Review Based on 3 Out of 6 Episodes
One of the most anticipated series of this year, Citadel is finally here. The Russo Brothers series joins a long list of spy thrillers to come out in recent times. Citadel is the second most expensive series ever with its reported budget of more than $250 million only for six episodes. The budget of the Prime Video series helps it in storytelling in a massive way because Citadel is at its best when action sequences take over and the story takes a backseat for a bit.
Citadel follows Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra), two top spies working for an international shadow spy agency with no affiliation to any government. The Prime Video series starts us off with a brilliant action sequence on a train where most of the first episode takes place. This is where we first meet Mason and Nadia as they try to take down a man with a nuclear weapon but it is soon revealed that they are in a trap and every Citadel agent around the world is being murdered by an organization called Manticore. After a brilliant action sequence on the train, we see Mason waking up in a hospital with no memories of his past. Jump to eight years later he has a loving wife (Ashleigh Cummings) and daughter. But his friend and tech-wiz Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who also worked for Citadel gets him back into the action after all these years to stop Manticore from stealing Nuclear codes.
The most important thing for you as a viewer to enjoy this series has to be related to if you believe the chemistry between Madden’s Mason Kane and Chopra’s Nadia Sinh. The chemistry between the two leads had to be undeniable and we are sorry to say that sometimes it just isn’t there. I mean there are moments when you will find yourself thinking about the intensity between these two characters but other times their banter just comes off as annoying and not at all moving the story forward. Both Madden and Chopra are great in their respective roles (well Madden is a bit better), Tucci definitely steals the shows as Bernard with his funny one-liners and quips. Tucci has always been a joy to see on screen and in my opinion, he should get his own spin-off.
In conclusion, Citadel is a fun ride with great action sequences and complex characters, and while the story is not unique it is told very well with a bit of style and a lot of quips. So, watch it for the action sequences and Tucci, you will not regret it.
CinemaBlind’s Review for Silo: 7/10
Citadel is all set to premiere on April 28 on Apple TV+. Check out an action sequence and official synopsis below:
Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency—tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people—was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows. With Citadel’s fall, elite agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out his former partner, Nadia, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love.