REVIEW: Citadel May Not Have Enough to Keep People Coming Back Week After Week

Anthony and Joe Russo return to the small screen after a 10-year absence with their Prime Video series, Citadel. The series is set around an independent spy agency by the name of Citadel. The spies of Citadel are some of the best when it comes to international espionage, stopping numerous threats before they even happen. However, all comes crashing down for the agency when a group of assassins are tasked with taking down the agency, and its spies. With the fall of Citadel imminent, Citadel handler, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci) decides to wipe the minds of two of the agency’s best agents, Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) in hopes of protecting their futures. Eight years later, Orlick seeks out Kane to help him take down the group who caused the fall of Citadel, Manticore. Now, Kane must locate his old “partner” Nadia if they hope to stop Manticore. But all is not as it seems when hidden secrets come to life and partnerships are tested.

Having only screened the first three episodes of the series, I didn’t feel there was enough to make an accurate opinion on whether or not I liked the show. With the average run time of each episode under 40 minutes, there wasn’t enough time for unnecessary fillers or characters, but there also wasn’t enough time to really flesh out the premise for episode. Creator David Weil does overall have an interesting story, but this is a show that may be better off watching in one sitting rather than week by week. One thing this show really has going for it though is the action. Each episode is filled with beautifully shot action scenes that feel fitting rather than forced. The budget went to good use when they crafted these scenes for the screen, but I wish they had spent a little bit more on its locations. The international aspect just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Richard Madden is good as the stealthy Kane, but it is the lighter moments where he really shines. He is particularly great alongside Tucci’s Orlick. The two have a very comedic rapport to them, which sometimes makes you forget you’re watching an action drama. Chopra Jonas is no newcomer to the espionage world. The actress got her start on America television in ABC’s Quantico, and she continues to prove why she does well in any espionage role. She brings a sultry, yet badass feel to Nadia, that could have felt wrong coming from another actress, but she does it with ease. Tucci is a joy to watch on screen. No matter if it was dramatic or comedic, he stole every scene he was in. Overall, though, the characters still felt very stiff.

Citadel is an action-packed thriller that will captivate some but turn off others. Not because it isn’t good, but because there may not be enough in each episode to keep audiences tuning in week after week. Amazon Studios has high hopes for the show as it’s already been renewed for Season 2, but it may have a hard time keeping its audience. I recommend waiting until all six episodes are released to give it a watch. This way you can enjoy the full story rather than give up after episode 1.

Grade: B