Beginning of the 20th century. A few powerful people realize that secret services, acting on behalf of countries or even private interests, only serve to escalate conflicts. Driven by the dream of ensuring peace, they create an ultra-secret, independent organization: Citadel. 2022. Mason Kane is Citadel’s top agent. Or so he thinks, until he meets Nadia Sinh. The spark is immediate. Separately, they excel. Together, they’re virtually invincible. A bomb in a train decides otherwise, though. Both survive, but they have been separated and their memories wiped out.
2030. Mason, renamed Kyle Conroy (the name on the passport he had in his pocket) is married and a father. Still suffering from amnesia, he does a DNA search on the Internet. He is then spotted by Bernard Orlick, a former spy, who reveals who he is, and tells him that Citadel has been virtually eradicated by a criminal organization, Manticore, with the help of a mole. Manticore is on the verge of seizing Citadel’s last secrets, and must be stopped at all costs.
Action, romance, saving the world… An efficient cocktail
The series is not without its faults. In particular, the dialogues and certain situations lack depth and subtlety. However, it refreshed the genre created by James Bond. There’s no machismo here, with female characters on the same level as their male counterparts. And while the plot may seem Manichean at first (Citadel for knights, Manticore for villains), it evolves very quickly into a gray area… And therein lies Citadel’s greatest asset. While action films and series all too often neglect the script, this one is well-written, full of twists and turns, making you want to know what happens next.
Supported by a lovely soundtrack and an excellent cast, Citadel is a good series that goes beyond the clichés of the “action” genre. The romance between Mason and Nadia, the emotionally-charged relationships between several characters, this may or may not appeal. At least we’re getting away from the action-sex cliché, no feelings attached.
1 season, 6 episodes (50 mn), 2023 -, Amazon
4 spin-offs : Citadel Diana (Italy, oct 2024), Honey Bunny (India, nov 2024) + 2 others to come
Produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, WITH : Richard Madden as Mason Kane, Priyanka Chopra as Nadia Sinh, Stanley Tucci as Bernard Orlick, Lesley Manville as Dahlia Archer, Ashleigh Cummings as Abby Conroy / Celeste Graham, Roland Møller as Anders and Davik Silje, Osy Ikhile as Carter Spence, Nikki Amuka-Bird as Grace