A Shop for Killers Season 2

More exciting action and gunfights!

Just finished. Still enjoyed the drama a lot because the action was great and the production overall very high quality. The action sequences are higher budget and more intense this season. I would've liked to see more Jian fight scenes though, mostly she was just running away from fights.

Story was kind of messy in season 2 though it didn't totally collapse or anything. Babylon and Murthehelp are expanded a lot this season and we are introduced to a lot of new characters, villains and factions. Because of this there's significantly more variety in everything, and more moving parts. The expanded world has its pros, like bigger action sequences in various different locations. However it also takes away from the emotional aspects and the very personal and focused story that season 1 has.

Overall I enjoyed this season too but the drama (especially season 2) is mostly just fun action where you have to turn off your brain when watching. Good and fun but nothing special.

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It doesn't live up to its first season.

A Shop for Killers 2 it’s not a bad drama by any means. The action is still solid, the cast does a good job, and there are enough twists and tense moments to keep things moving. But compared to the first season, everything feels a little less sharp. The story doesn’t have quite the same freshness or sense of urgency, and some of the plot developments feel more overly complicated than genuinely exciting.

Lee Dong-wook continues to have an effortless presence, even when the material doesn’t give him quite as much to work with, while Kim Hye-jun remains the emotional anchor of the story. She does a good job portraying Ji-an’s growing confidence and competence without losing the vulnerability that made her character so compelling in the first season.

Killing off two major characters so early in the story was a mistake. Both had the potential to add much more to the plot and, more importantly, to give the season the emotional weight and tension it needed. Their early deaths felt less like meaningful storytelling and more like the writers removing interesting pieces from the board before they had a chance to really use them.

Jung Yun-ha and Hyunri’s performances didn’t really work for me. Their characters were clearly meant to make an impact, but I found their delivery somewhat flat and struggled to connect with either of them. Considering how important their characters are to the story, that made some of their scenes feel less effective than they should have been.

As for the constant language change, mid-scene: in Season 1, the multilingual elements tended to feel like part of the characters' backgrounds. In Season 2, the use of English and even Japanese are occasionally being used to make the international villains feel more international rather than because the scene genuinely requires it. There's one particular character rejecting their korean roots, so it would make sense for this person to prefer to talk in another language as part of character building and psychology, but for the rest I found this particular aspect created a lot of incongruence within one scene.

Season 2 is perfectly watchable, but it feels more like a decent continuation than a worthy follow-up. Not disappointing enough to hate, just not impressive enough to leave the same impression.

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Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Like any sane person, I too was insanely excited for season 2.

Once all the episodes were done, I binge watched it, but right after first couple of episodes I could sense something was lacking. Soon thereafter, everything just when downhill. The taut writing, the emotional turmoil, the finely choreographed action sequences, the twists, and even menacing enemies, they all were absent in this one.

And the reason for that is simple:
This season is NOT based on the comic.

The creators decided to go their own way for this season, which is absolutely fine, and I would applaud them for that, but only if the result wasn’t so… ORDINARY.

In and of itself, this season is a fine one-time watch. But the moment you put season 1 into perspective, this season looks very amateurish and downright silly.

Following are some of the amateurishness / silliness I encountered:

THE VILLAINS: Gone are the dread and absolute horror that Bale induced in the first season. There’s not a single scene that comes even close to his scene of dropping grenades in that room full of women, and his subsequent evil stare of dark delight. His replacements are two entitled ladies, who yap a lot, especially the boss, say cheesy lines, act out, make faces, and just end up being a caricature. Annoying and laughable? Absolutely. Menacing or dread-inducing? Oh, please.

THE TWISTS: None of the twists, and I mean none of the twists, were unpredictable. The writing was so pedestrian at times that the twists became an obvious course of action. The one place they could’ve inserted a fine twist was when Pasin was made into a traitor. Right there, was a fine opportunity to make him into a double agent, but they missed it and messed up the whole thing. Him becoming a traitor felt so forced and out of character. I was once surprised, though, when Jianman announces to Pasin that he’s now the kidnapper of his son, but that went absolutely nowhere, as Pasin is killed off five minutes later, making the “twist” irrelevant.

