Everything changed when Netflix launched The Brothers Sun in January 2024. Created by Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu, the dark action-comedy centered on Charles "Chairleg" Sun, a hardened Taipei triad enforcer forced to travel to Los Angeles to protect his estranged mother and naive younger brother. Chien’s performance required an unusual balance: ruthless physical intimidation paired with quiet comedic exhaustion.
The series caught fire among martial arts cinema enthusiasts because of its visceral, continuous-shot fight sequences. Netflix's creative production team publicly remarked that Chien went "full Keanu," referencing Keanu Reeves’ legendary preparation for John Wick. Rather than relying on disorienting quick cuts to disguise inexperienced body mechanics, the production team leaned directly into Chien’s actual combat timing.
Chien trained extensively in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (earning a blue belt), and edge-weapon defense. For the landmark bakery fight in the pilot episode, Chien rehearsed the intricate choreography for weeks, executing roundhouse kicks, knife disarms, and tactical throws while covered in pastry flour. That sequence established him not just as an actor reading cue cards, but as a legitimate stunt performer capable of carrying heavy, demanding action loads.
