Going through hauntingly layered human emotions, identity, ideology, and belonging, The Sympathizer tells a story of cultural dislocation and fractured identities in the shadow of a global power struggle. Set in the final days of the Vietnam War—also called the American War or the Vietnam-American War—and the chaotic aftermath in exile, the series, created by Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar, captures the contradictions faced by those caught between nations, loyalties, and cultures. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s acclaimed novel The Sympathizer, which famously noted that “all wars were fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory”, the series resonates with historical complexity and profound psychological conflict.
The unapologetically political HBO series moves between tragedy and irony with remarkable ease, often challenging the viewer’s sense of comfort and moral clarity. It centres on the inner conflict of the protagonist, ‘the Captain’, a North Vietnamese mole working in the South Vietnamese army, who flees to the United States after the fall of Saigon. The Captain becomes deeply disturbed as he navigates through immigrant identity, ideological tension, and the American dream. Leading a life layered with contradictions—as a friend, spy, Vietnamese, and American—the protagonist ends up in a spiral of guilt, disillusionment, and painful self-awareness.
Blending sharp political commentary with gripping storytelling, The Sympathizer asserts that exile is not just geographic, but deeply psychological. As it delves into emotional depths, the series stands as a powerful reminder of the cost of war, the burden of ideology, and the loneliness of divided identities. With the stellar performance of extremely talented actors and extraordinary making involving nonlinear and dense narratives, this series is a must-watch for anyone interested in political dramas or war narratives that challenge conventional Western perspectives.
