HBO’s ‘The Sympathizer’ Episode 3 Recap & Review: The Life of a Spy

With the newly recruited Bon (Fred Nguyen Khan) by his side, the Captain sets off to gather intel on Major Oanh (Phan Gia Nhật Linh), aka Dumpling. Although the Captain is inexperienced with killing, Bon reveals he was part of a secret team of assassins in Vietnam called F-3.

While the Captain was upset that his blood brother Bon killed his comrades in Vietnam, he is actually more relieved to find out Bon’s truth. It not only means he wasn’t the only one keeping a secret, but Bon’s special skills could be useful. The Sympathizer Episode 3 consistently portrays the Captain’s back-and-forth struggle as a double agent.

Unfortunately, Dumpling’s mother, played by Kieu Chinh, thwarts their ploy. As the only one home, she lures the two in for a cup of tea with her kindness and welcoming nature. With Dumpling not home and his mother there to welcome them, their murderous plot will have to wait. Although the scene may have seemed inconsequential at the moment, it is made abundantly clear that Dumpling’s mother, despite being nearly 80 years old, still has excellent hearing. The two are invited to her Longevity Party and decide to hold off on their scheme until Independence Day, hiding their gunshots under the guise of fireworks.

A Longevity Party for the Ages

The Sympathizer Episode 3 spices things up when the Captain brings his now girlfriend Sophia (Sandra Oh) to the Longevity Party. While the General’s daughter Lana (Vy Le) is actively flirting with him, she hits it off with Sophia as the two get a drink. Unfortunately, this is one of the few positive moments for Lana in the episode, as her family is constantly harassing her due to her more modern clothing choices.

However, this isn’t the only time The Captain is forced to choose where his loyalties lie during the party. He is torn between enjoying himself with his friends and family while also needing additional recon for his potential assassination. The Captain takes no pleasure in his duties, but keeping his cover intact remains the number one priority.

The Longevity Party in The Sympathizer Episode 3 also introduces Robert Downey Jr.’s third character of the series, Congressman Ned Godwin. The smug, stereotypically American Congressman arrives as a special guest, delivers a speech, and gifts Major Oahn’s Mother a knife, an unlucky and disrespectful custom in Vietnamese culture.

The Captain Must Compromise His Morals in ‘The Sympathizer’ Episode 3

Finally, with enough intel, Bon and a poorly disguised Captain arrive at Major Oahn’s workplace. They plan to frame him as a spy using his questionable import/export candy business and ties back to Vietnam. However, as The Captain trembles and cannot pull the trigger, Dumpling starts a fight, and everything appears lost for the Captain in The Sympathizer Episode 3.

Thankfully, Bon arrives to save the day. After a long series of wrestling and flying fists, the Captain pulls the trigger, and the two blood brothers stage the killing as a hate crime, fleeing the scene. Although it appears that the two get away unnoticed, the previously established good hearing from Dumpling’s mother could come into play, as she is spotted in the scene on a balcony facing the other direction.

Secrets Must Be Kept at All Costs in ‘The Sympathizer’ Episode 3

Before the conclusion of The Sympathizer Episode 3, the traumatic events cause the Captain to flash back to his first experience with death in the war. CIA Agent Claude (Downey Jr.) forces the Captain to interrogate a communist revolutionary named The Watchman (Phong Le), whom he secretly supports.

During the interrogation, the Captain provides a coded message to The Watchman. The prisoner suggests he will cooperate if he can finally have some food and suggests hard-boiled eggs. He uses the eggs to choke and take his own life, avoiding having to reveal any secrets.

Flash forward back to the near present-day United States, and the Captain finds himself praised by CIA Agent Claude, who refers to him as his protégé. Claude brings him to a fancy American restaurant, where they meet Professor Hammer (Downey Jr.), Congressman Godwin, and a brand-new character played by (you guessed it!) Downey Jr.

RDJ’s newest character in the story is a racist actor who wants the Captain to play a part in helping him create his next movie. While it’s not obvious what role this could have in the Captain’s future, what is clear is that it will only cause more chaos and confusion in his life as a double agent in the United States. The Sympathizer Episode 3 is the strongest of the series to date, and the pace doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

'The Sympathizer' Episode 3 "Love it or Leave it" Review

4.5/5 Total Score

The Good

• Wonderfully demonstrates the emotional turmoil of the Captain in his life as a double agent.
• Robert Downey Jr. kicks a-- in all four (!) of his roles.
• Sandra Oh stuns in limited screen time.
• Riveting plot points from multiple angles all leading toward an exciting ending.

The Bad

• Frequent use of flashbacks to multiple different time periods makes it confusing to follow.