THE HUMOUR: What humour?

THE EMOTIONAL HEFT: Again, what emotional heft? There’s not a single scene that would parallel that moment when our little Jian was left locked in that room in the school and her relief and outburst at the sight of her rescuer, her uncle. I choked up, even after watching it three times.

Or that quiet gut punch when, while trying to escape, she ends up in the same morgue cooler where her mom’s dead body is stored. That fraction of a moment where she learns her mother is no more, and she embraces her dead body, hoping to be saved…or to die, but in the arms of her mother. Or that dramatic scene where our grown up Jian steps out of her hiding with a severed head, no less, negotiating with her almost-killers. There is NOT A SINGLE scene in this season that would come close to these.

THE DEATHS: I felt bad for Brother’s death, but not for Pasin, because of the way he was practically written into a terrible hole in the episode before. And his death was just so stupid. He knows there’s a guy behind him and yet he turns his back just so he could bid an emotional farewell to Jian, who’s already pretty much on her way to safety. I was screaming at the screen, “ FFS! BEHIND YOU”. And later he gets his hands on some grenades, but he waits to first be riddled with bullets before flinging them on his killers. Moronic to say the least.

Back to the Brother: I was hoping his death would be avenged, especially by Jian, as I really wanted Q to die a horrible death. She was solely responsible for Brother’s death. I mean, if you kill one of the most likable characters, you deserve to die a very painful death. But not even a strand of hair is harmed on her in the name of vengeance. That’s just lazy writing. I suspect the creators want to use that, annoying girl-boss character in the next season. So, she gotta stay alive. If it were up to me, I would’ve had Jian simply shoot Q dead and respond to Jianman, “The difference between a friend and an enemy is a sheet of paper? I DON’T CARE”

THE ACTION: I personally didn’t see any better action in this season. That knife fight between Jianman and Bale alone in season 1 is far better than all the fights in season 2 put together.

THE CGI: It was what it was. But that scene where the two photographs are blown away by the wind was just too much. I did like those terminator bots, though.

Overall, I’m very very disappointed in this season. Yes, it’s very unlikely that season 2 would top season 1, for any show, even though there are exceptions (Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul). But the least they could’ve done was not make this show so ordinary, devoid of the sheer force, grit, and heart that season 1 was. Deviating from the source material was a PHENOMENAL MISTAKE on their part.

In my view, just skip this season altogether, and let the bittersweet memory of season 1 be the only memory of this show. It’s better to leave something on a tangent than to drive it into the ground in the name of progress.

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Just Routine, Avoid unless have a urge to finish S2

1. There are too many characters, no one receives enough depth to make us care. The villains are written like caricatures instead of serious threats. Their exaggerated performances and cheesy dialogue become unintentionally funny. Furthermore, the portrayal of the Japanese characters feels stereotypical and borderline mocking.

2. Absolutely not required to kill the characters for any reason. (The boy in the island, J, Pasin, Other team members)

****** Despite these major narrative flaws, the acting was commendable. ****

3. Mainly, the actors were weighed down by an extremely depressive and relentlessly gloomy tone throughout.
Pasin is gradually reduced to a pathetic and weak figure, making his betrayal feel forced rather than earned, while his death lacks the impact it deserved.
The FL choosing to live alone under constant surveillance is also difficult to understand—it is obviously never a life of peace, and at times she behaves almost like she has a split personality.
Q’s character initially looks interesting, but it is hard to comprehend how she could fall for Jin’s extremely obvious lies.
The ML, meanwhile, has many choices and opportunities to protect his niece, yet repeatedly makes questionable decisions. When all of this is combined with the relentless gloom surrounding the main characters, the character dynamics become exhausting rather than engaging.

