The Brothers Sun

Available on Netflix

It’s an unfortunate coincidence that my viewing of The Brothers Sun coincided with my re-watching of The Sopranos, a show that Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu’s crime comedy is undoubtedly indebted to. Whether the influence of David Chase’s seminal series is conscious or otherwise, it casts a broad shadow over any show that is focused on the peculiarities of organised crime, one that many (including this one) struggle to evade.

Even if I were to disregard my concurrent viewing habits, it’s unsurprising that the shelf life of The Brothers Sun proved to be short, with Netflix recently confirming its cancellation after one season. That’s because, while it is not without its qualities, it is almost indistinguishable from the plethora of other culture-clash comedies that are available to stream. Its fight sequences, although well choreographed, are so gratuitous that they end up distracting from the show’s plot, which is itself a familiar and predictable affair.

This is a shame because, with Michelle Yeoh and Justin Chien both in fine form, there is something decent lying dormant in Falchuk and Wu’s baby. The focus on Taiwanese American culture is often intriguing and Chien’s performance is particularly affecting, although Yeoh’s star quality undoubtedly elevates proceedings when she is on screen. Ultimately, this might have worked better as a slick action-comedy film, as it is too unoriginal to sustain your interest over the duration of eight hours.