Butterfly

Butterfly is much like every other spy/assassin/espionage thriller out there. Although the acting was really good throughout, with great locations, the directing and writing let the storyline down dramatically. It could have been so much more entertaining and engrossing. With predictable plot-twists and the usual plot holes (perhaps great voids) the writers didn't really do a good job with what they had to offer and most of it was borrowed from other TV shows and movies. The opening dialogue of the pilot (ep 1) was copied straight from The Matrix, for example. 5/10 is more generous that what I should be awarding this show, mainly because of the poor job the directors did.

I watch a lot of Korean TV and movies. So I was predisposed to watching this show. I'm only halfway through, and this review assumes the story and pacing continues to the end

I am really enjoying this show. The story is intriguing, it unfolds at an even pace, the cinematography is fantastic and the acting is phenomenal.

Why am I giving this an 7 instead of a 10? Because the only missing element is the action. It's fairly weak, which is surprising because Korean action is much better than this. Lots of jump cuts that show the result, but none of the work. But I just read that this is an American production, which makes more sense, since I never found American TV action all that great.

It's too bad, because I am familiar with a ton of the Korean actors and I know they've worked on physical shows/movies before. Nevertheless, this show is still worth watching.

A two screen viewing experience, or a background viewing, while you're doing other stuff.

The biggest draws are strong actors (starting with Daniel Dae Kim and Piper Perabo) and immersive on location filming in Korea.

David (DDK) is a legendary spy and former founder of a global spy syndicate. Rebecca (Reina Hardesty) is his abandoned daughter now working for the syndicate and its amoral leader, Juno (Perabo).

There are so many Korean stars in this that you can lose count. That provides strong supporting performances.

The issues here are with plot lines and chemistry. The actors at the center of the emotional dysfunctional blended family story have no palpable chemistry, which sucks the life out of every scene, especially the ones that are supposed to be important. David and Rebecca display no true chemistry, so the plot points that are supposed to lead us to cheer for them don't work.

The plot is literally awash in tropes: cop buddies, road trip, soap opera blended family issues, partners hate at the outset then care for each other...and on, and on. Which can be overcome with intricate writing. Which doesn't happen here. The fact that a 2025 experienced audience knows what tropes are, how to recognize them, and where they lead, puts a big burden on a series like this that dips heavily into that bag.

Rebecca isn't as well defined as the director and actress might think. It seems that we're supposed to see her as a skilled assassin who's understandably broken; but with a dangerous psychotic joy in executing her prey. The performance doesn't nail this, making it a problem. We see her as a polished twenty-something assassin in the opening scenes, only to see her devolve into a petulant teenager who smirks and laughs at inappropriate moments. The scene where she shows a seven year old how to load and shoot a pistol should be horrifying. Instead it's just weird.

And, without intending to spoil anything, the last episode finale does what so many streaming series do these days: massive cliff hanger. Will there be a season two? Because if there isn't then the thin buy in isn't worth it.

This East-meets-West spy thriller looks gorgeous and delivers good storytelling! Daniel Dae Kim & the Korean cast (Kim Tae-hee, Park Hae-soo, Kim Ji-hoon) absolutely shine with authentic performances. Production values are a standout, considering the writing swings from, good-to-average, throughout the series.

BUT... the action is painfully slow, gunshots sound like toy cap guns, pacing drags, ending flops hard, and some non-Korean actors (looking at you, Piper Perabo) deliver lines like yesterday's toast, with the writers repeating the same lines, over and over -

"That's David! That's David! That's David!"

**6/10** - Worth watching for the story & standout performances, but weak action keeps it grounded. Could've been an 8-9 with better choreography, less plot holes, better writing!

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Butterfly delivers a decent story and strong performances, particularly from Daniel Dae Kim, Reina Hardesty, and standout Korean actors like Kim Tae-hee, Park Hae-soo, and Kim Ji-hoon, who bring authenticity, emotional depth, and nuance to their roles. The production values are polished and cinematic, blending premium K-Drama aesthetics with an American-style spy thriller. However, the action sequences fall flat. Fight choreography is slow and overly cautious, gunfire sounds weak and toy-like, and knife and baton impacts lack any real weight. Environmental destruction is underwhelming, and stunts often feel telegraphed, breaking immersion in high-stakes moments. Additionally, some of the non-Korean actors deliver performances that feel stale or flat, which weakens the overall impact of certain scenes. Had the action been faster, more dynamic, and paired with heavier, impactful sound design - including Korean-style cinematic fight sequences Butterfly could easily have scored 8-10/10. As it stands, it's worth watching for the story and strong performances, but weak action, pacing, and inconsistent acting from non-Korean actors hold it back from reaching its full potential. So with that being said, I give Butterfly a generous 6.5/10 because, while the story and some performances were solid, the slow action, weak sound effects, and uneven performances from non-Korean actors kept it from being truly enjoyable.