great but not til the very last drop
The premise of this series was ridiculous in the first place, but the entertainment factor filled with Die Hard-style action sequences, superhuman strength and recovery, and plenty of comedic moments should have been the perfect formula for a great Netflix action flick. I felt like I was riding a roller coaster with plenty of highs, lows, twists, and turns, only to realize that the tracks ended at the edge of a cliff. Just like the lyrics from The Gambler, the writers should have known “when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” I guess this series became a victim of ending fatigue, or perhaps even viewer fatigue.
The acting, of course, is superb, as expected from such a large ensemble of veteran Korean actors. So Ji Sub is perfectly cast as the former spy turned fiercely protective father, while Choi Dae Hoon and Yoon Kyung Ho provide impeccable comedic support that keeps the series from taking itself too seriously.
What baffles me is the inept portrayal of the secret intelligence organization. The storyline can be forgiven for borrowing heavily from the Taken playbook, but the final episodes pushed excess to another level. For a show that was already delightfully over the top, adding even more chaos became too much of a good thing.
Still, despite its flaws, Agent Kim Reactivated never forgets its primary mission: to entertain. It succeeds with charismatic performances, exhilarating action, and plenty of laughs. I just wish the writers had exercised a little more restraint and delivered a finale that matched the fun and momentum of its earlier episodes instead of trying to outdo itself at every turn.
The acting, of course, is superb, as expected from such a large ensemble of veteran Korean actors. So Ji Sub is perfectly cast as the former spy turned fiercely protective father, while Choi Dae Hoon and Yoon Kyung Ho provide impeccable comedic support that keeps the series from taking itself too seriously.
What baffles me is the inept portrayal of the secret intelligence organization. The storyline can be forgiven for borrowing heavily from the Taken playbook, but the final episodes pushed excess to another level. For a show that was already delightfully over the top, adding even more chaos became too much of a good thing.
Still, despite its flaws, Agent Kim Reactivated never forgets its primary mission: to entertain. It succeeds with charismatic performances, exhilarating action, and plenty of laughs. I just wish the writers had exercised a little more restraint and delivered a finale that matched the fun and momentum of its earlier episodes instead of trying to outdo itself at every turn.
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