4 Minutes
Daniel Dae Kim Returns as a Leading Man in a High-Stakes Spy Thriller
Daniel Dae Kim, beloved by global audiences since his breakout role as Jin-Soo Kwon on Lost and later as Chin Ho Kelly on Hawaii Five-0, steps into a starring lead with Butterfly — a compact, character-driven spy series arriving on Prime Video. For long-time TV fans, Kim’s career reads like a highlight reel of memorable supporting turns across ER, 24, Angel, and The Good Doctor. Butterfly marks a turning point: Kim is front and center, navigating moral ambiguity, family ties, and a dangerous past.
Plot Summary: A Cat-and-Mouse Spy Story with Heart
Premise
Butterfly follows David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), an unpredictable former U.S. intelligence operative living in South Korea whose carefully rebuilt life unravels when a choice from his past returns to threaten everything he cares about. The series blends global espionage with intimate family drama, exploring how loyalty, guilt, and identity collide under pressure.
Conflict
Hunted by Rebecca, a sociopathic young agent assigned to eliminate him, and pursued by Caddis, the shadowy corporation she represents, David must outthink, outmaneuver, and ultimately confront the moral cost of survival. The show’s six-episode arc keeps the stakes tight while allowing character relationships to breathe.
Cast and Crew: A Strong Ensemble and Creative Team
Alongside Kim, Butterfly features Piper Perabo, Reina Hardesty, and Louis Landau in significant roles, creating a cast that balances star power with fresh energy. The series is adapted from Arash Amel’s graphic novel for Boom! Studios and shaped by showrunner and co-creator Ken Woodruff, who teams up with novelist Steph Cha as co-creator. Executive producers include Woodruff, Cha, Kim, John Cheng for 3AD, Stephen Christy and Ross Richie for BOOM! Studios, and Arash Amel for The Amel Company.
Production Details: From Graphic Novel to Prime Video Original
Based on Amel’s slick graphic-novel source material, Butterfly translates illustrated action and noir atmospherics into a live-action format that privileges both visual style and emotional stakes. The six-episode season leans into tense set pieces, smart direction, and an international backdrop — a recipe designed to appeal to fans of spy dramas and comic adaptations alike.
Critical Reception and Rotten Tomatoes Score
Butterfly premiered on Prime Video on August 13 and has continued a positive critical run for Kim. As of early reviews, the series holds a 70% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on ten critic reviews — seven positive and three negative. That score extends Kim’s streak of well-received television work over recent years, which includes acclaimed voice roles and supporting appearances that have earned consistent praise.
Why It Matters: A Personal Take
Butterfly is more than another spy show. It’s a compact thriller that foregrounds performance and moral complexity, giving Daniel Dae Kim room to explore a layered protagonist. While some critics note pacing bumps and the challenge of adapting graphic-novel pacing to six episodes, the series is undeniably compelling: smartly produced, emotionally charged, and anchored by a magnetic lead. For fans of espionage drama, comic-book adaptations, and character-driven TV, Butterfly is worth watching — and it keeps Kim’s momentum as a major presence in international television.
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