‘Hugely enjoyable’ 8-part crime thriller The Brothers Sun is one of Netflix’s best hidden gems

Shows gets cancelled for all sorts of reasons, but fans are always disappointed when incredible programmes only last for one season, and they were particularly upset when Netflix confirmed The Brothers Sun wouldn’t be returning.

The show was added to the platform back in 2024, but was cancelled just two months later, despite viewers hailing the eight-part crime thriller, which was also a dark comedy, as “hugely enjoyable”. Although it received positive reviews from both fans and critics, this didn’t translate into viewership, and it only lasted for five weeks in Netflix’s Top 10.

The show’s cancellation hit fans and the cast hard, with lead star Michelle Yeoh posting after the news: “Heartbroken… and finding it so hard to understand why. However, I am so very proud of my Brothers Sun family and what we presented to the world. Heads held high.”

A synopsis for the show reads: “When the head of a Taiwanese triad is shot by an assassin, his eldest son, Charles “Chairleg” Sun, heads to Los Angeles to protect his mother and brother, who’s been completely sheltered from the truth of his family until now.”

Who stars in The Brothers Sun?

The show was the first major role for Michelle Yeoh after she picked up the Oscar for Best Actress in Everything Everywhere All at Once, and she was joined by Justin Chien (The Season) and Sam Song Li (Never Have I Ever).

They’re joined by Joon Lee (Geni! You Good?), Highdee Kuan (Interior Chinatown), Alice Hewkin (Stella), Jenny Yang (The Saviors), Johnny Kou (Bitter Sweet), Jon Xue Zhang (The Gentleman), Zhan Yang (Expats), Madison Hu (Bizaardvark), Rodney To (Parks and Recreation) and Ron Yuan (Siren).

Reception

The Brothers Sun won legions of fans with both critics and fans, with it having an 84% rating from critics and a 90% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

One viewer enthused: “What a delight to find this gem of a series on Netflix that features Michelle Yeoh with Justin Chien, a top Taiwanese American actor and filmmaker in this action comedy that is written with heart but is still entertaining. Knowing the Taiwanese-American culture well, this series accurately captures the cultural aspects in the San Gabriel Valley and California culture. It is laugh out loud funny at times and heartfelt at other times.”

© COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Meanwhile, a second penned: “I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Brothers Sun but it has everything you want in a good action comedy. Plenty of action, laughs, drama, etc. Outside of Michelle Yeoh, it’s made up of a cast of mostly unknowns that are not familiar in America. That should change after this series. Most of them should move on to bigger things here after their job in this. This is just a beautifully acted and written show. I was hooked from the first episode to the last. I was so hooked that I ended up binging all eight episodes as fast as possible. This show knows exactly what it wants to be and doesn’t stray and add needless filler just to get to 8 episodes. It’s addicting from start to finish. I would not be surprised in the least if this show ends up winning some awards. It’s that good.”

A third added: “A hugely enjoyable series with a great cast. The acting is great, the plot keeps you glued, there’s terrific action and laugh out loud comedy,” while a fourth said: “This was a total hidden gem. The best series I have seen in a long while, I was so looking forward to a second season. Only to discover its cancelled. Netflix you are nuts to cancel this it was so good.”

© COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Writing in The Guardian, Jack Seale noted: “[Michelle] Yeoh’s ability to shift from waspish impatience to cool menace fits perfectly: that Mama Sun is as lethal with her fists as any Triad is so inevitable it barely counts as a twist, but The Brothers Sun is not bothered about surprising us if it can keep entertaining us, which it just about does.”