Citadel 2023 – TV Series Reviewed
Citadel spares no expense but still feels underdeveloped, yielding a fairly fun spy caper that nonetheless creaks under the weight of its own exorbitance.
The biggest failure in this show has been the flawed casting. In an era where streaming giants are literally trying to attract an audience influencer style, the casting is more likely based on the amount of eyeballs you can get, rather than the talent.
Lacks character development
So you can understand why they cast the Bollywood actress Priyank Chopra. But similar to her previous roles in the spy genre, she underwhelming in her role. It is almost as if she is in the shadows of the other leading ladies like Rebecca Ferguson and is trying to imitate them rather than develop her own style. She doesn’t quite have Rebecca’s poise and just comes across as if she is trying too hard.
Similarly, Richard Madden seems as if he has carried on his character from The Bodyguard, rather than developing it. Nevertheless, it is a solid performance by him and does suit this genre, of action spy assassin with a troubled soul. But he does need to develop it further and add some dimensions to it.
The one saving grace for this franchise is Stanley Tucci, who is a solid 7/10. He is reliable and his charm works.
Citadel is trying to include everything: massive set pieces, steamy romance, breathless action, and to top it off saving the world. The plot is outrageous, and the action is solid, but the series struggles to rise above mediocrity.
This makes you wonder whether these two characters can develop the characters in future seasons if indeed it gets a season 2 green light.
The show is trying to include everything: massive set-pieces, steamy romance, breathless fun, and save the world angst. The plotting is fantastical, and the leads solid, but the series struggles to rise above the piecemeal.
It is no wonder it has such a poor rating on IMDB of 6.4
On Rotton Tomatoes, it’s even worse with a 54% Tomatometer rating and an audience score of 75% 9 Which are known to be disingenuous as they are often fake.
In all a really disappointing production of the first season, from Prime, who usually are very good at this genre.
Additional remarks from film critics about Citadel
TOP CRITIC
The mind reels at the thought of spending $300 million for this, a show that looks cheaper than the cheapest basic cable TV program.
Nick Allen RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
A globe-trotting, twist-heavy, yawn-inducing Prime Video series that fails its mission to entertain even with lowered expectations.
Featured User review
Violently mediocre
29 April 2023
It doesn’t get much more cookie-cutter and mediocre than this.
You can tell from the dialogue in the very first scene, what kind of show is going to be. The two main characters for no reason talk to each other in five different languages in a single conversation, to tell the audience how great they are as spies. The handler tells the agent on the mission to remember that the target has nuclear material in his briefcase because I’m sure she forgot… The entire first episode continues in the same vein, where characters explain things to the audience by telling each other things they already know, and it’s the laziest kind of writing.
Throw some amnesia in there, some top agents who’s fighting is laughable and who like to throw quips around instead of carrying out their mission and you’ve got a show that nobody is going to remember in 10 minutes.
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