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When a Cowardly Dad Is Anything But Cowardly
This drama is not for the faint-hearted. Half the running time seems to be spent with someone punching, kicking, stabbing, or bleeding. The action is relentless, and bloody scenes are very much the norm. Thankfully, the series balances all that violence with plenty of humour, most of it courtesy of Park Jin-cheol, the resident clown. His quirky antics, over-the-top martial arts demonstrations, and impeccable comic timing provide much-needed relief between the bruises.
The drama is apparently adapted from a popular webtoon. Having never read it, I can only judge it on its own merits—and it does a fine job standing on its own.
The story opens with the bitter rivalry between Kim Min-ji and her classmate Ju Hye-ri. Hye-ri, the daughter of a construction tycoon who climbed from street thug to business mogul, has clearly inherited her father's bullying streak. During a revenge-fuelled confrontation, she smashes a brick over Min-ji's head, seemingly killing her.
As Min-ji's father desperately searches for his missing daughter, he is forced to reveal an identity he has concealed for years. Suddenly, everyone wants him dead. North Korea sends an elite assassin, South Korea's Special Mission Directorate puts him in its sights, and Hye-ri's vengeful father joins the hunt after suffering a humiliating encounter. The central question quickly becomes: can Manager Kim find his daughter before his enemies find him? And is Min-ji really dead? The drama drops enough hints on her to keep you guessing without giving the game away.
Some of the characters will have your blood boiling. There is a perpetrator who insists she is the real victim, a father whose overprotectiveness often looks suspiciously like cowardice, a ruthless business tycoon who seems able to bend everyone to his will, and corrupt politicians whose loyalty extends no further than their own bank accounts.
Several action sequences are particularly memorable. The frantic search through a sprawling warehouse complex where rival gangs hope to use Min-ji's "corpse" to blackmail Ju Gang-chan, is wonderfully tense. Equally entertaining are the daring infiltrations of the heavily guarded SMD headquarters and the hotel hosting North–South peace negotiations. These scenes keep the suspense high and the adrenaline flowing.
The finale does not forget to have fun. One of the villains ends up at the mercy of an agent he had manipulated throughout the story. I kept wondering what sort of revenge was coming. The answer was unexpectedly hilarious—and entirely deserved.
Of course, realism frequently takes a holiday in this drama. How does someone survive that amount of torture? Can three men really take on what feels like half the country? And how does a person recover from a massive blow to the head and severe blood loss without so much as a headache? A little explanation from the screenwriter would have helped. The influence wielded by wealthy elites is also portrayed as almost limitless, while the North Korean agents are depicted as nearly superhuman. Highly trained? Certainly. Invincible? Perhaps not quite. Regardless, these larger-than-life moments add to the tension, the spectacle, and ultimately the entertainment value.
Sharp-eyed viewers may also notice a few obvious product placements. A well-known health drink and Kopiko sweets seem determined to sneak into the action whenever possible.
Credit where it is due: the English title, Agent Kim Reactivated, is far punchier and more exciting than the rather plain Manager Kim.
Overall, this is an immensely entertaining action thriller with a generous helping of comedy. If you do not mind frequent violence, it delivers excitement from start to finish. Just do not make it family movie night—the younger viewers should safely sit this one out.
The drama is apparently adapted from a popular webtoon. Having never read it, I can only judge it on its own merits—and it does a fine job standing on its own.
The story opens with the bitter rivalry between Kim Min-ji and her classmate Ju Hye-ri. Hye-ri, the daughter of a construction tycoon who climbed from street thug to business mogul, has clearly inherited her father's bullying streak. During a revenge-fuelled confrontation, she smashes a brick over Min-ji's head, seemingly killing her.
As Min-ji's father desperately searches for his missing daughter, he is forced to reveal an identity he has concealed for years. Suddenly, everyone wants him dead. North Korea sends an elite assassin, South Korea's Special Mission Directorate puts him in its sights, and Hye-ri's vengeful father joins the hunt after suffering a humiliating encounter. The central question quickly becomes: can Manager Kim find his daughter before his enemies find him? And is Min-ji really dead? The drama drops enough hints on her to keep you guessing without giving the game away.
Some of the characters will have your blood boiling. There is a perpetrator who insists she is the real victim, a father whose overprotectiveness often looks suspiciously like cowardice, a ruthless business tycoon who seems able to bend everyone to his will, and corrupt politicians whose loyalty extends no further than their own bank accounts.
Several action sequences are particularly memorable. The frantic search through a sprawling warehouse complex where rival gangs hope to use Min-ji's "corpse" to blackmail Ju Gang-chan, is wonderfully tense. Equally entertaining are the daring infiltrations of the heavily guarded SMD headquarters and the hotel hosting North–South peace negotiations. These scenes keep the suspense high and the adrenaline flowing.
The finale does not forget to have fun. One of the villains ends up at the mercy of an agent he had manipulated throughout the story. I kept wondering what sort of revenge was coming. The answer was unexpectedly hilarious—and entirely deserved.
Of course, realism frequently takes a holiday in this drama. How does someone survive that amount of torture? Can three men really take on what feels like half the country? And how does a person recover from a massive blow to the head and severe blood loss without so much as a headache? A little explanation from the screenwriter would have helped. The influence wielded by wealthy elites is also portrayed as almost limitless, while the North Korean agents are depicted as nearly superhuman. Highly trained? Certainly. Invincible? Perhaps not quite. Regardless, these larger-than-life moments add to the tension, the spectacle, and ultimately the entertainment value.
Sharp-eyed viewers may also notice a few obvious product placements. A well-known health drink and Kopiko sweets seem determined to sneak into the action whenever possible.
Credit where it is due: the English title, Agent Kim Reactivated, is far punchier and more exciting than the rather plain Manager Kim.
Overall, this is an immensely entertaining action thriller with a generous helping of comedy. If you do not mind frequent violence, it delivers excitement from start to finish. Just do not make it family movie night—the younger viewers should safely sit this one out.
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