History YMMV / KingsmanTheGoldenCircle

** Much like the Kingsmen, the Statesmen have a ThemeNaming convention for their agents. While the Kingsmen named themselves after the Knights of the Round Table -- with their leader named after King Arthur and their TechWizard named after Merlin -- the Statesmen named themselves after alcoholic drinks, their leader named "Champagne" and their TechWizard named after a mixer "Ginger Ale", a naming motif that fits with their [[CovertGroupWithMundaneFront Mundane Front]]. Some think that the naming convention suits the cruder, more contemporary nature of the Statesmen; naming themselves after their lucrative, American business. [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot Others think that it was a missed opportunity for a more inspiring naming convention]], like the Founding Fathers or other aspects of Americana.

** Many moviegoers found themselves wondering how the hell a druglord hiding in a mountain in Cambodia has the resources to not only build but also maintain cybernetic guard dogs and enforcers, launch cruise missiles all over the world and [[spoiler: keep a drone delivery system for all the antidote to her master scheme.]]

** Kingsman as a whole, [[spoiler: since they all get killed when Poppy bombs their headquarters.]]

* MagnificentBastard: [[KnightTemplar Agent Whiskey]], real name [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Jack Daniels]], is a high-ranking member of the American Statesman agency. After helping Gary "Eggsy" Unwin plant a tracker on a suspect through a sexual act, Whiskey then saves Harry Hart from rude guys in a bar by [[OneManArmy beating them all up single-handedly]] and later on takes out a bunch of armed gunmen all on his own too with minimal use of his signature lasso (while using his surroundings on both occasions with impressive ease). Taking advantage of both the situation and of Poppy Adams's massive poisoning of all her drug users with a deadly virus as part of a ransom scheme, Whiskey makes it look like he destroyed the antidote vial they retrieved [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident completely by accident]]. Later confronting, threatening and fighting Eggsy and Harry, Whiskey reveals he intends for all drug users to die not for the potential profit Statesman would achieve in their sales, but because [[CrusadingWidower his own pregnant wife]] was senselessly murdered by two meth users years ago.

* HarsherInHindsight: The film features a handful of scenes that Creator/ColinFirth himself pointed out to be parallels to/gags about his own experiences with his then-wife, the Italian director Livia Giuggoli (e.g. Eggsy learning a different language to impress his Swedish girlfriend's parents, or Firth's character Harry Hart speaking subpar Italian). However, it can be difficult to watch those now knowing that Firth and Giuggoli would divorce in 2019.

* OffendingTheCreatorsOwn: The infamous "inserting-a-tracker-into-a-woman's-private-parts" scene, which has been ''widely'' criticised for using women's bodies as a plot device, was written by a woman, Jane Goldman. She also said it was "not exploitative" and spoke positively of the way it showed a female character being pleasured not just through penetrative sex. But that has not stopped people from viewing it as, well, exploitative and misogynistic.

* OffendingTheCreatorsOwn: The infamous "inserting-a-tracker-into-a-woman's-private-parts" scene, which has been criticised for using women's bodies as a plot device, was written by a ''woman'', Jane Goldman. She also said it was "not exploitative" and spoke positively of the way it showed a female character being pleasured not just through penetrative sex. But that has not stopped people from viewing it as, well, exploitative and misogynistic.

** [[spoiler:The president willing to let tens of millions of drug users die just to say he won the War on Drugs. As pointed out, this includes innocent people that only tried a drug ''once'', people who used marijuana for medicinal reasons, ''children'' who were born addicted thanks to their mothers using while pregnant, sex slaves forcibly drugged to make them more compliant and even ''his own Chief of Staff'', who only started using because of the president's demanding workload. (And, although this isn't mentioned, there ''are'' some parts of the world where pot is legal, so [[FridgeHorror he was also dooming people that legally]] ''[[FridgeHorror did nothing wrong]]''.) Not to mention the severe blow to international relations he would have dealt because one of the victims would have been ''the heir to the Swedish throne''. A literal [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI war]] has been sparked by that.]]

** [[spoiler:The president willing to let tens of millions of drug users die just to say he won the War on Drugs. As pointed out, this includes innocent people that only tried a drug ''once'', people who used marijuana for medicinal reasons, ''children'' who were born addicted thanks to their mothers using while pregnant, sex slaves forcibly drugged to make them more compliant and even ''his own Chief of Staff'', who only started using because of the president's demanding workload. (And, although this isn't mentioned, there ''are'' some parts of the world where pot is legal, so [[FridgeHorror he was also dooming people that legally]] ''[[FridgeHorror did nothing wrong]]''.) Not to mention the severe blow to international relations he would have dealt because one of the victims would have been ''the heir to the Swedish throne''.]]

** [[spoiler:The president willing to let tens of millions of drug users die just to say he won the War on Drugs. As pointed out, this includes innocent people that only tried a drug ''once'', people who used marijuana for medicinal reasons, ''children'' who were born addicted thanks to their mothers using while pregnant, sex slaves forcibly drugged to make them more compliant and even ''his own Chief of Staff'', who only started using because of the president's demanding workload. (And, although this isn't mentioned, there ''are'' some parts of the world where pot is legal, so [[FridgeHorror he was also dooming people that legally]] ''[[FridgeHorror did nothing wrong]]''.)]]

* EndingFatigue: So [[spoiler: Poppy and her personal army are defeated and her plan is thwarted. Mission accomplished, right? Well first we have to go through a ''second'' climactic fight scene when Whiskey arrives after all the action is over and attacks Eggsy and Harry. Not only did it simply [[{{Padding}} pad]] out the runtime, but it was so unnecessary to the plot that you could've cut it out and the scene would've gone exactly the way it was going anyways.]]

