David Weil's Citadel is a very ambitious undertaking that feels cinematic in its exploration of large-scale action set pieces — Prime Video has managed to put together an enticing, globe-trotting adventure with a stellar cast that keeps the action moving and the chemistry palpable.
The series opens on a fast-moving train somewhere in the Italian Alps where Citadel's secret agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) — who seem to have their own history and chemistry brewing — are on a mission to stop a man carrying uranium. Soon, there's a face-off with his men as the duo engage in a scene-stealing action sequence. Not long after, Mason and Nadia discover that they were betrayed by one of their own to an agency called Manticore. The train blows up and the Citadel tech genius, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), gives Nadia a countdown as the chip implanted in their brains erases all their memories as Citadel agents.
Eight years later, Mason is living a normal life with his wife (Ashleigh Cummings) and daughter (Caoilinn Springall), carrying no memories of his previous life. When Bernard finds out that Manticore is attempting to steal a case containing information on Citadel and its agents around the world, he lands on Mason's doorstep to get him back in the field. Mason tracks down Nadia, who has been living her life blissfully unaware in Spain. From here, Citadel becomes a globe-trotting series, going back and forth between the past and the present filling in the characters' backstories.
Joe and Anthony Russo of Marvel fame serve as executive producers, so it's not surprising to see massive action scenes set in gorgeous locales throughout the series. The fight choreography is extremely entertaining, going hand in hand with the stunning cinematography. One aspect I'm particularly impressed by is the fact that Nadia isn't just slotted into the Bond girl archetype to further the spy story. She is just as much a lead as Mason, which is a refreshing and much-needed shake-up in the world of today's espionage films and TV shows.
Although Mason's character arc is much more fleshed out in the first two episodes, Nadia is given more of a backstory as we hit Episode 3. In fact, she starts to take on more of a leading role as her memories slowly return. Both Chopra Jonas and Madden have taken on substantial roles before, with Chopra Jonas proving her mettle in Quantico and Madden impressing in The Bodyguard and, of course, Game of Thrones. Both continue to display their gifts as dramatic actors, but also their comedic talent in Citadel. Chopra Jonas, Madden, and Tucci, in the few scenes we see him in the first three episodes, deliver one-liners and punchlines to great effect.
There's never a dull moment between the leads, and their chemistry is off the charts. What the Russo brothers are attempting to do with this IP is ambitious with hopes of making a spinoff series in different countries and with different characters that will somehow all connect to Citadel. For instance, Nadia's backstory will be fleshed out more in an Indian spinoff of the show. The Russo brothers also have plans to create Italian, Spanish and Mexican shows, too. I'm certainly excited to see how everything connects together in this global spy web.
Citadel also moves away from the binge model, adopting a weekly drop instead. The episodes are compelling enough to make viewers anxiously anticipate the following week's episode. The high-octane adventure series, thus far, is sprinkled with action, comedy, drama and romance while keeping the mystery going of what's really happening at Citadel and Manticore. Hopefully, the loose ends come together in the final three episodes in a manner just as thrilling as the first three.
(Prime Video)The series opens on a fast-moving train somewhere in the Italian Alps where Citadel's secret agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) — who seem to have their own history and chemistry brewing — are on a mission to stop a man carrying uranium. Soon, there's a face-off with his men as the duo engage in a scene-stealing action sequence. Not long after, Mason and Nadia discover that they were betrayed by one of their own to an agency called Manticore. The train blows up and the Citadel tech genius, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), gives Nadia a countdown as the chip implanted in their brains erases all their memories as Citadel agents.
Eight years later, Mason is living a normal life with his wife (Ashleigh Cummings) and daughter (Caoilinn Springall), carrying no memories of his previous life. When Bernard finds out that Manticore is attempting to steal a case containing information on Citadel and its agents around the world, he lands on Mason's doorstep to get him back in the field. Mason tracks down Nadia, who has been living her life blissfully unaware in Spain. From here, Citadel becomes a globe-trotting series, going back and forth between the past and the present filling in the characters' backstories.
Joe and Anthony Russo of Marvel fame serve as executive producers, so it's not surprising to see massive action scenes set in gorgeous locales throughout the series. The fight choreography is extremely entertaining, going hand in hand with the stunning cinematography. One aspect I'm particularly impressed by is the fact that Nadia isn't just slotted into the Bond girl archetype to further the spy story. She is just as much a lead as Mason, which is a refreshing and much-needed shake-up in the world of today's espionage films and TV shows.
Although Mason's character arc is much more fleshed out in the first two episodes, Nadia is given more of a backstory as we hit Episode 3. In fact, she starts to take on more of a leading role as her memories slowly return. Both Chopra Jonas and Madden have taken on substantial roles before, with Chopra Jonas proving her mettle in Quantico and Madden impressing in The Bodyguard and, of course, Game of Thrones. Both continue to display their gifts as dramatic actors, but also their comedic talent in Citadel. Chopra Jonas, Madden, and Tucci, in the few scenes we see him in the first three episodes, deliver one-liners and punchlines to great effect.
There's never a dull moment between the leads, and their chemistry is off the charts. What the Russo brothers are attempting to do with this IP is ambitious with hopes of making a spinoff series in different countries and with different characters that will somehow all connect to Citadel. For instance, Nadia's backstory will be fleshed out more in an Indian spinoff of the show. The Russo brothers also have plans to create Italian, Spanish and Mexican shows, too. I'm certainly excited to see how everything connects together in this global spy web.
Citadel also moves away from the binge model, adopting a weekly drop instead. The episodes are compelling enough to make viewers anxiously anticipate the following week's episode. The high-octane adventure series, thus far, is sprinkled with action, comedy, drama and romance while keeping the mystery going of what's really happening at Citadel and Manticore. Hopefully, the loose ends come together in the final three episodes in a manner just as thrilling as the first three.