'The Sympathizer' review: Genre blender with a bloody bow on top

'What is it with you – Captains and (ahem) civil wars seem to follow you everywhere.' Photos: Handout

Somewhere around its halfway mark, HBO's 1970s-set limited series The Sympathizer brought memories of Tropic Thunder flooding back – all while its protagonist undergoes trials highly reminiscent of that hazy, crazy journey into the heart of darkness, Apocalypse Now.

That's all very intentional, given that the celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning source novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen is a blend of genres from political satire to dark comedy to spy thriller.