Michelle Yeoh Fails to Revive This Promising Netflix Action Series

Michelle Yeoh Fails to Revive This Promising Netflix Action Series

Key Insights

  • Netflix’s popular one-season series, The Brothers Sun, was abruptly canceled despite strong viewership metrics.
  • The decision may stem from high production costs and unsatisfactory viewing numbers, leading Netflix to prioritize stringent streaming metrics.
  • While the show faced scrutiny regarding Asian representation, it was commended for effectively integrating family drama, comedy, and action.

About a year ago, Netflix launched a captivating action-comedy-drama series, only to cancel it prematurely. Despite featuring accomplished actress Michelle Yeoh, the show fell victim to the streaming giant’s pattern of one-season cancellations — a fate it arguably did not deserve.

The series in question, The Brothers Sun, was developed by Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu. As Netflix continues to make headlines for axing several key original shows after just a single season (recent examples include KAOS and 1899), it raises questions about the platform’s strategies for nurturing genuinely promising content.

Overview of The Brothers Sun

Family Drama Meets Gangster Action

Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chien, Sam Song-Li in The Brothers Sun

The Brothers Sun follows the story of the Sun family, historically recognized as Taipei’s most notorious gangsters. However, after relocating to California in search of a violence-free life, Eileen ‘Mama’ Sun and her younger son Bruce find themselves grappling with their past. Bruce learns shocking truths about his family’s criminal ties when his estranged older brother, Charles Sun, arrives in Los Angeles.

While Bruce strives for a peaceful existence, Charles embodies the hardened spirit of a gangster, having been groomed by their crime boss father. The family’s contrasting worlds collide when their father, Big Sun, becomes the target of an assassination attempt, prompting Charles to rush to the U.S. to protect them.

Title The Brothers Sun
Creators
  • Brad Falchuk
  • Byron Wu
Platform Netflix
Main Cast
  • Michelle Yeoh
  • Sam Song Li
  • Justin Dog
  • Highdee Kuan
Number of Episodes 8 (1 season)

Should You Watch The Brothers Sun?

The Brothers Sun offers an intriguing blend of humor and violence wrapped in a heartfelt family narrative. The series charismatically employs a mixture of English, Mandarin, and Korean, contributing to its authenticity. Audience reactions have been favorable, with Rotten Tomatoes granting it an impressive 84% Certified Fresh rating, applauding performances by Michelle Yeoh and Justin Chien.

Cancellation After One Season

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Nonetheless, Netflix decided to cancel the series just short of two months following its debut, much to the dismay of fans and critics alike. Despite The Brothers Sun being featured among Netflix’s Top 10 English-language series—peaking at number two and remaining on the list for roughly five weeks—the viewership numbers ultimately fell short of the platform’s metrics. In response to the sudden cancellation, Michelle Yeoh shared her heartfelt reaction on Instagram:

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.

Reasons Behind The Cancellation

The Creator’s Costly Deal with Netflix

Michelle Yeoh in The Brothers Sun

Co-creator Brad Falchuk, renowned for shows like Glee and American Horror Story, has an exclusive ongoing deal worth eight figures with Netflix that facilitated the commission of The Brothers Sun. While this cancellation might seem unfortunate, it’s important to note that Falchuk’s partnership with Netflix will persist, indicating that the platform set high viewership expectations based on his reputation.

High Production Costs vs. Low Viewership

Netflix cannot be entirely criticized for the show’s downfall, given the high costs associated with production. The Brothers Sun likely incurred expenses exceeding a million dollars per episode, reflecting why the platform acted swiftly regarding cancellation. Plans for a second season hinted at filming in Taiwan, where the majority of the action would supposedly unfold. Budget pressures likely influenced this decision, particularly since the initial season did not yield favorable returns on investment.

Concerns Over Authentic Representation

Another factor possibly contributing to the cancellation stemmed from mixed feedback within the Asian American entertainment community. Critics noted a lack of authenticity in the way the show depicted Asian gangsters, suggesting that it could have benefitted from deeper cultural insights. While some fans dismissed these critiques, praising the show’s blend of family-centric themes, dark humor, and engaging action, others pointed out a disconnect. A potential second season could have possibly explored these elements in a more nuanced way, but unfortunately, it may be too late for such adjustments now.

Netflix’s Recent Cancellation Trends

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The swift cancellation of The Brothers Sun highlights Netflix’s increasingly stringent metrics for its original programming. With a limited timeframe to prove itself, the show could not garner enough viewers to warrant continued production. As audience measurement windows decrease significantly, it is conceivable for shows to be canceled within mere days of their release if initial numbers are unpromising. Such a trend has drawn criticism from industry veterans, including Raphael Bob-Waksberg, co-creator of Bojack Horseman, who remarked in a 2019 interview with the Los Angeles Times:

When we started on ‘BoJack,’ it was understood that the Netflix model was to give shows time to find an audience and to build that audience. I think it’s a shame that they seem to have moved away from that model.

As illustrated, this shift towards rapid cancellations underscores Netflix’s reliance on immediate viewer numbers rather than the quality of content produced. Despite dissenting views, many believe that The Brothers Sun merited additional time to cultivate its audience. Meanwhile, other successful series have continued to receive renewals despite delivering inferior content, raising questions about audience perception and its impact on programming decisions.

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