Agent from Above Review: To atone for a childhood mistake, spirit medium Han Chieh has to balance supernatural disturbances in the human world at the behest of the Third Crown Prince. Along the way, he teams up with a college student and a detective to battle Chen Chi-sha and Chen Wu Tien-chi.
-
Agent from Above Netflix Cast
Kai Ko, Wang Po-chieh, Hsueh Shih-ling, Buffy Chen, Johnny Yang, Chen Yi-wen
-
Agent from Above Series Creator
Xing Zi
-
Agent from Above 2026 Director
Donnie Chun-Yu Lai
-
Original Title
乩身
The series has 8 episodes, each about 45 minutes long, and is adapted from the novel “Chi Shen” (乩身) by Hsing Tzu (星子).
Agent from Above Review
Rooted in Taiwanese temple culture, Agent from Above is an action-packed series that makes folklore and urban fantasy more accessible and entertaining, turning the Third Crown Prince into a very cool deity who is ruthless when he needs to be. Spirit medium Han Chieh, who can channel the Crown Prince’s energy through himself, serves as his representative, trying to maintain the balance between the spirit realm and the human realm.
Agent from Above is a completely immersive experience, one that fantastically blends action and folklore, to the point that it’s extremely enjoyable watching Chieh fulfil his duty and face his destiny. Kai Ko is extremely suave as the protagonist, and his slightly wounded portrayal of the charming agent doing a deity’s bidding is a treat.
Every episode follows a different problem for Chieh to face, with the overarching arc of facing Chen Chi-sha and Chen Wu Tien-chi looming overhead constantly. His fight for the collective good is a thrilling spectacle of colourful weapons, sacred amulets and indescribable evils that haunt during the night.
There are several nuanced topics in each of these episodes that highlight why or how a particular person will be haunted. It’s a thrilling watch that is also quite emotional, with Chieh becoming the heart of the show. You want to learn more about his pain as he helps those in need, trying to stop Vasavatti from wreaking havoc on Earth. His relationship with those around him, humans and demons alike, is sweet and gives you hope for the war that is about to start within a few episodes.
I think the series is fairly obvious from the get-go. It’s easy to understand where it’s going once you get the hang of it, and it moves similarly till the end. However, I think the animation style and the action are quite interesting and make it engaging enough to binge-watch. Despite some very repetitive moments, Agent from Above has a distinct pace wherein Chieh investigates different crimes linked to the Demon King and the ending the latter would like to bring about.
Overall, this is an enjoyable watch, despite the repetitions. It’s hopeful and has several sweet and humorous moments that make us root for Chieh. Although the supporting cast doesn’t get much to work with, the series depends mostly on Chieh to pull the series forward. It works for the most part, and the chemistry between Kai Ko and Wang Po-chieh makes up for whatever else is missing.
Final Thoughts
Agent from Above isn’t a groundbreaking watch. However, the series is enjoyable and engaging enough to keep watching, despite its repetitive moments. If you like supernatural action shows that deal heavily with folklore, this one is a pretty good watch. Kai Ko is pretty great, and his natural charisma will touch your heart. Overall, quite enjoyable.
What are your thoughts on Agent from Above? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read:
Binge watched it today, for whole 5 hours… and I can say I got hooked by the interesting plot and characters! 3rd Crown Prince and Chieh’s dynamics are good! also Leafy and the whole Dongfeng Market! However, I can’t help but feel melancholy about the ending, I never expected it : POJ > Yin & Yang Master > Agents from Above), loving all of these good watch! keep it up! and to more Taiwanese dramas!