4. The plotting and technical elements also falter. Most of the twists are predictable, and several interesting plot developments go nowhere. The action sequences lack excitement, while inconsistent abilities muddy the stakes. Additionally, the subpar CGI and visual choices occasionally make the show feel like a parody rather than a gritty thriller.

Overall, the season is just average, unless you have a desire to complete the Season 2.

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Eh….

It’s not bad, but it’s not great either.
The biggest downside for me was the pacing and the lack of suspense.

There’s a lot happening in this series that I found engaging, yet the pace feels incredibly slow. I’m not entirely sure why — maybe because I was expecting the kind of intense action that Season 1 offered. There are also so many plot threads that drift around for a long time before finally connecting.
Part of my dissatisfaction might come from the fact that after the first episode I rewatched the previous season (I barely remembered anything), liked it a lot, and then simply couldn’t connect with this one at all. Where was the suspense? The mystery? The story just drags on and on… and when you look back, not much of real substance actually happened.
Luckily, it really came alive for me in the last 20%. In fact, that final stretch was so good that I bumped the rating up a full star. I just wish the show had been that consistently wild the whole way through.
The romance didn’t work for me either — I honestly don’t see any real reason for it to be there.

On the upside, the cast is excellent, and I genuinely enjoyed the overall plot.

Just because it didn’t fully work for me the entire time doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. If you’re interested, I’d still encourage you to give it a try.

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Lacked In Comparison To The First Season

Where Season 1 had me, I didn't feel it in this 2nd season. The action didn't really hit me, and Jian never felt like Jian from how she ended S1.

For the first half of the show, there wasn't any action; it felt more like a buildup, and in comparison to Season 1, those who watched the first season should know what I'm pointing at. The second half of the show gave a lot more action than the first half, but still fell back a lot when you get reminded of the first installment. I went into this show expecting something from that end at Season 1: Jian's significant character growth, Jian being the ladyboss in Season 2. The trailer gave a lot more of her as a Ladyboss than the drama itself; trailers can be really misleading. The writers gave nothing about what she went through and became in S1. Firstly, she just ran from what she promised/her responsibilities into the countryside, where she could likely endanger the people living there with her identity. Her staying in that peaceful environment in the first two eps of the drama ADDED NOTHING TO THE SHOW: NO TWIST, NO DISCOVERY, NO VALUE. Jian of this season felt more like how she was at the start of the first season. The Season 2 focus wasn't on Jian's growth but more on the conflict between Muthehelp and Babylon, and it was saddening to me as the writer never cared about the growth Jian had from the first season.

The writers just killed Bale at the midpoint of the drama. It felt like when he died, he was a side character rather than a tough villain from the first season. I was really disappointed by the time he died, how he died, and the way the scene was directed. Bale was such a compelling villain in season 1, with a menacing screen presence, and he just died like a minor character. The actor really did a great job with his portrayal. They never gave a real face-off/showdown between Bale and Jiman; It was just anticlimactic, given how much potential these two characters had to make the show more engaging. J was an interesting character to me, and I would like to see more of his scenes, BUT the writers gave him an intentional death as a plot device in making Q develop a relentless mind in pursuing Jian and killing Jiman. It was dissatisfying. The fact that Q believed what was told of how her brother died, with what she knew of how dangerous Bale was, was NOT MAKING ANY SENSE.

Pasin definitely did what he had to do to save his son, but he really overdid it. If he chose to help his team, he would have found a way, even with him having the chip in his body. At last, the writers just killed him off (I felt the writers made him kill his team's opponent and him casually dying for redemption), and we weren't told what went on with his son in Jiman's hands. The writers picked what was important and left out some minor things I would have loved to see.

