While most of the murderous characters on Netflix’s action movie Kate are easy to hate, there are a few who proved to be more likable than the rest. In the middle of all the gunfights and jaw-dropping twists, some of the hardened killers showed their softer sides.
With the titular assassin’s inevitable death and her limited time to hunt down the person behind the poison, it’s not surprising that the film brought out the worst in a lot of people. However, in between the graphic violence, lies, and betrayal, the good qualities of some of the more likable characters still managed to shine through.
Varrick
Without a doubt, Varrick or V is the most despicable character on the show – he could easily star as a cunning big boss in any of the best gangster movies. He stole Kate from his family, with the film heavily implying that he murdered her parents and sibling. V made her believe he’s her only “father, best friend, and therapist,” brainwashing her into thinking that becoming an assassin was the best and only choice.
His betrayal was definitely a shock for most viewers who were expecting Kijima to be behind the assassination attempt. It makes sense that V was the one who (perhaps unintentionally) set the whole thing in motion. His attempt to replace Kate with Ani as soon as he thought she was dead shows just how little he cares about any of his trainees.
Renji
At first glance, Renji appears to be an average villain who plays the role of a typical mid-level boss. However, he turns out to be a much more sinister character in the film – his hunger for power would cause a bloody path of destruction.
Renji’s decision to take Kate out with Polonium-204 comes back to haunt him and his entire gang of disloyal members. None of the violence would have happened if he didn’t work with V to overthrow Kijima, a much more capable leader for who he clearly has no respect. The annoying character at least gets his comeuppance in a satisfyingly gory way and through Kijima’s own sword, no less.
Shinzo
Shinzo is a secondary villain that doesn’t really leave a lasting impression on viewers. He’s not one of the smartest characters on Kate nor is he the strongest or most interesting. If he has any of his own ambitions in the mob, it didn’t really show.
The low-level henchman was just there to keep the story going and follow whatever Renji told him to do. His willingness to kill Ani may have stirred up some anger among some audiences, but other than that, he’s a completely forgettable side villain who only served to progress the plot.
Jojima
If there’s one character in Kate who deserves a spinoff, it would be Jojima. Although viewers only see him for a short period, he quickly proves that he’s one of the most evil movie villains around.
Jojima’s impressive hand-to-hand combat skills and refusal to rat out Renji despite risking his life make him somewhat likable in a twisted way. Out of all the villains in the film, he’s the one with the most grit, loyalty, and dignity. His character’s unnerving reactions and expressions also made his scenes highly entertaining to watch.
Stephen
Most viewers likely never suspected that Kate’s one-night stand with Stephen would turn out to be a fatal encounter, what with the character's charming introduction. Despite being partly responsible for her death, it’s hard to hate Stephen too much after he explains how he and his partner just wanted to escape the Yakuza’s control.
He’s a helpless pawn who didn’t even know he was poisoning the protagonist. Audiences will hopefully remember him more for his adorable attempt at a pick-up line than the disappointing and cowardly person he turned out to be.
Kijima
The film’s biggest twist unsurprisingly involves one of the best characters in Kate, Kijima. After leading audiences to believe that he’s the one responsible for the protagonist’s predicament, the film shows a tense and then emotional moment of revelation where he explains that they’re both victims of a larger conspiracy.
Kijima’s experience, patience, and soft-spoken manner turned him into a source of comfort and stability towards the last moments of the movie. There’s a quiet confidence that can only come from the Yakuza head’s wisdom, which he uses to help Kate through her darkest hours. It’s satisfying to watch this old man full of regrets get his revenge and rescue his only remaining family member.
Ani
Ani’s drastic change from an innocent victim to a potential murderer was nerve-wracking to watch, mostly because audiences wanted to see her succeed. With her father’s recent death looming over her shoulders and her family’s betrayal making her feel unwanted, viewers likely felt the same urge to protect her as Kate did.
Eventually, Ani proves that she’s worth more than just the audiences’ pity. She turns out to be a badass sidekick who’s especially skilled at tracking people down. Without her, Kate would have never accomplished her last mission. It’s rewarding to know that she won’t be victimized by V in the same way Kate was and that she has a brighter future ahead of her with her loving uncle, Kijima.
Kate
The titular assassin’s journey is an exhilarating one to follow in Kate, thanks to the protagonist’s determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Her story is a heartbreaking portrayal of brainwashing and betrayal, which makes it easy for fans to empathize with her.
What makes her a truly likable character, however, is her decision to protect Ani and choose her as a companion during her last moments alive. Whether it was out of guilt or a sense of compassion for the innocent girl, her conviction to shield her from V kept her going despite her grave condition. Kate’s last act on earth was to give the young teen a fighting chance at normalcy with her uncle, far away from the brutal life the protagonist lived as a trained assassin.