CHENNAI: The pedal never comes off the metal in Amazon Prime Video's latest series “Citadel,” starring Bollywood-to-Hollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
It opens with a high-speed luxury train racing through the picturesque Italian Alps with slick cinematography complementing the witty repartee between our two leads — Nadia Sinh (Chopra Jonas) and Mason Kane (“Game of Thrones” actor Richard Madden). The agents are part of a global organization, Citadel, which is tasked with keeping the world safe before it is ripped apart by a nefarious group named Manticore.
The action-packed plot sees memories get erased, lies held close to the chest and intrigue galore. Directed by Newton Thomas Sigel (who is also the cinematographer), created by David Weil and produced by the Russo Brothers of Marvel fame, the hugely hyped show’s first two episodes are out with the remaining four to arrive every Friday. There are also two offshoots on the horizon set in different countries — including India, with the segment there featuring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
At a reported cost of $250 million, “Citadel” is a gamble for Amazon studios, but it is one that seems to have paid off, especially for fans of Chopra Jonas who is smart, tightly coiled and alluring in the new show. The inclusion of much-loved actor Stanley Tucci as Citadel’s tech master is an additional plus point due to his perfectly timed delivery of quips and amusing one-liners that thankfully are not laid on too thickly.
Brilliantly choreographed action sequences are a treat for the eye and Chopra Jonas comes off as a female version of James Bond. Mason pales in comparison, and there are moments that lead us to believe that “Citadel” was envisaged purely for Chopra Jonas to show off her action chops.
The first two episodes are so full of gun fights and fisticuffs that they can seem a tad soulless, but at less than 40 minutes each, each instalment is thrilling high-octane fun and the series will no doubt garner fans across the world if it manages to introduce more depth to the characters and the plotline as shadowy secrets reveal themselves.
