Butterfly

David Jung left a life in US intelligence and settled into anonymity in South Korea, trying to make up for an impossible choice he once made. That fragile calm is shattered when remnants of his past start closing in, and a lethal young assassin named Rebecca is dispatched by the secretive Caddis organization to find him. As hunters close the net, old contacts resurface and loyalties are tested, pushing David to protect those around him while keeping his true capabilities hidden. Old tradecraft resurfaces, forcing him to weigh alliances and guard his identity as the stakes climb and danger grows.

Premiering in 2025, Butterfly was created by Ken Woodruff, Steph Cha and Arash Amel. The show features Daniel Dae Kim, Reina Hardesty, Kim Ji-hoon, Piper Perabo and Louis Landau, blending Hollywood and Korean talent, and a cinematic action style.

As of its 2025 release Butterfly hasn't picked up major industry awards. Still, performances, especially Daniel Dae Kim's, and the series' stunt work have prompted early awards-season conversations among critics and genre fans, suggesting it could gain formal recognition as seasons continue or festivals take note and growing viewer interest.

Butterfly has already sparked talk about representation and setting, lifting a Korean locale into a mainstream action drama. Its mix of English and Korean cast and cross-cultural production has added fuel to discussions about where spy stories can be set, prompting social media threads praising its choreography and atmosphere.

Critical response leans positive, reflected in a user vote average of 7.095/10 from 111 votes. Reviewers point to tense set pieces, moral ambiguity, and the personal cost of past decisions as recurring motifs. The tone pairs gritty action with character-driven scenes, emphasizing identity, loyalty, and the fallout that follows a life shaped by covert work.