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Does 'The Sympathizer' worthily adapt its acclaimed book? : Pop Culture Happy Hour It's rare to find a series with such an impeccable pedigree as HBO's The Sympathizer. It's based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, co-created by auteur director Park Chan-wook, and features Robert Downey, Jr. in four supporting roles. Set during and after the Vietnam war, the series follows a man (Hoa Xuande) juggling a position with the South Vietnamese military and one as a spy for the North Vietnamese. But is it a worthy adaptation?

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Does 'The Sympathizer' worthily adapt its acclaimed book?

Does 'The Sympathizer' worthily adapt its acclaimed book?

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Hoa Xuande in The Sympathizer. HBO Max hide caption

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HBO Max

Hoa Xuande in The Sympathizer.

HBO Max

It's rare to find a series with such an impeccable pedigree as HBO's The Sympathizer. It's based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, co-created by auteur director Park Chan-wook, and features Robert Downey, Jr. in four supporting roles. Set during and after the Vietnam war, the series follows a man (Hoa Xuande) juggling a position with the South Vietnamese military and one as a spy for the North Vietnamese. But is it a worthy adaptation?