Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I’m not talkin’ about the band. It’s been some time since I’ve been here to spew some thoughts on things I’ve been binging so I think it’s about that time now. Take them or leave them. But you may want try something that doesn’t have large budget promotions or “star” power.  I stand behind these shows. Yeah, again, take them or leave them.  

THE BROTHERS SUN

The Brothers Sun (Netflix) is an American/Chinese series that stars Sam Li, Justin Chien, Michelle Yeoh’s well-recognized face, and other familiar faces and names. The story revolves around college student Bruce Sun (Sam Li), who haplessly wanders without much direction in his life, lying to his mother Mama Sun (Yeoh) about what he’s doing with his life. Enter Charles Sun (Justin Chien), Bruce’s older brother who Bruce had no idea existed. Bruce’s life unravels after finding out his entire life is a lie and he’s sucked into a world of gangsters and murder. Mama Sun reveals the truth about her attempt to shelter him from the life of crime her father led in Taiwan before his recent and untimely murder. Charles, fully entrenched in the lifestyle, brings it all to their doorstep.

Life is turned upside down for Bruce after realizing his mother is a well-trained martial artist with the skill level to kill anyone who threatens her or her family. And chopping bodies to pieces isn’t something he ever signed up for. In the end, though, it seems he accepts and learns to deal with the challenges ahead of him so long as his Mahjong-playing mother and his assassin-like brother are by his side, as well as his goofy friend who lacks more direction than Bruce does.

Unfortunately, this is the only season of The Brothers Sun, canceled due to lack of viewership. Bummer, it’s a really good season. Regardless, this action-packed dark comedy will have you writhing in your seat. Another season would have been good but even this one is worth the watch.

ZORRO

Simply titled, I thought this was an old film before I looked at the date. This one was intriguing because I grew up on Zorro, both film and television series. The Mark Of Zorro (1940), Zorro, The Sign Of Zorro (1958), Zorro, The Avenger (1959), Zorro, The Gay Blade (1981), The Mask Of Zorro (1998), the list goes on and on. There was even a Son Of Zorro which I once watched as a lad, across the border, deep in South America. Now, Zorro (Prime Video), the story of Diego de la Vega – based on the character created by Johnston McCulley – rides on!

The series was filmed off the coast of Spain and while it deals with Western culture, it still gives a different look, a reinterpretation, of our classic Zorro. De la Vega, portrayed by Miguel Bernardeau, returns to his father’s estate on the great frontier, murdered and searching for answers. Encountering the local Indigenous tribe and its shaman, he’s told he’s in line to don the mask of Zorro. Like anyone else, he scoffs at the idea but his arrival and assuming the role doesn’t sit well with Nah-Lin (Dalia Xiuhcoatl) who believed she would assume the role once the previous Zorro, her brother, passed. There’s contention between both Nah-Lin and De La Vega until it becomes clear their enemy is not one another. It is suggested she don another mask and eventually wears it to thwart their common enemy.

Of course, where would a Zorro story be without a love interest? His love interest is Lolita Marquez (Renata Notni), bequeathed to Capitán Monastario (Emiliano Zurita), who has always been Zorro’s adversary, but while his attempts to capture Zorro always comes up short, there isn’t the fiery rage we expect in a Monastario.  

Yes, the series is well worth your time, if you enjoy era epics on the western frontier filled with sword fights and intrigue. This mix of Mexican and Spanish actors exceeded my expectations.

BLOODHOUNDS (Netflix)

Search efforts through streaming apps, I found a diamond amongst the pieces of coal strewn about. Bloodhounds (Netflix) is that shining gem that should find attention because they give us things we didn’t know we needed. Make no mistake, Korea has been leading the charge in storytelling. I first noticed this with its zombie films and shows like Train To Busan, #Alive, All Of Us Are Dead, and the list goes on. With Bloodhounds (Netflix), they’ve taken a different approach with an all too familiar concept.

The story is pretty neatly wrapped around two youthful boxers Kim Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) who after a boxing match, become quick friends and that friendship is straight and narrow as they both find themselves forced to deal with the unscrupulous loan shark Kim Myeong-gil (Park Sung-woong) who preys on the desperation of others during Covid stricken times. Yeah, he’s a piece of shit but Sung-woong captures the full essence of the assholery. The duo befriends Choi Tae-ho (Huh Joon-ho) another moneylender with a conscience and works to help those Kim Myeong-gil takes advantage of.

Oh what a twisted web we weave as the storyline between loan sharks begins to make sense to see how both ended on opposite ends. Kim Geon-woo showcases his talents and skill as a boxer with well-choreographed fights with the loan shark’s henchmen, as does Hong Woo-jin. Bloodhounds is action-packed with an interesting storyline that we all need closure with. It’s been renewed for a new season so we should expect to see more of the grit throughout the new season.