Agent from Above

Underworld Bureaucracy & Neon Noir

If you came here for a sweeping romance or a slick, idol-style procedural, best turn around now. Agent from Above is Taoist Noir.
It’s grimy, neon-soaked, and fundamentally cynical about the human condition while remaining deeply spiritual. It borrows the "burdened hero" trope, but replaces the guilt with the crushing weight of Karmic Retribution.

Agent from Above is an "anti-procedural." While it flirts with a ghost-of-the-week format, it quickly descends into a high-stakes, 6-hour countdown to a karmic apocalypse.
The side effects may include lotus-root-induced fever dreams.
It treats the supernatural—spirits, demons, and the bureaucratic mess of Diyu, as everyday reality. And it doesn't waste time explaining the rules.

The narrative pacing is relentless, maybe even draining. From "urban legends" to "full-blown apocalypse," the show aims at subverting expectations.
Apparently the most effective way to summon a Demon King is through layers of psychological trauma.
So, about Han Chieh. He isn't a hero; he's a man whose death status is "on-hold," an employee of the Third Crown Prince, paying off a debt with every supernatural exorcism, literally waiting for redemption. The show succeeds because it prioritizes his internal baggage over simple ghost-of-the-week mechanics.
His shirtless scenes aren't fanservice, they’re the medical documentation of the modern take on mythology.
Then there’s Yeh Tzu. I’ll be honest: she is an "annoyance sandwich." Her presence felt questionable at times, but the show manages to weave her into the found family of ghosts and neighbors.
The villains? They aren't just evil, they are master planners in a "hate triangle" that turns human trauma into demonic leverage.

Let’s be real about the CGI: it’s an acquired taste. Episode 1 is a mixed bag, but by the time we hit the later episodes, this turns into CGI central! Purple lightning, crushed bone sound effects, and hellish cityscapes are ambitious, and the show occasionally suffers from overkill.
While the camera work gets chaotic, usually in the later part of fight scenes, the aesthetics here are a visual feast!
Think neon-noir landscape with grimy urban realism, then add traditional shrines and incense smoke and more saturated glow of neon signs. And really sleek underworld vibes.
From lighting a cigarette with a divine weapon to the Golden Graffiti blessings at Dongfeng Market, the production design leans into a "Punk-Taoist" aesthetic that makes the world feel lived-in and dangerous.
And the score—specifically 'Royal Progress of the God'—is the glue holding the show’s intensity together. The use of the Suona mimics the aggressive energy of temple festivals, perfectly mirroring the internal chaos here.

Here is the drama’s secret recipe: 85% Dark, 9% Light and 6% OTT Comedy. It’s a nightmarish version of your favourite supernatural drama, it feels messy and authentic. It has pizzaz and a soul! Sure it’s also violent and there are human sacrifices, the progression into darkness is inevitable with this plot.
It balances horror (people eating burning coal in Diyu) with absurd humor (a horny ghost gets a redemption arc, and we get buddy-cop banter).
Sure it might give you tonal whiplash, but I think the comedy felt earned rather than forced.

Now, the most fascinating part: the Modernization of Myth.
In this world, the Underworld has smartphones, Ox-head looks like a bouncer, and the Third Crown Prince is a rebellious, leather-clad prick who reconstructs limbs with lotus roots. It is a uniquely Taiwanese exploration of how traditional temple culture and "Spirit Medium" traditions survive in a world of high-rises, arcades and millennials.
Watch it for the Third Crown Prince Wardrobe and Diva Aura. Watch it for the occult banter. Watch it if you like purple. Watch it if you read comics but can’t admit it to your friends. Watch this if you’re tired of Jacob Wang playing a moody doctor. You can also watch it for the meta-commentary on belief by the way.
Watch it for the Karmic Retribution arc that proves "magic cannot defeat spiritual power, spiritual power cannot defeat karma, and karma cannot defeat a wish. »


Potential headlines that didn't make the cut:
- Not Your Mother’s Ghost Whisperer
- The Liver, The Bird, and The Wardrobe
- How to Cleanse a Demon with a Chupa Chup
- New Diyu, Who Dis?