The villains of this season weren't as good as the ones from the former. If I were told to choose which villain had me, it would be K; he never talked much and had one gloomy face, but he gave me a villain feel, at least in comparison to the rest of the named Babylon.
Q didn't feel like a villain/an enemy; she felt like someone who had to do something she doesn't want, and her shooting the gun at the wall instead of her foe in front of Jian says it all. Loved how the misunderstanding between Q and Jiman didn't drag out too long; also loved the interaction they had at the end of the show.

Kusanagi Jin didn't actually get me to feel anything, except at times she feels so comical, like a mentally derailed patient in therapy; she just feels so unserious and weird. She gets me laughing when asking for food when something serious and in need of attention occurs. The actress deserves praise for that performance. I couldn't truly get invested in her character as a villain because she actually did nothing other than bossing others around and talking big. They threw in action into her character at the end, and we see her with the guns killing the red team like flies, going through the leader of the reds and bursting into the door unscathed, pointing guns at Jeong Jiman and Jeong Jian. Everything felt so Hmmmm. She passes the red code leader offscreen. CAN'T THEY JUST GIVE ME THE ACTION LIVE AND STOP DOING OFFSCREEN? She came out unscathed from the red team and their guns, without the writers giving us a hint or a backstory to what she did in the past for her to be this strong; this just feels like A LAZY WAY OF WRITING.

Season 2 really fell short in comparison to the first season, and I shouldn't even be surprised; that is the way most series are.
Jian never made real use of a gun, and that was a problem because she felt like she was in the shell of her Season 1 character who hadn't overcome challenges, even though she had done all of that. But I was satisfied by the forehead shot she bestowed upon Kusangi Jin.

If they ever make a Season 3, please keep it engaging, fast-paced, and juice up Jian's character like it should be done.


Thanks for reading the long Review🩷

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weak story with too many deaths imho...

While I was genuinely excited for Season 2, but I felt underwhelmed. Nobody can doubt the quality of the action, but storywise it left a lot to be desired. To make a fan favorite character a traitor was just lazy writing, because he could have told them, because of course they would have freed his son regardless but no, it had to been black/white. And with so many deaths there were some heartbreaking moments. The question I ask myself is, did we need that? Does an action flick only drives when main characters die?

In the finale the budget run out or so it looked for me, when the Babylon headquarters was demolished. Here the CGI did not match the overall extremly high production quality. So overall, while entertaining, I miss a refined story. I can't fault the actors/actresses who all did their best. Of course if you liked Season 1, you will watch Season 2, but you may be disappointed.

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The second season syndrome

Season 1 started with Uncle Jian dead, his body shown and his funeral taking place, while the story revealed that he was the head of Muthehelp. He also left his niece the green code, a signal that everyone in the organization was obligated to protect her. That setup created such a powerful foundation that I was expecting Season 2 to pick up directly from there. Instead, the connection felt somewhat loose.

This is what I call the second-season syndrome. When the first season is a classic, how do you possibly top it?

It reminded me of the first time I watched Kill Bill: Vol. 1. That feeling of discovering something completely fresh is almost impossible to recreate. Season 2 doesn’t quite have that same impact. But to be fair to the writers, they weren’t really trying to repeat Season 1. This time, they went deeper into the mythology, the characters, their backgrounds and motivations and, of course, there were a lot more deaths.

And honestly, it wouldn’t be much of a bloody action series if only the good guys were allowed to survive.

My favorite character in the entire series remains our supreme female antagonist. She drove me absolutely boiling, and I have to admit, I admire her craziness. There is something fascinating about her anger. Deep down, there is even a part of her we can understand. Her rage doesn’t come from nowhere; it comes from pain, betrayal and the feeling of being wronged.

Jian may have played a smaller role this time around, but I actually enjoyed seeing more of my favorite lead actor. Still, at its heart, this season feels like a story about the wrath of women who kill.

Unlike Season 1, there isn’t much here that demands to make sense. Don’t look for profound meaning. Don’t expect to finish an episode longing for love or wondering who you want to become.

This is not that kind of show.

It’s meant to be enjoyed with a bowl of popcorn on the couch while watching people do increasingly outrageous and senseless things to one another.

