Citadel: Honey Bunny is the latest addition to the Citadel franchise, featuring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu as leads.
Despite the high expectations set by Raj & DK’s previous success with The Family Man, this Indian spin-off struggles to live up to the promise of delivering a Bollywood-infused international spy thriller.
While the show offers some great performances and action sequences, fans and critics have been left divided due to weak storytelling, unremarkable CGI, and thin character development.
Citadel: Honey Bunny Has A Weak Plot & Overwhelming Exposition
Set in 90s Mumbai, Citadel: Honey Bunny follows Varun Dhawan as Rahi (Bunny), a stuntman, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu as Honey, a struggling actress, who work undercover for Baba, played by Kay Kay Menon.
Baba is an agent of the Foundation, a group determined to dismantle Citadel using a device called Armada, which holds sensitive data on people worldwide.
Despite an intriguing premise, the show’s potential is undercut by excessive exposition and a tendency to over-explain minor plot points, which ultimately makes it a tedious watch.
Many netizens expressed frustration, calling it an “extended version of A Gentleman,” and some even deemed it the “weakest representation by Raj & DK.”
#CitadelHoneyBunnyOnPrime 2 episode is very slow and lazy i don’t know how watch full series i hope so other episode feels good 😊
— AvvY.T (@AvatarJaga) November 7, 2024
extended version of ‘A Gentleman’
— Chaitanya गुल्हाने (@chaitanyaj_) November 7, 2024
Binge watched all six eps of #CitadelHoneyBunny on #AmazonPrime.
Might be hated for saying this but it is possibly the weakest presentation by Raj & DK.
Esp 5th ep, pretty loosely drafted. The chase, expressions, dialogue delivery after experiencing betrayals, naaah, Sorry . pic.twitter.com/SVHxRLRzIO
— AnuP 🇮🇳📽 (@anupsjaiswal) November 7, 2024
Lacklustre CGI & Unfocused Pacing Ruins It Further
One of the series’ biggest criticisms lies in its inconsistent pacing and subpar CGI. Frequent flashbacks disrupt the show’s flow and do little to add depth, instead serving as a “spoon-feeding” mechanism for minor plot points.
The low-quality CGI distracts from the action scenes, making the overall experience less immersive. The constant back-and-forth between past and present bogs down the narrative and leaves audiences feeling disconnected.
TERRIBLE CGI #CitadelHoneyBunny #CitadelHoneyBunnyOnPrime pic.twitter.com/EwJ8qVg55T
— Harsh Agrawal (@Immature_Launda) November 7, 2024
Me after watching #CitadelHoneyBunnyOnPrime..🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/huTQXcTPig
— Movies Talk Official (@moviestalkhindi) November 6, 2024
Citadel: Honey Bunny Shows Shallow Character Development Despite Strong Performances From VD & Samantha
While Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu put in decent performances and have strong on-screen chemistry, their characters feel underdeveloped. Romantic and action sequences between them feel hollow, lacking the intended emotional impact.
Supporting actors like Kay Kay Menon, Sikander Kher, and Saqib Saleem are largely underused, their characters left with minimal backstory.
To sum it up, Citadel: Honey Bunny is a lukewarm entry in the franchise and a disappointing turn for Raj & DK’s typically engaging storytelling. For fans, this feels like a missed opportunity, leaving them hoping for improvements in a possible second season.
(Also read: Varun Dhawan Goes Nude In Citadel: Honey Bunny 1st Episode, Also Shares Sensuous Kiss With Samantha Ruth Prabhu)
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