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A Hidden Gem Worth Sticking Around For

Another Taiwanese drama that seems underrated on MDL, Agent from Above is a series that deserves more attention than it’s currently getting. Hopefully, being on Netflix , it will get more viewership.

Set in a world where gods, spirits, and humans coexist almost matter-of-factly, the show wastes little time explaining its mythology. Instead, it drops you straight into a universe rooted in Taiwanese mystical culture, where the male lead, Han Chieh serves a god, the Third Crown Prince to maintain balance between realms . I like this immediate immersion where the supernatural is treated as an everyday reality.

At its core, the story is a classic struggle between good and evil. Han Chieh, a flawed ML bound to his duty and debt to the Third Crown Prince, acts as the human guardian, empowered with magical artifacts to take on supernatural evil and disturbances, while grappling with his own past and guilt . The narrative may begin somewhat confusing in episode one—but once it finds its footing, it becomes much more engaging and cohesive.

Where the series really shines is in its tone and execution. Taiwanese productions have a distinct flair, and this drama leans into that strength:

Visual effects are impressive, enhancing the fantasy without overwhelming it.
Humor is cheeky and well-timed, adding levity without undermining the more emotional moments.
There’s a lingering bittersweetness throughout the story—an acknowledgment that not every innocent can be saved, and not every evil needs to be eradicated.

The ending, in particular, strikes a satisfying balance. It feels grounded, almost realistic within its fantastical framework, while still offering a sense of hope. It doesn’t tie everything up too neatly, which works for me in this case, and even leaves room for a potential second season.

Overall, Agent from Above may not be a flawless series, but it’s engaging and visually strong. It is a hidden gem for viewers who stick past the first episode, and definitely for those who enjoy supernatural dramas with a touch of humor.

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One Amazing Agent

This was a very fascinating series involving a paranormal theme. The script was well-crafted with the perfect blend of comedy and drama. The beginning of the series did a great job introducing the world and characters. It also did a great job grabbing my attention and making me care about all of the characters. The entire cast did a wonderful job with their roles. This also had amazing cinematography, special effects, and CGI.

Random Note:

There is a bittersweet ending with one of the characters

They were successful creating an ending that’s both a perfect ending to a series and keeping the door open for another season.

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Truly an entertaining and interesting watch

Disclaimer

What I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.

It is unfortunate that not a lot of people tuned in to watch this series, but I'm not surprised, as it's not from any of the three countries that a lot of us watch here on kisskh – South Korea, China or Thailand. And that's sad as a lot of people are missing out on an incredible series.

When I first saw this trailer on Netflix a few weeks ago, I instantly put it on my plan-to-watch list, as the trailer looked interesting. And I am so grateful that I did. This series has excellent acting from the casts, a good script and awesome effects, and it was able to keep my attention throughout the eight episodes. It was able to carry me throughout an emotional journey where one minute I'm smiling at the interactions between the characters, the next minute I'm tearing up at what I am seeing on my screen, and the next time I'm frightened for the main character, with the final strong moment of me cheering for the main character.

What I will say is this, which can be seen as a SPOILER –

The way it ended makes it clearly set up for a season 2, but I'm not holding my breath for it, as this is Netflix, people; they always cancel good series.

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Amazing Action-Packed Chinese Mythology Fantasy Drama!

I was doubtful to give this drama a try in the beginning because fantasy dramas can go wrong so easily, but I heard great things from a friend that finished it AND I AM SO GLAD I DID!

This drama is fast paced with lots of spectacular action scenes and the CGI is just top tier! I haven't seen such good CGI in a drama in a long timee. I also love the Chinese mythology aspects in the story because I loved the Ne Zha animation movies so it was so fun to watch it in a spinoff like this. All the episodes also containing interesting stories and was super fun watching up to the big final sequence. The entire story is just a very unique twist on the Chinese mythology gods and spirits/ghosts world and just so fun and interesting. And if you know a bit about Ne Zha and you see those weapons, ugh it was just so good. If you know, you know. There is also a bit of comedy added in at just the right moments to prevent the story from feeling too heavy, which was great. The music was also just so good. That suona is just so well fitted for Ne Zha and really brings you into the heroes vs demons during fight scenes.

