LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: There’s no doubt that ‘Citadel’ has been one of the most highly anticipated shows of the year and viewers were pretty excited about it. Created by Josh Applebaum and executively produced by the Russo Brothers, there were a lot of expectations from the Amazon Prime Video series. Even the trailers suggested that we are in for a wild ride. Unfortunately, the series didn’t yield any fruitful results.
The series primarily focuses on the international global spy agency called ‘Citadel’ that fell eight years ago. Without any guesses, as soon as the agency fell, a lot of spies lost their jobs and some had to lose their memories in order to forget all the about the agency's secrets. However, two of the agency’s elite spies – Mason (Richard Madden) and Nadia (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) – were able to leave everything behind and start a new life. But things go downhill when one of their former colleagues reaches Mason and asks him to work on one mission that could save the entire world. In the process, he tends to discover the other side of himself and starts looking out for Nadia in order to complete the mission.
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'Citadel' failed to perform as per expectations
A lot of things take place in their mission, but it takes too much time to gather steam and even when it does, the series looks completely flat. Before the series made its way to Prime Video, it was revealed that ‘Citadel’ is one of the most expensive TV projects ever with an estimated production budget of $300 million. Despite such a massive budget, the series doesn’t have the look or feel of a series that has taken so many years to develop.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden look electrifying together. But that’s the only positive that could be found in the first five episodes of the series and no one seems to know what this show is trying to show or tell.
The show tries to include everything and that’s the biggest problem. It has massive set pieces, steamy romance sequences, well-choreographed action scenes, and a plotline of saving the world. Despite such strong themes, the series struggles to have a safe landing at its destination. Scripting is another area where the show continues to be a disaster. The lack of effort in the storyline and dialogues are really frustrating and when we think that things are slightly getting better, it turns monotonous again.
Why is Season 2 of 'Citadel' a bad idea?
With $300 million riding on the show, Amazon would have to think about how they want to shell out money for a series that hasn’t been able to create much interest in the minds of people. Season 2 might turn out to be even more problematic because of its bad writing.
It still baffles us that Amazon paid such a big amount for a series that doesn’t seem to be delivering on several levels. Instead of a updated 'Jason Bourne'-like series, we get a series that has to be 'borne'. So yes, the Russo Brothers do have a door open for another season, but if we don't get a second season, we won’t be complaining.
Season 1 is set to finish with Episode 6 and we don’t know how things end for Mason, Nadia, and their daughter, but if the episode ends with the couple getting their daughter back and also defeating the villain, Amazon should take the decision of ending the series as it is. There’s no point in shelling out such an amount for such disappointing fare.
Season 1 of 'Citadel' is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