* FanonDiscontinuity: Not very strong or widespread, but this film's lower ratings, poor treatment of fan-favorite characters, and largely glossing over the world-changing HatePlague Valentine unleashed can inspire a little of this.

* {{Padding}}: The fight between Eggsy, Harry and [[spoiler:Whiskey]]. It doesn't add anything to the plot other than four extra minutes so the movie can have a CallBack to the [[SignatureScene church scene]]. In fact, considering the film is a whopping ''2 hours 21 minutes'' long, one of the largest criticisms is that the film felt far too long due to too many unnecessary subplots and characters clogging up the runtime between action scenes. For example, you could completely cut out [[spoiler:Whiskey]] from the film and the overall plot would not have been affected at all.

** Fans of ''{{Series/Narcos}}'' will find it funny to see Creator/PedroPascal hate drug dealers again.

* IdiotPlot: The movie's plot simply seems to rely on having Eggsy making uncharacteristically stupid decisions drive it forward, making him come off as an incompetent Kingsman whose actions end up causing more harm than good. Druglord (lady?) Poppy isn't much better, as her plan somehow include killing off her own costumers. Even the U.S. President calls her stupid.
* JerkassWoobie: Whiskey. He was a Statesman agent who was willing to let [[spoiler:Poppy and the President commit mass genocide and tried his damnedest to stop Harry and Eggsy from getting the drug antidote but only because he wanted to avenge his dead wife and kid who were killed by druggies (his wife was pregnant at the time). To top it all off he dies a horrible and arguably undeserved death.]]

* FanonDiscontinuity: Nt very strong or widespread, but this films lower ratings, poor treatment of fan favorite characters, and largely glossing over the world changing HatePlague Valentine unleashed can inspire a little of this.

** Eggsy cutting his way out of his trunk in the opening car chase would be badass, except that he does it his shoe knife and the blade somehow comes straight out of the seat. It's hard to imagine what sort of position he has to be in for that, especially in so small a space.
* NarmCharm: In a movie with cybernetic arms that can attach instantly and gel that can recover agents from being shot through their eye, the most impressive piece of technology may be the ordinary looking meat grinder at Poppy's that can convert a full human body into perfectly prepared ground beef in seconds. And is somehow able to sort clothes and meat into two separate piles.

* ContestedSequel: The film received mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike. While opinions on plot and characters were divisive, ''The Golden Circle'' is still considered an enjoyable film because of the ridiculous amount of over-the-top action, comedy and raucous moments.

* IdiotPlot: The movie's plot simply seems to rely on having Eggsy making uncharacteristically stupid decisions drive it forward, making him come off as an incompetent Kingsman whose actions end up causing more harm than good. Druglord (lady?) Poppy isn't much better, as her plan include killing off her own costumers. Even the U.S. President calls her stupid.

* {{Padding}}: The fight between Eggsy, Harry and [[spoiler:Whiskey]]. It doesn't add anything to the plot other than four extra minutes so the movie can have a CallBack to the [[SignatureScene church scene]].
** In fact, considering the film is a whopping ''2 hours 21 minutes'' long, one of the largest criticisms is that the film felt far too long due to too many unnecessary subplots and characters clogging up the runtime between action scenes. For example, you could completely cut out [[spoiler:Whiskey]] from the film and the overall plot would not have been affected at all.

* StrangledByTheRedString: Played rather straight, with general audiences expressing surprise at finding the literal butt-of-the-joke princess in a serious relationship with TheProtagonist with little to no development. Actor Taron Egerton doesn't seem to like it either, although it's worth noting that his reasoning really has been more to do with the fact that it's difficult for him to continue playing Eggsy in the future as the secret agent that he is, if married to Tilde. (Which, strangely, has been acknowledged abundantly not just by reviewers and fans outside the film but also in-universe.) Egerton has said that Tilde/Eggsy was fun, but that it doesn't leave room for much aside from depictions of domestic life for Eggsy, like picking out curtains. The only ship he's actually ''seriously'' supported beyond a joke has always been [[https://youtu.be/lvS_uWgeIwo?t=83 Eggsy/Roxy]], with both him and Sophie Cookson addressing that the fact that the first girl Eggsy's age introduced didn't end up becoming his LoveInterest is a subversive and admirable thing, but Egerton [[https://reggsys.tumblr.com/post/172271022687/sophie-cookson-on-eggsy-and-roxys-relationship jumping]] [[https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2015/05/kingsman-the-secret-service-taron-egerton at the idea]] of [[PromotedToLoveInterest eventual romantic Eggsy/Roxy]] nonetheless. (Sadly, Roxy died in this movie.)

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: [[https://youtu.be/xRaSNT6cFmI "Tequila"]] is a pretty badass introduction for the namesake character.

* AwesomeMusic: [[https://youtu.be/xRaSNT6cFmI "Tequila"]] is a pretty badass introduction for the namesake character.

* ToughActToFollow: Coming off of the highly successful and popular first film, ''The Golden Circle'' was definitely going to be measured with high expectations.

** Harry's return. People are up in arms about his appearance in the film. Either it's great having him back to fight alongside Eggsy, or his revival [[DeathIsCheap cheapened]] his sudden and tragic demise. Some preferred that Harry stayed dead and made appearances in flashbacks or something similar, or have the resurrection pushed back to a potential third film where the fallout from his death would've resonated enough.