Critic Reviews
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Some might criticize the show's hefty price tag, its globe-hopping, shoot-'em-up nature, or even the accents. But overall, Citadel is a thrilling ride, as long as you don't take it too seriously and embrace its slightly campy side.
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It is basically televisual crack. Twists, turns, explosions, old-fashioned fisticuffs, the deployment of outrageous gadgetry from Acme’s Deus Ex Machina range, torture scenes, new locations (the Alps, London, all over the States, Paris, Spain, Iran – I may have missed a few in my delirious, glassy-eyed state), are parcelled out in one long, glorious stream.
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Citadel isn’t going to change the way you look at the spy thriller, but it is going to give you all of the genre’s most-loved tropes. If you’re looking for something knottier, move along. If you just looking for a brain-numbing thrill ride, strap in and hang on. Citadel bursts out the gate, full of swagger and sex appeal.
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The secret sauce of Citadel, beyond the excellent performances, is that it manages to get you interested in the plot while still plunging into absurd realms.
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A sleek, glossy spy thriller that grabs the audience immediately and never loosens its grip. It’s a collection of spy movie cliches, but with all of them shined up and refurbished so that they seem almost fresh.
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Either you’re gonna love this unruly behemoth or bemoan the sorry state of blockbuster entertainment. Honestly, I kind of dug it and love the pairing of the main stars who appear to be having fun at toying with each other and this “Mission: Impossible”-like scenario.
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Citadel has the feel of an old-fashioned spy show, dressed up with sleek leads (“Game of Thrones’” Richard Madden and “Quantico’s” Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and state-of-the-art action. The time-bending plot certainly won’t earn many points for originality, but it’s the kind of meat-and-potatoes series that should find an attentive audience on Amazon, which has already tapped into a similar vein with “Jack Ryan” and “Reacher.”
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 9 out of 27
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Mixed: 2 out of 27
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Negative: 16 out of 27
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Apr 28, 2023The very definition of mediocre. Poor acting, action scenes were meh. Another misfire from Prime
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Apr 29, 2023
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Apr 30, 2023A huge budget and failure. James Bond meets Jason Bourne and what a boring meeting.