And you know what?

For what it is, I enjoyed every bloody minute of it.

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Listen Up, Babylon

A Shop for Killers Season 2 picks up where the first season left off, but instead of constantly throwing us into a maze of flashbacks and survival games, it spends more time asking a different question: what happens after you survive? Jung Ji An is no longer simply the girl trying to stay alive inside Murthehelp. With Jung Jin Man back in the picture, she has to figure out what kind of life she wants, what Murthehelp means to her, and whether there is any way for the Jung uncle and niece duo to exist without Babylon breathing down their necks.

The season begins by filling in the missing pieces of what Jin Man was doing while the events of the first season were unfolding. We see what happened to him and his team before eventually arriving at his reunion with Ji An. From there, the story moves more firmly into the present, following their lives after that reunion. Compared to the first season, which was packed with action and flashbacks designed to build the mystery around Murthehelp, the second season feels more invested in the future. The first season kept me at the edge of my seat. The second season, meanwhile, made me more curious about where these characters would go next. And honestly, I enjoyed both seasons almost equally, just for different reasons.

After reuniting with Jin Man and the Murthehelp team, Ji An initially chooses to walk away. She spends three years trying to live a normal life in a small seaside town, working with the grandmas making fishing nets. On paper, it sounds peaceful. In reality, this girl is basically living like a paranoid cat. She keeps her profile low, sets traps around her house, and carries the psychological scars of everything she has been through. Even in a quiet village by the sea, she never truly feels safe.

I actually appreciated what this arc was trying to do, even though I think it went on longer than necessary. It gives us a glimpse of the life Ji An could have had if she were allowed to simply be a normal young woman. The problem is that the moment she finally warms up to the town and gets close to a local boy, her identity is discovered. Predictable? Absolutely. When it happened, I felt almost nothing emotionally. The chase itself gave me an adrenaline rush, but the emotional beats, especially the boat scene, did not land as strongly as the drama seemed to want them to. It also took three whole years for Ji An to finally open herself up to the people there, only for everything to be destroyed because the enemy's investigation happened to lead them to the village. Still, I can accept the arc because it functions as a giant "what if?" scenario for Ji An. What if she could really leave Murthehelp behind? What if she could live an ordinary life? The answer, unfortunately, is that her past is not done with her.

Meanwhile, Jin Man spends much of the season trying to get Babylon off their backs. His goal is surprisingly reasonable for someone running a deadly shopping mall: coexist peacefully. Babylon, naturally, says no. So Jin Man and his team resort to threatening them with classified information taken from Babylon's own server. Their efforts were genuinely fun to watch. The strategizing, infiltration, escapes, and cat-and-mouse games kept me invested, even if they rarely made me genuinely worried about whether Jin Man and his team would survive. I always had the feeling that they would find a way out somehow.

The action is a mixed bag. So Min Hye and Pasin continue to be absolute beasts. Their movements are agile, clean, and satisfying to watch, and their action scenes gave me exactly the kind of adrenaline rush I wanted. Bale is also entertaining thanks to his manic, almost psychotic presence. That man's ability to stare without blinking deserves its own award.

Jin Man, however, is a different story. I can see Lee Dong Wook's age through some of the action sequences, and the drama seems very aware of it too. A lot of Jin Man's fights are presented through dark environments, night-vision POVs, unusual camera angles, or heavy editing. The intention is obviously to make him look cool, but sometimes it felt less like stylish filmmaking and more like the camera was helping him pass the physical exam. The 360-degree corner angle used during his fight with Bale in the first episode amplified my migraine. I understand what they were going for, but I found it more nauseating than impressive.

