Citadel: Honey Bunny

One of the most awaited series of 2024 by Raj & DK is finally streaming on Prime Video. Clearly this one beats the previous shows of the Franchise.

The series excels in terms of action sequences and twists in the storyline. The show consists of 6eps, for which this doesn't seem to be boring. This series has its drawbacks but still it's worth watching. There wasn't a need for ending it in a cliffhanger for S2 which could've been avoided. This has the same vibe of every other works of Raj & DK but somehow things looked scratchy in between. I mean look at their previous works, be it Farzi, Family Man or Guns & Gulaabs each time they proved their worth with their creativity and engaging plot but this time things didn't go too well which ended up being a one time watch. Varun, Samantha and Kay Kay Menon sir were good in their respective roles.

Overall a decent series to binge-watch this weekend which would take nearly 4-5hrs.

3/5.

Citadel Honey Bunny was a major letdown. The storyline felt disjointed, and the pacing was all over the place, making it hard to stay engaged. The characters lacked depth, and their development felt forced, making it difficult to connect with them or care about their journey. The plot seemed to be trying too hard to be suspenseful but ended up feeling predictable and cliché. Despite a promising premise, the execution just didn't deliver. The dialogue was cringe-worthy at times, and the attempts at humor fell flat. Overall, Citadel Honey Bunny was a disappointment and not worth the time. Now it's all up to you.

Now that I've watched all three of the Citadel series--American, Italian, and Indian--I can compare them to each other, which I don't think is the original idea, but I'll do it anyway. But, that comes later.

Anyway, Citadel: Honey Bunny is a difficult six-parter to work your way through, even though it had some pretty good action sequences. But, the story is so lame and the actors are not engaging enough at bringing their characters to life or to make me want to care. The kid was the best actor to watch.

Now, to the comparison. Of the three installments, and much to my surprise, I'm enjoying the Italian, "Diana" the best. In fact, I've watched it several times. Though it lacked great action ("Honey Bunny" wins the Action prize), the "Diana" episodes draw you in, make you care about what happens to the characters--and Italy has never been more beautiful. Finally, the original "Citadel" comes in second because of it's clever plot twist, and the best acting cast of the three.

Final scores:

Diana = A- Citadel = B Honey Bunny = C+

I had very high hopes with this series especially after watching Citadel (Priyanka Chopra).

This series looks like very loosely made. We have some very good actors like Menon but not at their best. I did not have very high hopes from Varun Dhawan but the worst out of all was Samantha- I THOUGHT she was a good actor! But I was so wrong!

The series looks bad in terms of direction. It seems the actors were given scripts and told to do whatever they feel like with the scenes.

This really could have been a 7 plus rating series. Better direction and better choice of actors may have helped.

I am sure they spend a lot of money making it but overall it was a disappointment!

Citadel: Honey Bunny, an Indian spinoff in Amazon Prime Video's Citadel universe, attempts to build on the espionage-thriller foundation set by its parent series. With Raj & DK at the helm and a promising cast led by Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the series holds some potential but ultimately misses its mark. Raj & DK bring their signature style to the direction. After the intriguing setup, the plot progresses in a way that's more expected than exciting, failing to bring the fresh, high-stakes energy audiences might anticipate from a spy drama.

The series oscillates between two timelines, 1992 and 2000, following Honey and Bunny, played by Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who portray the parents of Priyanka Chopra's character from the original series. Initially, Citadel: Honey Bunny offers well-crafted backstories for the lead characters, drawing viewers into their world with a strong start. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes sluggish and predictable, lacking the twists and depth essential for an engaging espionage thriller. One area where Citadel: Honey Bunny shines is its action. The sequences are well-choreographed. John's cinematography captures the action sequences effectively, adding a layer of visual appeal that complements the series' ambitious themes.

Varun Dhawan impresses with his portrayal, particularly in the emotional scenes. Samantha Ruth Prabhu is equally gripping as Honey, delivering a performance full of intensity. Together, they execute the heavy-duty action scenes with commendable skill. The supporting cast offers additional highlights. Shivankit Singh Parihar is impressive. Kay Kay Menon is outstanding. Kashvi Majmundar performance is both adorable and impressive. While the performances are praiseworthy, the show's sluggish pacing and predictable plot make it a less-than-thrilling watch. Only action sequences and cinematography are notable highlights.

Raj and DK bring style, but the story feels predictable and lacks the edge you'd expect in a spy thriller. Impressive performances by Varun & Samantha, plus great action and cinematography, bring some excitement, but the sluggish pacing holds it back.

Direction 3/5 Acting 3/5 Action 3/5 Story 2.5/5 Screenplay 2/5.