In The Brothers Solar, you might be one in all two issues: a killer or a dipshit.
These are the labels a member of the felony underworld assigns to the present’s titular pair, Charles and Bruce Solar (Justin Chien and Sam Music Li). One was raised in Taipei to be the right murderer, whereas the opposite is an improv-loving Angeleno who’s fully unaware that his household is a part of a strong organized crime syndicate again in Taiwan.
When an assassination try on their father (Johnny Kou) goes awry, Charles and Bruce should work collectively to guard their mom (Michelle Yeoh) — and unpack some main emotional baggage alongside the way in which. The following journey boasts brotherly drama, martial arts, and a shocking quantity of churros, all making for an extra-fun watch.
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What’s The Brothers Solar about?
Justin Chien and Sam Music Li in “The Brothers Solar.”
Credit score: Michael Desmond / Netflix
As The Brothers Solar opens, the Solar household is break up in half. Charles and his father Huge Solar dwell in Taipei, heading up the formidable Jade Dragon triad. Since childhood, Charles has been his father’s right-hand man, a skilled killer whose prowess with unconventional weapons has earned him the nickname “Chairleg.”
In the meantime, Solar matriarch Eileen and youthful son Bruce dwell in Los Angeles. Their life is devoid of the posh vehicles and huge residences granted to high-ranking Jade Dragon members. Nonetheless, the 2 are a lot safer off the grid. Bruce is not even conscious of his household’s felony bona fides. His greatest worries are paying for faculty and hiding his love for improv from Eileen. The one killing he goals of entails bringing the home down onstage.
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That each one adjustments when an unknown attacker makes an try on Huge Solar’s life, forcing Charles to test in on his L.A.-based household. Whereas Eileen is able to soar into motion to battle for the Jade Dragons, Bruce is understandably terrified on the fact behind his household. For his half, Charles is unimpressed by how “smooth” Bruce is. Cue the odd couple dynamic!
Because the investigation into who attacked Huge Solar will get underway, new wrinkles come up. Charles crosses paths along with his outdated pal Alexis (Highdee Kuan), now an aspiring district lawyer investigating triad exercise in L.A. Bruce makes an attempt to juggle his newfound household duties with improv and a rising relationship along with his classmate Grace (Madison Hu). On prime of all that, there’s the crucial job of staying alive within the face of fixed assaults from rival triads and different enemy forces. That job could also be daunting for Charles, Eileen, and particularly Bruce, however it supplies us viewers with some critical treats on the subject of motion sequences.
The Brothers Solar is a martial arts-fueled blast.
Sam Music Li and Justin Chien in “The Brothers Solar.”
Credit score: Michael Desmond / Netflix
Each episode of The Brothers Solar graces us with some high-octane battle sequences. Some are critical, like foiled assassination makes an attempt. Others are extremely formidable, like a large brawl at a {golfing} vary. The perfect of those scenes, although, are those that mix that ambition with The Brothers Solar’s sillier streak.
Take the present’s very first battle. Attackers burst into Charles’s Taipei condominium whereas he bakes a scrumptious-looking cake and enjoys an episode of The Nice British Baking Present. Mentioned episode performs out within the foreground as Charles delivers a spectacular beatdown (with the assistance of a rolling pin, no much less) within the background. It is only one trace on the playful gags nonetheless to return, ones that can preserve the present feeling mild and recent even when its material veers darker.
The Brothers Solar does not draw back from the damaged household at its coronary heart.
Sam Music Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Justin Chien in “The Brothers Solar.”
Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
The Brothers Solar’s promise of battle scenes and felony intrigue could act as flashy viewers attracts, however the story’s actual focus is on the relationships between Charles, Bruce, Eileen, and the distant Huge Solar. Right here, the present attracts on material starting from parental stress to the immigrant expertise.
With Bruce and Charles, we see the influence of two very totally different upbringings. Charles is hardened to a fault. It is uncommon for him to let his guard down, and even rarer for him to do something that will not profit his father. For him, household, obligation, and honor are one and the identical. Bruce, alternatively, does not really feel that sense of obligation, aside from a want to not disappoint Eileen. He’s reluctant to hitch the gangster life, preferring the liberty to do what he needs.
“We have now a phrase for that in Taiwan,” quips Jade Dragon lackey Blood Boots (Jon Xue Zhang). “American.”
Of their opposing natures, each Bruce and Charles see one thing the opposite has that they need. As a lot as he hates to confess it, Charles craves the alternatives Bruce could make along with his life. And Charles presents Bruce a possibility to step up and take cost of his life in a brand new approach. Their variations might be their strengths, if solely they will discover a solution to let one another in.
Their mom Eileen proves to be The Brothers Solar’s most fascinating character, thanks in no small half to Yeoh’s steely efficiency. Sidelined to L.A., Eileen has discovered new methods to construct a community and keep updated on all issues triad-related. She’s far handier than many felony hotshots — and even her personal sons — give her credit score for, so it is all the time a pleasure to observe her one-up her adversaries with a reducing comment or a devastating piece of knowledge.
Yeoh is undeniably the star of the present right here, however co-leads Chien and Li do stable work as effectively. Chien shines in battle scenes, however he additionally brings a formidable vulnerability to Charles as his partitions start to crumble. Li is The Brothers Solar’s sweeter counterbalance, taking part in Bruce as each a clueless beginner and a surprisingly artistic drawback solver. He is additionally saddled with the majority of The Brothers Solar’s comedic materials, which might be extraordinarily hit and miss.
The Brothers Solar’s tonal shifts between comedy and drama do falter sometimes, particularly within the earlier episodes. Nonetheless, because the collection strikes deeper into its eight-episode run, it positive factors a confidence that snowballs right into a nail-biting showdown. Actually, it is proof that if you happen to mix Yeoh with any sort of motion and comedy, you are going to be in for a great time.
The Brothers Solar premieres Jan. 4 on Netflix.