That is not to say Jin Man himself loses his cool factor. In fact, the drama cleverly shifts his strength away from raw physicality. His real weapons are his experience, intelligence, equipment, and ability to escape situations that should be impossible to escape from. He looks like a man who has been doing this for decades, and that works for the character. Visually, Lee Dong Wook still looks ridiculously good as Jin Man, with a buff and fit physique that suits the role. More importantly, his performance sells the uncle part beautifully. There is awkwardness, guilt, innocence, protectiveness, and love in the way he looks at Ji An. Their relationship feels surprisingly realistic, especially for two people whose family bonding activities include guns, traps, and escaping assassins.

Kim Hye Jun's Ji An is also solid. I would not call the performance extraordinary, but there is nothing particularly wrong with it either. She genuinely feels like a niece trying to navigate the bizarre and dangerous world that her uncle has dragged her into. My biggest complaint is that I wanted more growth and charisma from Ji An. She has some genuinely cool moments, particularly when she dresses up and confronts Babylon herself, as well as during her martial arts and gun training with Jin Man's team. Those scenes gave her plenty of aura. Unfortunately, when she starts sitting at the table and strategizing with the experienced players, she sometimes feels like a kid trying to play chess with grandmasters.

That said, I cannot complain too much about that characterization because it makes sense. Jin Man and the others have spent years surviving in this industry. Ji An is still the newcomer. What matters is that her plans work, and watching her gradually take the reins of Murthehelp is satisfying. She may not yet have the presence of the big players, but she is learning how to become one.

The Babylon characters are another mixed bag. Kusanagi Jin, Q, and J from Babylon's East Asia Branch all leave very different impressions. Kusanagi Jin, played by Jung Yun Ha, is probably the one who annoyed me the most, which is also a compliment to the actress. She is manic, narcissistic, obsessed with hygiene, and generally the kind of person who makes you want to slap the screen. Jung Yun Ha commits to the psychotic energy so intensely that I genuinely wanted to throw something at her. At times, though, the character feels a little too cartoonish.

Q, played by Lee Hyun Ri, is much more interesting in terms of morality. She has her own principles and does not seem particularly interested in killing innocent people. She can show mercy, spare people who do not harm her, and has strong big-sister energy toward J. There is also a little spark between her and Jin Man, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, her characterization does not go much further than that. I did not become deeply attached to her, although her pursuit of Ji An in the village was excellent. She was like a leech with a mission. Once she locked onto Ji An, good luck getting her to let go.

J, meanwhile, left an impression almost entirely because of Okada Masaki. I'm just a girl after all. Kidding. J is Q's younger brother and Kusanagi Jin's secret lover, and he is a very straightforward character. He follows orders and does what he is told without much fuss. Yet Okada Masaki gives him such expressive facial reactions that I found myself watching him whenever he appeared. His face practically speaks in full sentences. I became a fan.

Q's crew also adds some much-needed flavor, particularly Marco, who provides the comedic touch in an otherwise deadly cast. These little character dynamics help prevent the drama from becoming too grim and give the team a sense of personality beyond simply being people who are very good at killing other people.

The visuals, unfortunately, are where the drama sometimes tries a little too hard. There are plenty of genuinely good-looking scenes, but some of the camera work seems determined to remind us that the director owns a camera. The action between Jin Man and Bale in the first episode is the biggest example for me. The 360-degree treatment was technically interesting but physically unpleasant to watch. Other Jin Man action scenes use darkness or obstructive angles in ways that make it difficult to appreciate his actual movements.

Meanwhile, the action scenes involving So Min Hye and Pasin are allowed to breathe. We can clearly see their movements, which makes them feel more impressive rather than less. That contrast made me wonder whether Jin Man's camera treatment was partly designed to mask Lee Dong Wook's movement. If that was the intention, it worked. If it was not, then the coincidence is doing some heavy lifting.

Still, the drama has plenty of visual highlights. One of my favorite moments is when Kusanagi Jin walks past a room where clients are being killed. The scene has this unsettling, almost casual brutality that fits the world of A Shop for Killers perfectly. It understands that sometimes you do not need explosions to look cool. Sometimes a psychopath casually walking past a room full of dead bodies does the job.

