How to watch The Sympathizer: Stream the HBO series without cable
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
HBO
Robert Downey Jr.'s highly-anticipated, long-awaited limited series comes to an end this Sunday. We've put together everything you need to know about the show, including a trailer and details on how to watch The Sympathizer without cable.
The Sympathizer is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel of the same name. Part espionage thriller and part dark satire, the story is set in the final days of the Vietnam War. It follows 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 executive producing the series alongside his wife and producing partner, Susan Downey. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016 and the series comes from co-showrunners and executive producers Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar.
The show, which premiered on April 14, is only seven episodes long. The finale hits HBO this Sunday, May 26, with an episode titled "Endings Are Hard, Aren't They?" This was always billed as a limited series, so there's no anticipated second season. However, the author did publish a sequel, The Committed, in 2021. The follow-up is set in 1980s Paris.
If you want to tune in but don't have cable, we've got you covered. Keep reading to learn your watch options for The Sympathizer.
- See also: Where to watch Fallout | Where to watch Oppenheimer | Where to watch American Horror Story
How to watch The Sympathizer in the US
The Sympathizer airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO in the US. Fortunately for cord-cutters, HBO's streaming counterpart, Max, gets episodes at the same time they air, allowing for simultaneous streaming. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 a month for ad-supported plans and $15.99 a month for ad-free viewing.
How to watch The Sympathizer in the UK
The Sympathizer will eventually air through Sky in the UK, but the series won't be available until next month. The series will be available exclusively through Sky Atlantic in May, and we'll keep you updated as soon as an exact date is announced. This is where you'll be able to find lots of HBO content since HBO Max/Max is not available in the UK.
How to watch The Sympathizer from anywhere
If you're going to be traveling outside the US when The Sympathizer airs, you can try accessing your existing subscription through a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are simple ways to change your device's virtual location so that you can access websites and apps that vary in availability depending on the region you're traveling in. This recommendation is the best for Americans who are simply traveling outside the country right now since Max requires a US form of payment.
Our go-to VPN recommendation is ExpressVPN, a user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our ExpressVPN review provides all the details, and keep reading 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're planning to watch on.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Sign up for Max with a US form of payment.
- Navigate to the series page and enjoy.
The Sympathizer trailer
HBO released a trailer for The Sympathizer at the end of March, which provided the first real glimpse of the series following the original teaser that dropped 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 might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.