Robert Downey Jr's New 88% RT Hit Makes Me Glad He Turned Down This Show HBO Canceled After 2 Seasons

Summary Robert Downey Jr.'s performance in The Sympathizer showcases his acting range and prowess in a must-see TV series.

Downey Jr.'s decision to star in The Sympathizer over Perry Mason proves to be a smart move for the celebrated actor.

The Sympathizer explores the complexities of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a conflicted protagonist in a gripping mini-series adaptation.

The outstanding reviews of the new HBO series starring Robert Downey Jr. prove it was the celebrated actor's perfect Oppenheimer follow-up. After taking home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 Oscars in March, Downey Jr.'s latest project has already debuted in the coveted Sunday primetime slot on HBO. Downey Jr. stars as several characters in the critically acclaimed new limited series The Sympathizer, which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name written by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

The Sympathizer episode 1 dives into the final days of the Vietnam War before the real-life Fall of Saigon. Downey Jr. plays Claude, a fierce and manipulative member of the CIA who works with the General of the South Vietnamese Army to help him flee the country to the safety of the United States. While Downey plays several major roles in The Sympathizer, the series' protagonist, who is simply called The Captain (Hoa Xuande), is the true star of the series, playing both sides of the Vietnam conflict and finding himself stuck in the middle.

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The Sympathizer Makes It Better That Robert Downey Jr. Couldn't Star In Perry Mason

RDJ was still an executive producer on Perry Mason

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Robert Downey Jr. was originally supposed to star in the Perry Mason reboot, which was recently canceled by HBO after two seasons.

Before joining the cast of The Sympathizer, Robert Downey Jr. was originally supposed to star in the Perry Mason reboot, which was recently canceled by HBO after two seasons. RDJ

was still an executive producer on the project but removed himself as the series lead due to scheduling conflicts. While it's certainly not impossible that he could have done both The Sympathizer and Perry Mason, it would have been a big ask for him to take on two different shows simultaneously at HBO, unless he was incredibly passionate about them both.

The Sympathizer was announced by HBO in 2021 when RDJ would still theoretically have been starring in Perry Mason. Perry Mason was celebrated by critics and was certainly good enough to deserve a third season after premiering in 2020, with Matthew Rhys cast instead of RDJ as the titular protagonist. Between the two choices, it appears that RDJ certainly made the better choice to star in The Sympathizer over Perry Mason, although his performance in the latter might have saved it from an early cancelation.

Related Robert Downey Jr.'s Oscar Win Completes Improbable & Incredible 23-Year Comeback Robert Downey Jr.'s landmark Oscar win marks a career highlight of the celebrated actor, who finally took home an Academy Award for Nolan's epic film.

The Sympathizer Is Worthy Of Being RDJ's Biggest TV Role In 22 Years

It's his most notable TV role since Ally McBeal ended in 2002

Downey Jr. is effectively putting on a self-contained masterclass of acting in The Sympathizer.

With RDJ obviously being quite busy as the face of the MCU since 2008's Iron Man was released, The Sympathizer marks his first big return to television since Ally McBeal ended in 2002. Based on the stellar reviews of The Sympathizer, Downey Jr's commitment to playing four different characters in one series has proven that it was well worth the wait. Downey Jr. is effectively putting on a self-contained masterclass of acting in The Sympathizer, making it one of the first must-see television series of 2024.