And then there is the music. The OST, background music, and sound effects absolutely slay. The music is one of those things that can instantly elevate a scene from "pretty cool" to "damn, that has aura." The tracks are well chosen and woven naturally into the action, making the fights, confrontations, and dramatic moments feel much bigger. There were several moments when I found myself enjoying the music almost as much as the actual scene.

By the end, I did feel that some deaths were unnecessary. A few characters I liked were killed off, and while their deaths can be justified within the brutal logic of this world, I still found myself thinking, "You really could have let them live." Sometimes realism is not the same thing as satisfaction. There were also some loose ends about certain supporting characters.

The ending is probably the best example of the season's overall approach. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be smart. From an entertainment perspective, I found it anticlimactic. I wanted something bigger, louder, and more explosive. But from a storytelling perspective, Ji An's solution makes sense. It is the result of planning rather than brute force, and I cannot really argue with a plan that works simply because I wanted a bigger fireworks display.

It is also a very convenient ending, but perhaps that is what makes it smart. If A Shop for Killers ends here, the second season provides a conclusion that works. If the drama decides to continue with a third season, there is still enough room to move forward. The biggest question for me is what happens after the ceasefire. Will Jin Man and Ji An continue running Murthehelp together? Will they finally walk away from it? Can Murthehelp even exist peacefully after everything that has happened? I honestly would not mind either direction.

Overall, A Shop for Killers Season 2 is just as fun and entertaining as its predecessor, although it scratches a slightly different itch. The first season had the stronger sense of mystery and urgency, while the second season feels more like watching the surviving pieces of the chessboard figure out their next move. There are predictable story beats, unnecessary detours, questionable deaths, and camera work that occasionally made my head hurt more than the villains did. But the cast is fun, the action can be excellent, the uncle and niece relationship remains the heart of the story, and the soundtrack knows exactly how to make everything feel cooler than it already is.

It is not perfect, but neither does it need to be. A Shop for Killers remains a stylish, bloody, entertaining ride, and the second season does enough to make me glad I came back to Murthehelp.

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Ceasefire: The War Is Over… For Now

Loved this season so much!! The story expanded vastly this season and wasnt confined to just one location. The world of A Shop for Killers 2 feels much bigger now, and by the end of S2, we basically have a ceasefire between Babylon and the Murthehelp team, which leaves plenty of room for a potential S3.

I really liked the idea of using a ceasefire to conclude the season. This was essentially a war between two factions, so unless someone from Babylon breaks the agreement, there should be peace for now. If we get another season, this could allow the story to expand even further and introduce new characters, factions, conflicts, and layers to the A Shop for Killers universe.

Imo stakes were also much higher this season. Both Babylon and Murthehelp suffered major losses, with several important characters being killed. Even the final confrontation ended with the main villain, Kusanagi being killed. However im really glad they chose to let Q live. She definitely fucked up badly in the middle of the drama when she went after Murthehelp to avenge her brother's death but she eventually ended up helping them. So, instead of killing her off, letting her walk away was actually a really good choice. If the story continues into future seasons, Q could potentially become an ally of Murthehelp or help them when they need it.

And honestly, i think this is more realistic when you look at how actual wars work. Its not always about completely destroying the opposing side. There are various factors to consider, alliances can form between people who dont necessarily get along and sometimes you have to keep certain options open in case circumstances change. The ceasefire gives the story a lot more flexibility going forward.

The action was larger than life this season and Kusanagi was honestly a psychopath to the core. Her sheer craziness was so entertaining to watch onscreen. Im also kinda glad they made the main villain this season a woman, considering the main protagonist is also a woman. Some people might think Bale would have been a better choice as the main villain but personally, i think Kusanagi worked perfectly for S2. She was absolutely unhinged and in many ways, even more evil than Bale. She wasnt as physically powerful as him but her sheer unpredictability and insanity made her a terrifying villain.

