The first and second episode got me get up on my feet and applause at the end credit when nobody's even looking. Interesting and intelligent at the same time. Historical and very well researched on that time but snazzy at the same time. A story within a story organization is freaking genius The external narrative is The Captain in the reeducation camp, and the inner narrative is his experience as a spy from around the fall of Saigon to new (but not very new) life in America. Because he's telling the story in front of a guard, how far is the inner narrative true? The audience experiences 'the war of memory' second handedly because the captain might restart, recollect, and reeducate.
It's not just about the story. It also feels like I'm watching the theater within the series. The first interrogation scene on the stage with the lighting makes another frame within frame. A fictional film 'The Hamlet' in Episode 4 is played like a movie within a series as well. Like there is no camera rolling, it changes the screen ratio for 'The Hamlet'. Again, frame within a frame. Park knows how to use the screen to the fullest.
However, from episode 3, 'Sympathizer' becomes loose and flabby. Park's direction is sometimes for the sake of the direction itself. It shows off and screams 'I'm such a good director', and has nothing to do with connecting with the audience. His direction does not make the story fuller or the message louder. It's just artsy. And, what is the purpose of Downey Jr. Taking four roles? He was not even that good, and it was ineffective and inefficient, adding just confusion. Hoa Xuande, on the contrary, is a newly discovered talent. He succeeds in not losing wit and humor in serious situations. His acting is on point especially in the black comedy.
