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The highly anticipated and long-awaited Robert Downey Jr. limited series is finally here. “The Sympathizer” premieres tonight on HBO. We've compiled everything you need to know about the show, including a trailer, airtime details, and how to watch The Sympathizer without cable.

“The Sympathizer” is based on the novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen. The story is part spy thriller, part dark satire and is set in the final days of the Vietnam War. It's about a North Vietnamese double agent (played by Hoa Xuande) who lives as a refugee in Los Angeles. Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr. also star, with the latter serving as executive producer of the series alongside his wife and producing partner Susan Downey.

The book won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the series has become one of the most anticipated TV premieres of the spring. The series comes from co-showrunners and executive producers Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar.

If you want to tune in but don't have a cable, you've come to the right place. Read on to learn more about your watch options for The Sympathizer.

How to watch The Sympathizer in the US

“The Sympathizer” airs Sunday at 9pm ET on HBO in the US. Luckily for cord cutters, HBO's streaming counterpart Max receives the episodes at the same time as they air, allowing for simultaneous streaming. Maximum subscriptions start at $9.99 per month for ad-supported plans and $15.99 per month for ad-free viewing.

Max with advertising (monthly plan)

Formerly HBO Max, now just Max, this streaming service is the US home of premium content from HBO and Warner Bros. Since the rebrand, it is now also the home of Discovery's reality, food, true crime and more. Pricing starts at $10 per month for ad-supported videos, $16 for ad-free videos, and $20 for 4K viewing.

How to watch The Sympathizer in the UK

The Sympathizer will eventually air on Sky in the UK, but the series won't be available until next month. The series will be available exclusively on Sky Atlantic in May and we will keep you updated as soon as an exact date is announced. You'll find a lot of HBO content here as HBO Max/Max is not available in the UK.

Here's how to watch The Sympathizer from anywhere

If you're traveling outside the US while The Sympathizer is broadcast, you can try accessing your existing subscription using a VPN. VPNs are short for Virtual Private Networks and are easy ways to change your device's virtual location so you can access websites and apps whose availability varies depending on the region you're traveling to. This recommendation is best for Americans simply traveling outside. The country is currently unavailable as Max requires a US form of payment.

Our favorite VPN recommendation is ExpressVPN, an easy-to-use option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our ExpressVPN review has all the details. Read on to learn how to use a VPN.

How to watch The Sympathizer with a VPN

  • Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.
  • Install it on the device you want to watch on.
  • Turn it on and set it to a location in the USA.
  • Sign up for Max using a US payment method.
  • Navigate to the series page and enjoy.

The Sympathizer trailer

HBO released a trailer for “The Sympathizer” in late March, providing the first real look at the series following the original teaser released a year ago. Check out the full trailer below:

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content could violate the terms of service for certain services. Insider does not advocate or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

<span>Lillian Brown is the streaming and deals editor at Business Insider. She joined the company in early 2024 and focuses on How to Watch guides for streaming services and live events for the Reviews team. It also covers VPN usage.</span><span>Her entertainment writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vulture, TV Guide, Time, Esquire, and The Daily Beast, among others. She specializes in writing about film and television. She previously worked in the Life/Arts section of The Boston Globe.</span><span>When Lillian isn't teaching people how to stream the best live sports and TV shows, you can find her running long distances and re-watching the latest season of For All Mankind or The Last of Us Part II play through on your PS4.</span>“/><noscript><br /> <img decoding=

Lillian Brown

Editorial member for streaming and deals

Lillian Brown is the streaming and deals editor at Business Insider. She joined the company in early 2024 and focuses on How to Watch guides for streaming services and live events for the Reviews team. It also covers VPN usage.Her entertainment writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vulture, TV Guide, Time, Esquire, and The Daily Beast, among others. She specializes in writing about film and television. She previously worked in the Boston Globe's Living/Arts department.When she's not teaching people how to stream the best live sports and television, Lillian can be found long-distance running, watching the latest season of For All Mankind, or replaying The Last of Us Part II. on your PS4.


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