Hopefully, we will get S3 because there is still so much potential left in this world.

Until then, ceasefire!!

My personal score for this war: 10/10.

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Villains downgraded, entertainment maintained, Jimnam still hot.

Even though I was not as disappointed in season 2 as many people were, I do understand the complaints, since not one aspect of the production was improved, while some actually declined in delivery. Still, was it fun? Hell yeah.

The plot just continues from season one - Jian and Jinman forced to be against Babylon. Same good team, new villains, no nuance. While some plotlines and characters had good potential, it was never used. Schemes on top of schemes, twists on top of twists - don’t try to figure it out, just enjoy the ride. The plot and motivations of the characters are not deep enough to use any brain power on them.

What can I say about the “good” guys… decent guys? Gray characters? Still love Jian and Jinman. I love when the focus relationship that drives the whole show is not a romantic one. It always feels more refreshing, no matter what. I found Jian’s arc to be rather well paced and presented. Her resistance to accept the fact she is part of that dangerous world and there is no turning back anymore was decently developed and the turning point for her acceptance also made sense.

Jinman for sure is one of the best written and consistent characters in both seasons. Every decision he makes makes sense, his objectives have clear purpose - there is no guessing game why he does what he does, it’s clear from day one. Protecting Jian is his life mission, but I like how it’s not a stagnant arc. He goes from trying to protect her by hiding things from her, to accepting the fact the best way to protect her is supporting her own choices. It’s also wise to remember how hot Lee Dong Wook is in this role.

While I enjoyed good-ish guys a lot, I cannot say the same for the antagonists. I cannot comprehend who thought it was a good idea to write off all the most distinctive fun and entertaining ones, to leave us with the psycho who is nothing, but the empty shell with no substance. That’s what the second season lacks the most - good villains with well developed motivations. Kusanagi Jin gave me nothing writing wise. I am sorry, but making your bad guys act completely psychopathic is not enough anymore, the audience wants more.

Luckily, the acting was as strong as we would hope it would be. This is an action packed drama, so I need to appreciate the hard work that was put into delivering well choreographed fighting scenes. The dominant emotion that was presented on the screen was desperation, and it did translate in any and all aspects of the performances. The deliveries that stood out for me were: obviously the man Lee Dong Wook - he needs to stick to these darker and more serious roles, this what suits him the best. I’m gonna speak from my heart - he is just so hot when he is all fighting with blood on his face. It is what it is.

Kim Hye Jun also made sure her performance was on the same level as her co-stars. Jung Yun Ha saved Kusanagi Jin with her acting, because the writing was not it. And we have to talk about Okada Masaki as J - I wish for a prequel focused just on J and Q. What an entertaining ride that would be.

As for directing - still fun. I don’t think anything truly stood out. The storytelling was far more linear, there were less unique ways to present the plot and the twists. The story just sailed smoothly from point A to point B with little disturbance. Which is a little bit disappointing.

What I liked about season one was how they delivered non-linear storytelling. Cutting the scenes and moving between the timelines at just the right moments to create the suspense - this is what this season lacked for sure. They went for typical plot twists that at some point were painfully easy to predict. While season two kept the entertainment aspect high, it lacked the tension.

As I already said - the fighting scenes were still amazing. Well choreographed and well acted - you can see they did put some effort into practice to make them seem realistic and dynamic. What I did not like were the Terminator-esque robots showing up a few times - they looked extremely fake and took me out of the show every time. Except for them, all the other CGI and special effects were good.

Similarly, the set design was fine. Nothing truly stood out either in a positive nor negative manner. Sadly, while I love the soundtrack, I think they did not utilize it to its full potential. These songs hit hard when you listen to them outside of the show, but when you watch the scenes they are used in, they do not have the same impact.

Overall, it was not as good as season one, but I also think it was not as bad as people claim it to be. The biggest mistake the show made was writing off all the best antagonists, leaving the viewers with mediocrity in the second half.

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