Citadel: Honey Bunny Review - Prime Video's Second Citadel Spinoff Is A Disappointing Snooze Fest

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The Citadel spy universe from Amazon MGM Studios all began with Citadel in 2023, kicking off an expensive multi-series global storytelling event. Even with mixed reviews, the studio invested in creator David Weil’s vision to tell connected stories about a spy agency in ruins. The first spinoff was Citadel: Diana — the second is Citadel: Honey Bunny. The former detailed undercover agent Diana Vavalieri’s journey out of enemy lines in Italy with the help of the heir of Citadel’s villainous competitor, Manticore. Met with better reviews than Citadel, it seemed the spinoffs could be the positive reel we needed.

Citadel: Honey Bunny follows a similar storytelling pattern, only this time it takes us to India to expand the scope of this spy world. Produced by the Russo brothers, the series explores the earlier days of Citadel. Telling the story of a young Nadia’s parents, the prequel follows aspiring actress Honey (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) and film stuntman Bunny (Varun Dhawan) as they navigate the world of violence. When the ghosts of their past return with a vengeance, they must do everything they can to protect their daughter.

With a standard plot like this, you might think of Honey Bunny as somewhat of a love story while our central characters navigate the changing dynamics of the spy world. That assumption wouldn’t be too far off. And with the momentum built from Citadel: Diana, there were a lot of reasons to be excited about the franchise's latest spinoff. Unfortunately, Citadel's prequel series is everything but exciting, creative, and daring. Honey Bunny relies heavily on old tricks with a bland script that can’t seem to offer anything refreshing.

We have the typical villain motivations, uninteresting backstories for our leads, and even a love story that tends to fizzle before it seemingly begins.

This is by no means the fault of the lead actors. Rabhu and Dhawan possess good chemistry and deliver what they need to make the series watchable. Where I find fault in the series is its reliance on standard spy tropes. We have the typical villain motivations, uninteresting backstories for our leads, and even a love story that tends to fizzle before it seemingly begins. Structurally, the flashbacks and nonlinear storytelling don’t do the plot any justice. Honey Bunny is disappointing because of these things, but most of all because it had great potential.

Somewhere here is a decent Citadel spinoff series. But what I cannot wrap my head around is the timid influence of Indian culture on storytelling. At times, the dialogue switches between English and Hindi, but that’s just about the extent of any cultural impact. This was one of the major potential components that excited me. Yet, I never truly felt that I had been given a rich experience with Indian culture. Additionally, and frustratingly, the lighting does not favor or benefit the cast in any way.

The penultimate episode of HBO's excellent The Penguin continues to push the stakes for Oz, and sets up a huge showdown in the finale.

It's never a good feeling to walk away extremely disappointed after watching a TV series that originally sparked high interest and excitement. But that’s where I am with Citadel: Honey Bunny. Ultimately, it relies too heavily on familiar tropes and storytelling, limiting itself creatively and lacking any genuine excitement. Though the cast members do everything they can to elevate this standard script beyond its banality, the limitations on culture and storytelling structure hold the series back from leaving a lasting impression. Whichever spinoff is next, I do hope the showrunners lean more on creativity over formula.

Citadel: Honey Bunny consists of six episodes and premieres on Prime Video on November 7.

This spy action thriller, set in the '90s, follows the origins of a clandestine spy agency, blending espionage with a touching love story. It delves into the agency’s foundation, covert operations, and rise to power.

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