Like Citadel: Diana, the new Citadel spinoff, Citadel: Honey Bunny, arrives to little fanfare but significant results. The original was a bloated, massive miss for critics and fans alike. However, “from the Russo Brothers” stamp of approval still means something to fans and Hollywood in general, attracting stars from all over the globe.
The next chapter in the Prime Video spy saga, Citadel: Honey Bunny, is one hell of a ride. Of course, this version doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the original or even the Italian sequel. Not to mention big-name global stars like Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden. Yet, the series has its own style and attitude, which is all its own.
Citadel: Honey Bunny’s Review and Synopsis
There’s something refreshing about an Indian Hindi-language spy-action television series, mainly because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It has a wry sense of humor and an episodic style that is all its own, separate from the other series, which is refreshing. It also helps when two charismatic leads command the screen in demanding action roles.
The story follows “Honey” (a sensational Samantha Ruth Prabhu), a single mom raising her daughter, Nadia (an adorable Kashvi Majmundar), on her own. However, things turn when she spots a couple of ominous figures surveilling her at work. She instructs Nadia to meet her at a preset location but is abducted before she can get there.
Citadel: Honey Bunny is One Hell of a Ride!
Before she’s taken, Honey sends a message to a long-lost love, Bunny (Varun Dhawan), informing him that Nadia is his child—a daughter he never knew he had. The script uses a narrative timeline that jumps back and forth eight years, showing how Honey and Bunny first met. On a movie set, no less, where she’s an unknown actress and he’s a stuntman.
The premise may be a bit silly, but no one questions it comes to Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in The Fall Guy, so I won’t fault the series here. It’s a fun setup, with Dhawan’s Bunny using it as cover to work for Guru (Kay Kay Menon), trying to obtain something called the “Armada” that will allow Guru and Bunny to control the world and bring the Citadel to its knees.
Is Citadel: Honey Bunny Worth Watching?
Citadel: Honey Bunny is worth watching because it’s very funny, and the action sequences stand out for their visceral impact. This series avoids oversaturating scenes with special effects and slow-motion, which keeps the action grounded. While the setup can be a bit goofy, part of the pleasure is how the series embraces a different tone.
Citadel: Honey Bunny has a great sense of humor and a stellar style. Samantha and Varun Dhawan share terrific chemistry, and Shivankit Singh Parihar brings an action-packed and humorous turn as Chacko, while Menon’s character delivers villainous, manipulative tactics. This is a compelling action series that hits all the right notes.
While I may rate it slightly lower, mainly because the ending feels like a setup for a sequel rather than a satisfying conclusion, the unique setting, compelling characters, strong performances (Prabhu is a star in the making), self-awareness, and infectious tone and pacing make it work as a standalone series.
You can stream Citadel: Honey Bunny only on Prime Video on November 7. All six episodes were reviewed.
Citadel: Honey Bunny Review — One Hell of a Ride!
The sequel to Prime Video’s Citadel continues with the Indian Hindi-language spy-action television series spinoff, Citadel: Honey Bunny, and it’s one hell of a ride. The setup can be a bit silly, even goofy. However, part of the pleasure of this chapter is how the series embraces a sense of humor and a stellar style all its own. Samantha and Varun Dhawan have terrific chemistry together.
