'The Brothers Sun' review: Michelle Yeoh kicks butt in this fun tale of family crime
In The Brothers Sun, you can be one of two things: a killer or a dipshit.
Those are the labels a member of the criminal underworld assigns to the show's titular pair, Charles and Bruce Sun (Justin Chien and Sam Song Li). One was raised in Taipei to be the perfect assassin, while the other is an improv-loving Angeleno who's completely unaware that his family is part of a powerful organized crime syndicate back in Taiwan.
When an assassination attempt on their father (Johnny Kou) goes awry, Charles and Bruce will have to work together to protect their mother (Michelle Yeoh) — and unpack some major emotional baggage along the way. The ensuing journey boasts brotherly drama, martial arts, and a surprising amount of churros, all making for an extra-fun watch.
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What's The Brothers Sun about?
As The Brothers Sun opens, the Sun family is split in half. Charles and his father Big Sun live in Taipei, heading up the formidable Jade Dragon triad. Since childhood, Charles has been his father's right-hand man, a trained killer whose prowess with unconventional weapons has earned him the nickname "Chairleg."
Meanwhile, Sun matriarch Eileen and younger son Bruce live in Los Angeles. Their life is devoid of the luxury cars and vast apartments granted to high-ranking Jade Dragon members. However, the two are much safer off the grid. Bruce isn't even aware of his family's criminal bona fides. His biggest worries are paying for college and hiding his love for improv from Eileen. The only killing he dreams of involves bringing the house down onstage.
That all changes when an unknown attacker makes an attempt on Big Sun's life, forcing Charles to check in on his L.A.-based family. While Eileen is ready to jump into action to fight for the Jade Dragons, Bruce is understandably terrified at the truth behind his family. For his part, Charles is unimpressed by how "soft" Bruce is. Cue the odd couple dynamic!
As the investigation into who attacked Big Sun gets underway, new wrinkles arise. Charles crosses paths with his old friend Alexis (Highdee Kuan), now an aspiring district attorney investigating triad activity in L.A. Bruce attempts to juggle his newfound family duties with improv and a growing relationship with his classmate Grace (Madison Hu). On top of all that, there's the very important task of staying alive in the face of constant attacks from rival triads and other enemy forces. That task may be daunting for Charles, Eileen, and especially Bruce, but it provides us viewers with some serious treats when it comes to action sequences.
The Brothers Sun is a martial arts-fueled blast.
Every episode of The Brothers Sun graces us with some high-octane fight sequences. Some are serious, like foiled assassination attempts. Others are highly ambitious, like a massive brawl at a golfing range. The best of these scenes, though, are the ones that combine that ambition with The Brothers Sun's sillier streak.
Take the show's very first fight. Attackers burst into Charles's Taipei apartment while he bakes a scrumptious-looking cake and enjoys an episode of The Great British Baking Show. Said episode plays out in the foreground as Charles delivers a spectacular beatdown (with the help of a rolling pin, no less) in the background. It's just one hint at the playful gags still to come, ones that will keep the show feeling light and fresh even when its subject matter veers darker.
The Brothers Sun doesn't shy away from the broken family at its heart.
The Brothers Sun's promise of fight scenes and criminal intrigue may act as flashy audience draws, but the story's real focus is on the relationships between Charles, Bruce, Eileen, and the distant Big Sun. Here, the show draws on subject matter ranging from parental pressure to the immigrant experience.
With Bruce and Charles, we see the impact of two very different upbringings. Charles is hardened to a fault. It's rare for him to let his guard down, and even rarer for him to do anything that won't benefit his father. For him, family, duty, and honor are one and the same. Bruce, on the other hand, doesn't feel that sense of duty, apart from a desire not to disappoint Eileen. He is reluctant to join the gangster life, preferring the freedom to do what he wants.
"We have a word for that in Taiwan," quips Jade Dragon lackey Blood Boots (Jon Xue Zhang). "American."
In their opposing natures, both Bruce and Charles see something the other has that they want. As much as he hates to admit it, Charles craves the choices Bruce can make with his life. And Charles offers Bruce an opportunity to step up and take charge of his life in a new way. Their differences can be their strengths, if only they can find a way to let each other in.
Their mother Eileen proves to be The Brothers Sun's most fascinating character, thanks in no small part to Yeoh's steely performance. Sidelined to L.A., Eileen has found new ways to build a network and stay up to date on all things triad-related. She's far handier than many criminal hotshots — or even her own sons — give her credit for, so it's always a pleasure to watch her one-up her adversaries with a cutting remark or a devastating piece of information.
Yeoh is undeniably the star of the show here, but co-leads Chien and Li do solid work as well. Chien shines in fight scenes, but he also brings an impressive vulnerability to Charles as his walls begin to crumble. Li is The Brothers Sun's sweeter counterbalance, playing Bruce as both a clueless newbie and a surprisingly creative problem solver. He's also saddled with the bulk of The Brothers Sun's comedic material, which can be extremely hit or miss.
The Brothers Sun's tonal shifts between comedy and drama do falter occasionally, especially in the earlier episodes. Still, as the series moves deeper into its eight-episode run, it gains a confidence that snowballs into a nail-biting showdown. Really, it's proof that if you combine Yeoh with any kind of action and comedy, you're going to be in for a good time.
The Brothers Sun premieres Jan. 4 on Netflix.
Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Television Critics Association, as well as a Tomatometer-approved critic.
