Citadel: Honey Bunny

Set within the espionage world of Citadel, directing duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (better known as Raj and DK, the creators behind The Family Man and Farzi) take the wheel for spin-off series Citadel: Honey Bunny. Taking the action to India, the show sees estranged couple Honey (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) and hotshot stuntman Bunny (Varun Dhawan) reunite to save their young daughter (Kashvi Majmundar) when their past catches up with them. Filled with stylish action scenes and carried effortlessly by the stars’ irresistible charm, there’s a lot of fun to be had with Prime Video’s latest show. However, a chunk of this enjoyment is undercut by an overly complicated and messy plot.

Much of this series’ appeal is down to Prabhu and Dhawn’s energetic performances. Every second that they’re on screen is a delight to watch. If their chemistry in their early scenes isn’t enough to win viewers over, then watching them play act being shot will. Just as entertaining as the central stars is the stylish presentation. Alongside incorporating tightly paced and cleanly choreographed action scenes, the show also fully embraces its sillier side, with plenty of corny one-liners and over-the-top moments to be found. By far the most interesting part of this spin-off, though, is its rich soundtrack which oscillates between trippy synths to soaring strings. It’s a solid package.

Despite Honey Bunny’s high points, it is let down by a poorly executed plot. Intercut throughout the titular couple’s mission to save their daughter, flashbacks to years earlier detail how a one-off gig saw Honey recruited into Bunny’s fold. Though seeing more of these characters is by no means a bad thing, the choppiness of the back and forth between these plotlines makes it more difficult than it should to keep track of events. Moreover, this confusion is only added to with further subplots about the protagonists’ respective pasts.

From the outset, Citadel: Honey Bunny is an action-packed and fun-filled spy thriller that’s bursting with so much personality that even its messy plot can’t completely spoil the enjoyment.

Andrew Murray

Citadel: Honey Bunny is released on Prime Video on 6^th November 2024.

Watch the trailer for Citadel: Honey Bunny here: