the action. Any scene with Yeoh is twice as tense to the point where other characters can’t seem to breathe. In fact, none of the jokes land when she’s around. The viewer and the cast are simply too intimidated to relax around her, which works for her story arc but not anyone else’s.
Charles and Bruce have better chemistry when their tiger mother isn’t around and allows for both the characters and the actors to breathe a sigh of relief. Li and Chien play off each other’s banter, developing a natural brotherhood between a hardened criminal and a goofball. Through the two Suns, Director Wu addresses Hollywood Asian Americans stereotypes by examining topics such as toxic masculinity and the pressure of unrealistic familial expectations. Charles enjoys baking and has a soft spot for sweets, while Bruce secretly takes improv classes. Unfortunately, none of this becomes weaved into a larger narrative.
By the end, the script throws so many twists and turns late into the season that the plot never reaches a satisfying resolution. The most frustrating aspect is the mangled character development for Mama Sun. If she spent her whole life attempting to mold Bruce into a lifesaving doctor in response to her husband shaping Charles into a killer, then she shouldn’t have manipulated Bruce into doing the dirty work to achieve her goal. Mama Sun’s selfish, power hungry side takes over in the last episode to become the matriarch of her family in the final struggle between her and her husband. The final fanfare felt unearned for everyone but Bruce, who finally shaped up to defend his family in his own clunky way. At that point, the early rapport from character building, good casting, and the occasional one-liner struggles to convince anyone to give the series a second thought.