The acting is also superb! I watched the male lead in another Taiwanese movie but I didn't even realize it was him until I searched him up. His acting was just as good here and he just pulled off the character so well. He did the fight sequences so good and looked so charismatic and cool, especially with the BGM playing. The supporting roles were also amazing and did great at bringing their character to life.

I strongly recommend trying this drama if you love action, fantasy, and some mystery! Every episode keeps you glued to the screen and invested in the characters and story. The action scenes are done so well that you won't be able to turn away even for a second. You won't regret trying this one! Once you start, you won't be able to stop until you're done. I binged it all in one day :P

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Fantastic efects

This serial is awsome and exciting. I realy liked the story but it would be better with little more love story. The efects are fantastic, realistic and the atcing is good too.

I dont want too spoil the story but after seaing the anding there will be the NEXT season and i can’t wait for this.

The maine actor is so handsome😍

There is only a few moments with music, i think ust too litle.

Don’t look belowe, it’s just to uplouded the coment.



































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An anti-hero between demons and gods

Ko ChenTung plays Han Chieh,an enormously attractive reformed bad-boy with a heart of gold, whose sad eyes stay with you long after the 8 eps of this Taiwanese supernatural drama are done (at 42minsea. = 5.5 + hrs runtime) He was hired out of hell to atone for his sins by straightening out the problems with ghosts whose attachments hold them back. The gods live close to the hearts of the people in this story, and the Third Prince, who employs our hero, communicates via talismanic messages and a small bird whose cage door is always open.

I am not generally a fan of the scenographic of grimy hallways combined with neon colored spiritual phenomena. But the cinematographer somehow gives the shots depth and movement, and the nighttime of Taipei in moments achieved a tranquil beauty in moments that melted my heart. The plot is relatively simple, a demon long-held in check has a plan to break free. A group which includes Han Chieh, his detective friend, a stray waif girlfriend and the inhabitants of a decrepit building, (both ghosts and humans) must detect the plan and defeat the demon king. It is funny, sweet, thrilling and desperate and I loved it.

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Unfortunately, this is real :) the drama is frilly but ep 8 from min 31 has THE message

This is so ... well... I dont know how to say it - so revealing of Chinese culture, this very strong belief that this is real. And in fact... it is :)

The filming and topic totally reminds me of Stephen Chow movies, such as Kung Fu Hustle and its dark poor and/or underground hoods. And It has this wickedly twisted dark humor, such as Third Crown Prince looking like a hippie-biker with a lollypop...

The movie has all this glitz special effects
but the value of the movie is the very rare but powerful dialogue, such as Buffy's dying message towards the end of ep 8, starting at min 31.

She asked him to love the world for her, whether it is messy and even the gods cannot do anything about it.
She said: "I that the ones who might really change the world for the better are just ordinary people like us. "

She asked him to wish for world peace. Bc -
An old man told her once:

magic cannot defeat spiritual power,
spiritual power cannot defeat karma,
and karma cannot defeat a wish.
So a person with a wish is strongest of all.

So actually the drama should be rated 10 for the messages
I gave it 8 bc of all the frills :) I watched ep 1,2 and then fast forwarded through all the special effects etc
and watched ep 8

Buffy Chen is an amazing actress, really.
ML actor is ... meh...

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One Good; Two Bad

There might be a worth while story/show here. I ran into two obstacles and dropped it, but there's a strong positive.

Obstacle one is that the lead actor, Ko Chen Tung, does not have the on screen presence needed to carry the series. He's playing a character in a Constantine mold which forces a comparison with Keanu Reeves of the Constantine movie, and with Matt Ryan of the Constantine TV series and he suffers badly lacking the charisma needed. The second obstacle, for me, is that the production is lacking the smooth plotting and directing of a typical average Korean production.

On the positive side is the sidekick character, played by Buffy Chen, does have a lot of on screen charisma and she steals every scene. She's playing a quirky little odd tag-a-long with the lead. She's almost enough to make it worth watching, but unfortunately, for me, not enough to overcome the lead's flaws.

If you like Chinese dramas and or like the lead then I recommend giving it try.

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