WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Kate, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix’s Kate doesn’t over-complicate its plot, in which the titular assassin, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, has 24 hours to find Yakuza members who poisoned her. It’s part of a sinister revenge scheme, with an even more diabolical twist as Kate quickly discovers she’s a pawn in a much bigger plan.
However, there are quite a few plot holes and unanswered questions that arise.
Where Are The Black Lizard’s Gunmen?
When Kate realizes the Yakuza poisoned her after she killed a general, Kentaro, she tracks leads to the Black Lizard, a high-end restaurant in which shady people conduct business. However, after Kate murders one of the Yakuza bosses, her gun gets jammed. That leads to a knife fight and hand-to-hand brawl with dozens of assailants, yet no one has a gun.
Why Doesn’t the Henchman Kill Kate?
Kate is injured in the fight with the attackers at the Black Lizard. However, as she chokes one assailant, a huge henchman comes up behind her. He has ample time to grab a knife and stab her, but instead, he opts to choke Kate and fling her through a wall. It makes no sense to want a martial-arts fight with her as she’s already shown how she can kill many Yakuza members, so he could have ended it there.
Why Didn’t Kate Suspect Her Handlers?
Kate’s boss, Varrick (Woody Harrelson), is shockingly working with Renji to have Kate kill the Yakuza chiefs so they can take over. However, Kate should have suspected Varrick before, because he was the only person who knew she committed the assassination of Kentaro, who was in contact through an earpiece.
That Varrick doesn’t join Kate’s crusade to find a cure, doesn’t escort her to shoot Kijima, the real Yakuza boss whom she thinks wants vengeance, are all red flags.
Why Is Ani Disconnected From the Public?
Kate tracks down Kentaro’s daughter, Ani, because she’s Kijima’s niece. She kidnaps the girl from a club to use her to contact the Yakuza and get clues to find Kijima. However, Ani never tries to run away after their initial meeting. They bond in a restroom, where Ani could have attacked a wounded Kate and fled. She also could have pleaded with someone in public or run in a store to call the police. In addition, no one in the crowds ever stops Ani as she’s running and crying, or tries to intervene as Kate chases her. It’s as if the kid is a ghost.
Why Didn’t Jojima Grab the Guns?
Ani realizes that Renji wants her dead to take over from Kijima, so she and Kate go to Renji’s boyfriend, Jojima. A fight breaks out in the kitchen with Jojima using weapons and bottles to beat Kate down. Ani ends up killing him, but the shocking thing is, Kate then finds guns hidden in the fridge door. Jojima was at that door for most of the fight so he should have used the guns rather than look for sharp objects. It’s plot convenience to level Kate up to continue her vendetta.
Why Didn’t Kate Kill Renji?
Kate eventually corners Renji in the streets after taking out his guards, but she doesn’t kill him. She just knocks him out with the butt of a gun, despite knowing he’s launching a coup. It makes no sense, because keeping him alive would keep endangering Ani’s life. Plus, he could have informed an unsuspecting Kijima that Kate was coming. It’s done to force the reveal later that he’s secret partners with Varrick.
Why Didn’t Renji Acknowledge Jojima?
Interestingly, in that melee where they get intel from Renji, and for the rest of his appearances, Renji doesn’t ever grieve for Jojima. Ani said they were in love but the film never mentions Jojima again, which would have been reason for Renji to become even more sadistic and bloodthirsty.
To see the plot holes and unanswered questions, Kate is now streaming on Netflix.
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