Agent from Above (2026)

Agent from Above è un drama taiwanese composto da otto episodi di circa un’ora ciascuno che si può vedere su Netflix, sia con i sottotitoli in italiano sia doppiato in italiano.
La storia mescola con equilibro azione, mistero e fantasy grazie a un mix ben calibrato di elementi.
I due attori protagonisti, Kochen Tung e Jacop Wang, già visti in altri progetti, si confermano convincenti anche in questi ruoli, regalandoci interpretazioni coinvolgenti: soprattutto il secondo si è calato alla perfezione nel ruolo del Terzo Principe Ereditario, risultando sia impertinente che di gran cuore. Forse, proprio per la somiglianza con la sua storia passata, prende sotto la sua ala il giovane Han Chieh che diventerà il suo agente divino sottomesso, anche se in apparenza sembra voglia solo prenderlo in giro o punirlo.

Grazie alla presenza degli spiriti, Agent from Above è una di quelle storie che riesce a celebrare la vita e soprattutto il ricordo dei cari che ci hanno lasciato trattando il tema della morte.
Tantissimi sono i rimandi alla mitologia cinese, in particolare alla leggenda di Nezha, il Terzo Principe Ereditario, che in Italia abbiamo imparato a conoscere grazie ai due film usciti nelle sale cinematografiche. Il drama è più godevole se riusciamo a individuare i rimandi alla tradizione cinese, ma la visione rimane comunque scorrevole per chi ne è digiuno o non ne ha familiarità.

Il doppiaggio italiano, ben azzeccato e gradevole, permette di seguire la storia senza distrazioni, potendosi concentrare sulle scene d’azione, sui bellissimi costumi e gli affascinanti effetti speciali.

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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 Gods'—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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