This review may contain spoilers
Lives Up to Its Previous Seasons
Taxi Driver 3 genuinely stands on its own merits, and with ratings hitting new highs every episode, it might even be better than Season 1.
Season 3 feels like the series has finally found its true identity. It is confident, balanced, and sure of itself, less focused on healing trauma and more on celebrating growth, teamwork, and purpose. This is the most complete version of Taxi Driver so far. The shift away from emotionally draining storytelling to something you actively look forward to each week is refreshing. The show is exciting, fun, and packed with stylish action, making every episode a thrill. The characters and the tone feel lighter now, no longer defined solely by personal vengeance.
This show truly belongs to Lee Je-Hoon. Kim Do-Ki is Lee Je-Hoon, and Lee Je-Hoon is Kim Do-Ki. He carries the series effortlessly. He is brilliant in the goofy disguises he uses to outwit villains, yet just as compelling as the almost invincible vigilante who delivers justice with his fists. He completely embodies the character. My eyes are glued to him in every scene. His fight scenes this season are especially intense and precise, noticeably sharper than before. The wire fight in Episode 8 had me screeching, like damn. And him filling in as an idol group member in Episode 10, complete with a full performance? I was on the floor the entire time. The reverse car driving scene in Episode 14 was so sexy and crazy good. His Japanese in the first two episodes had me acting like a full fangirl ngl.
Pyo Hye-Jin brings a quiet brilliance to her role, her performance shining every time she is given the opportunity. Her scenes are consistently fun to watch, especially her scamming-the-scammer moment in Episode 12, which was deeply satisfying. Her putting the soldier in his place in Episode 15 was equally good. Watching Ahn Go-Eun grow across the seasons from a hurt, revenge-driven keyboard warrior into a confident woman fighting for justice and literally kicking ass has been incredibly rewarding.
I’ll admit, I was rooting for romance, but Taxi Driver is one of those rare shows where I would have been happy whether the writers chose to explore a romantic arc or not. The connection between Kim Do-Ki and Ahn Go-Eun doesn’t need labels to be powerful. The way they look at each other, trust each other, and ground each other speaks volumes. Romance or not, they are soulmates. They are anchors who keep each other present, and it genuinely feels like they would live or die for one another.
The Rainbow Team is just as integral to the show’s success. Their camaraderie feels authentic and heartwarming. Whether it is how they come together to protect Ahn Go-Eun in Japan, seek revenge on behalf of the CEO’s friend, make Do-Ki announce the service over the tow truck mic, or simply share quiet team dinners, their chemistry is undeniable. Their found-family dynamic radiates genuine affection and remains one of the most uplifting aspects of the series. Every member gets their moment to shine, making their bond feel real and deeply endearing.
The weekly cases are disturbing, thought-provoking, and gripping. Each one makes your blood boil with injustice, and the team handles them with care, allowing the audience to feel every step of the journey. Moving away from real-life-inspired cases to fictional ones was a smart choice. It keeps the audience guessing and lightens the emotional weight. There is no longer that unsettling feeling of knowing this actually happened to someone.
The villains this season, Sho Kasamatsu, Yoon Si-Yoon, Eum Moon-Suk, Jang Na-Ra, and Kim Sun-Kyu, were insanely good and distractingly hot. Every one of them was magnetic. They pulled you in the moment they appeared. Honestly, a lesser actor than Lee Je-Hoon would have been completely outshined.
That said, seeing Jang Na-Ra and Lee Je-Hoon share the screen was enough to make me wistful, wishing for a full 16 episode kiss-slap drama like Hyena that could fully explore their chemistry.
Ironically, the season’s biggest strength also becomes its weakness. Because the tone is lighter and the characters are already so well developed, the main cast does not evolve much, largely remaining where we left them at the end of Season 2. By the end, most characters feel comfortably familiar rather than meaningfully changed.
Still, I found myself eagerly awaiting each new episode and never wanting them to end. Taxi Driver 3 reminded me why I fell in love with dramas in the first place. Characters I care about, stories that resonate, and a world I am excited to return to. It strikes a near-perfect balance between fun, action, heart, and emotion. It is a real shame that this is very likely the last season, and it makes me genuinely sad. I would have sincerely enjoyed many more seasons of this.
