I’ve seen 10 episodes of IRIS now and I have to say that now I’m hooked. And with over 30 episodes to go, this show seems like a winner along the lines of Athena Goddess of War.
Actually, IRIS is the first show to watch before seeing Athena Goddess of War. Both episodes involve a group of individuals who creates havoc in the governments of North and South Korea. In Athena, Goddess of War, the group is called Athena. IRIS the group that creates havoc in this show.
The star of the series is Lee Byung-Hun, who plays Hyun-Jin, along with friend, Sa Woo are part of the 707th Special Mission Battalion. Each one will meet the same women and fall for her, not knowing that they’re being scouted to become NSS agents. After surviving a simulated torture test, both of them join the NSS along with the woman, Choi Seung-hee, and meet the head of the NSS, who is Baek San.
After several missions, Hyun-Jin is asked to meet with Baek San privately. Baek San will ask Hyun-Jin to assassinate the prime minster of North Korea. Hyun-Jin agrees because it’s part of his job. Once he completes the mission and is successful, he is wounded and learns that no one will be coming to help him, If anything, his friend, Sa-Woo, has been asked to find Hyun-Jim and kill him.
From here, Hyun Jin is on the run from his friend, the North Korean government, and a mysterious assassin who wants a necklace that Hyun Jin has. This makes for a lot of action including car chases, shoot outs, and lots of martial arts scenes.
My biggest problem in the show was that in the beginning, there was a summary of what happened to Hyun Jin after the assassination. Then for some reason, it took three more episodes to replay what the summary was. Once you get past that, then the plot moves further with Hyun Jin vowing revenge for being abandoned after his mission.
There is also scenes where Hyun Jin is supposed to remember his past but that never fully develops in the story. The subplot of another assassin following him during his missions hasn’t developed yet and I don’t understand what this has to do with the story.
As far as performances go, Lee Byung-Hung is at his best, especially in the martial arts scenes. I like the way the romance is blended in with Choi Seng-hee and how they meet at the University and debate conspiracy theories in the JFK assassination as well as the history of the Vietnam war. Eventually, they would go to Japan to continue their romance until they are called back by the NSS.
Lee Byung-Hung has been in several movies in the US including GI Joe Rise of the Cobra, GI Joe Retaliation, and Reds 2. It would be good to see him in movies on his own like other great actors that were in martial arts movies like Jet Li and Jackie Chan. As far as IRIS is concerned, I’ll give it four stars.
Rick Holman
Actually, IRIS is the first show to watch before seeing Athena Goddess of War. Both episodes involve a group of individuals who creates havoc in the governments of North and South Korea. In Athena, Goddess of War, the group is called Athena. IRIS the group that creates havoc in this show.
The star of the series is Lee Byung-Hun, who plays Hyun-Jin, along with friend, Sa Woo are part of the 707th Special Mission Battalion. Each one will meet the same women and fall for her, not knowing that they’re being scouted to become NSS agents. After surviving a simulated torture test, both of them join the NSS along with the woman, Choi Seung-hee, and meet the head of the NSS, who is Baek San.
After several missions, Hyun-Jin is asked to meet with Baek San privately. Baek San will ask Hyun-Jin to assassinate the prime minster of North Korea. Hyun-Jin agrees because it’s part of his job. Once he completes the mission and is successful, he is wounded and learns that no one will be coming to help him, If anything, his friend, Sa-Woo, has been asked to find Hyun-Jim and kill him.
From here, Hyun Jin is on the run from his friend, the North Korean government, and a mysterious assassin who wants a necklace that Hyun Jin has. This makes for a lot of action including car chases, shoot outs, and lots of martial arts scenes.
My biggest problem in the show was that in the beginning, there was a summary of what happened to Hyun Jin after the assassination. Then for some reason, it took three more episodes to replay what the summary was. Once you get past that, then the plot moves further with Hyun Jin vowing revenge for being abandoned after his mission.
There is also scenes where Hyun Jin is supposed to remember his past but that never fully develops in the story. The subplot of another assassin following him during his missions hasn’t developed yet and I don’t understand what this has to do with the story.
As far as performances go, Lee Byung-Hung is at his best, especially in the martial arts scenes. I like the way the romance is blended in with Choi Seng-hee and how they meet at the University and debate conspiracy theories in the JFK assassination as well as the history of the Vietnam war. Eventually, they would go to Japan to continue their romance until they are called back by the NSS.
Lee Byung-Hung has been in several movies in the US including GI Joe Rise of the Cobra, GI Joe Retaliation, and Reds 2. It would be good to see him in movies on his own like other great actors that were in martial arts movies like Jet Li and Jackie Chan. As far as IRIS is concerned, I’ll give it four stars.
Rick Holman