If you’re looking for a heart-pounding, action-packed spy series that makes absolutely no sense but looks very pretty, look no further than Citadel, a big budget series from Prime Video Australia. With a troubled gestation that included a botched pilot episode with directors being replaced and a scrapped pilot episode, Citadel reportedly cost somewhere around $250 million to produce. But trust me when I say that every single cent was worth it.
Citadel is a rollercoaster ride that’s equal parts Mission: Impossible, The Bourne Identity and James Bond. It opens with Richard Madden’s character, Mason Kane, having a traumatising experience on a train with his partner and ex-wife Nadia Sing (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), a formidable agent who’s perhaps even better than Kane himself.
After the train blows up, we fast forward eight years to find our heroes living normal lives in separate cities. But when a global crime syndicate called Manticore steals a case full of Citadel’s top-secret information, Kane and Nadia reunite for one last fight. Stanley Tucci is brilliant as head honcho Citadel agent Bernard Orlick, who kidnaps Kane and his family and launches him on a mission that will reunite him with Nadia.
The action in Citadel is non-stop, with twists, turns, explosions, and punch-ups galore. And let’s not forget the outrageous gadgetry, which is sure to delight any fan of the James Bond films. The show takes us to new locations all over the world, including the Alps, London, the US, Paris, Spain, and Iran.
Citadel is incredibly addictive and makes its case to be one of those shows that you can’t stop watching. It may not be high HBO-style quality when it comes to the writing, but that is not why we are here. The series has the potential to include a bunch of various spin-offs tailored to different countries, many of which are already apparently in production. If they’re half as addictive as this show is, we will be in for a lot more of these in the coming years.
Of course, there is the consensus that the show is a little over-the-top. But if you’re willing to go along for the ride, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most absurdly entertaining television made in the last few years. Performance-wise, the chemistry between Madden and Chopra Jonas is addictive, and the supporting cast is excellent across the board. Tucci is a great choice as a spy after his recent comedic and less dramatic roles in recent years, and it’s great to see a steely and camp performance from him. The production values are top-notch, with stunning locations, expertly choreographed fight scenes, and special effects that pop out of the screen.
Look let’s be real, if you’re a fan of spy thrillers, action movies, or just good old-fashioned entertainment, Citadel is the series for you. It’s not high art, but it’s not trying to be. It’s pure, unadulterated fun that’s sure to keep you glued to your screen from the very first episode. So grab some popcorn, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.
The first two episodes of Citadel are streaming now on Prime Video Australia with weekly episodes releasing.