Season 3 feels like the series has finally found its true identity. It is confident, balanced, and sure of itself, less focused on healing trauma and more on celebrating growth, teamwork, and purpose. This is the most complete version of Taxi Driver so far. The shift away from emotionally draining storytelling to something you actively look forward to each week is refreshing. The show is exciting, fun, and packed with stylish action, making every episode a thrill. The characters and the tone feel lighter now, no longer defined solely by personal vengeance.
This show truly belongs to Lee Je-Hoon. Kim Do-Ki is Lee Je-Hoon, and Lee Je-Hoon is Kim Do-Ki. He carries the series effortlessly. He is brilliant in the goofy disguises he uses to outwit villains, yet just as compelling as the almost invincible vigilante who delivers justice with his fists. He completely embodies the character. My eyes are glued to him in every scene. His fight scenes this season are especially intense and precise, noticeably sharper than before. The wire fight in Episode 8 had me screeching, like damn. And him filling in as an idol group member in Episode 10, complete with a full performance? I was on the floor the entire time. The reverse car driving scene in Episode 14 was so sexy and crazy good. His Japanese in the first two episodes had me acting like a full fangirl ngl.
Pyo Hye-Jin brings a quiet brilliance to her role, her performance shining every time she is given the opportunity. Her scenes are consistently fun to watch, especially her scamming-the-scammer moment in Episode 12, which was deeply satisfying. Her putting the soldier in his place in Episode 15 was equally good. Watching Ahn Go-Eun grow across the seasons from a hurt, revenge-driven keyboard warrior into a confident woman fighting for justice and literally kicking ass has been incredibly rewarding.
I’ll admit, I was rooting for romance, but Taxi Driver is one of those rare shows where I would have been happy whether the writers chose to explore a romantic arc or not. The connection between Kim Do-Ki and Ahn Go-Eun doesn’t need labels to be powerful. The way they look at each other, trust each other, and ground each other speaks volumes. Romance or not, they are soulmates. They are anchors who keep each other present, and it genuinely feels like they would live or die for one another.
The Rainbow Team is just as integral to the show’s success. Their camaraderie feels authentic and heartwarming. Whether it is how they come together to protect Ahn Go-Eun in Japan, seek revenge on behalf of the CEO’s friend, make Do-Ki announce the service over the tow truck mic, or simply share quiet team dinners, their chemistry is undeniable. Their found-family dynamic radiates genuine affection and remains one of the most uplifting aspects of the series. Every member gets their moment to shine, making their bond feel real and deeply endearing.
The weekly cases are disturbing, thought-provoking, and gripping. Each one makes your blood boil with injustice, and the team handles them with care, allowing the audience to feel every step of the journey. Moving away from real-life-inspired cases to fictional ones was a smart choice. It keeps the audience guessing and lightens the emotional weight. There is no longer that unsettling feeling of knowing this actually happened to someone.
The villains this season, Sho Kasamatsu, Yoon Si-Yoon, Eum Moon-Suk, Jang Na-Ra, and Kim Sun-Kyu, were insanely good and distractingly hot. Every one of them was magnetic. They pulled you in the moment they appeared. Honestly, a lesser actor than Lee Je-Hoon would have been completely outshined.
That said, seeing Jang Na-Ra and Lee Je-Hoon share the screen was enough to make me wistful, wishing for a full 16 episode kiss-slap drama like Hyena that could fully explore their chemistry.
Ironically, the season’s biggest strength also becomes its weakness. Because the tone is lighter and the characters are already so well developed, the main cast does not evolve much, largely remaining where we left them at the end of Season 2. By the end, most characters feel comfortably familiar rather than meaningfully changed.
Still, I found myself eagerly awaiting each new episode and never wanting them to end. Taxi Driver 3 reminded me why I fell in love with dramas in the first place. Characters I care about, stories that resonate, and a world I am excited to return to. It strikes a near-perfect balance between fun, action, heart, and emotion. It is a real shame that this is very likely the last season, and it makes me genuinely sad. I would have sincerely enjoyed many more seasons of this.
Was this review helpful to you?
