Athena: Goddess of War

Disappointing spin off of the ground breaking IRIS. South Korean security branch, NTS, squares off against international energy terrorist cabal. Poorly acted, wrong headed direction, and a script with more holes than a rat infested wheel of Swiss cheese. The main lead is too young, and early on grins and mugs as if auditioning for teen boy band. A team captain is inept and foolish, as is a North Korean ex-elite agent. Don't get me started on the bane of K-dramas. The tears. Weeping, crying, sobbing like six year olds. Yet these blubbering basket cases safeguard the nation.

There are exceptions, the chief being the Son Hyuk rogue baddie who excels.

The director obviously knows action sequences, which are showcases. With actors, he seems clueless. As much as I blame the series director for foolish comic relief and histrionics, however, the main culprit is the ridiculous script. Long, gorgeous episodes in Italy - for no purpose. Two episodes in Japan, guarding a pop star - for no purpose. Double agents exposed, and then the duped side shrugs and says, "Well, they're sorry, so back to work." Initially, the main villains are USA agencies, which is a wonderful twist, only that thread is abandoned.