Citadel Ep 1-2 REVIEW: Priyanka Chopra, Richard Madden starrer looks intense but falls flat on instances

Saheli Maity

May 1, 2023
8:35 pm
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Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden starrer Citadel looked intense and intriguing but falls flat. The action and the cinematography can leave an impact but the story, not so much.

Citadel Ep 1-2 REVIEW:

Created by the Russo Brothers, Citadel starring Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden was released with two episodes only. As they did for the series of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the brothers have followed the same suit for Citadel. They have released two episodes and will release new episodes every week. After the trailer of the series was released, it piqued my interest in watching it. Priyanka’s badass moves, the intense drama and the hot chemistry between Priyanka and Richard, everything flabbergasted me. However, I was not amazed. It was a dud to me.

I don’t want to judge the series so fast as it’s just been two episodes. I know it is just a build-up, but even those two episodes didn’t create an impact. There was no urge to watch the rest of the episodes as I can say many things failed to entice me. People say that the ‘first impression is the last impression’, I think Citadel seemed to be a dud to me. I mean nobody wants to miss out on making a great opening impression, right? Well, it can bring you to the point of whether to continue or to leave as it is. But we would suggest you finish the series before making any judgements and that’s what I’m going to do. Let’s wait to see what extraordinary the makers have to offer.

NOTE: This Citadel review was written on only two episodes and not as a whole. I might start liking the entire series later on. But this review was only written keeping two episodes in mind.

Story:

Global spy agency Citadel has fallen, and their agents’ memories were wiped clean. Now the powerful syndicate, Manticore, is rising in the void. However, amidst the chaos, the two agents Nadia and Mason try to restore their memory and fight back. But it is not an easy journey as Manticore is behind their backs. Can the Citadel agents recollect their past and summon the strength to fight back?

Highlights of Citadel:

The stars: Priyanka and Richard were definitely the heart of the story. They looked hot and stylish. Their chemistry is crackling and you get a little thirsty to watch them. You can feel the sexual tension and the heat and that’s what drove me to watch the series further.

Action: I am a sucker for action and oh boy, they have done a fantastic job. I loved how they choreographed the action sequence, be it on the train or in a room. It was quite intriguing. You can see the Russo Brothers’ touch in it because it will constantly remind you of their previous movies. In most of the frame I was like ‘ah, it reminded me of this movie, ah it looked similar to that movie.’

Drawbacks of Citadel:

Storyline: Something seemed off for Citadel. The screenplay didn’t seem like the strong point here and it needed to sharpen a bit more. We have watched spy movies and series before; however, Citadel seemed to fall flat in some places.

Star Performances:

Priyanka Chopra Jonas essayed the role of Citadel agent Nadia Sihn. She is feisty and fierce and definitely far from being a ‘stupid dumb bitch’ (series reference). PeeCee looked smoking hot and seductress. In some parts, she even reminded me of Quantico but this was a better version. She killed it with her performance.

Richard Madden was another eye candy after Mrs Jonas. The Game Of Thrones actor essayed another spy Mason Kane from Citadel. He has the charm to sweep you off the feet and has the calibre to break your bones in minutes. Richard did a nice job but in some parts, it felt like he is trying too hard to look tough.

Stanley Tucci essayed the role of Citadel head Bernard Orlick who is smart and funny. We got to see him less in the two episodes but he has a lot more to offer. The actor played his part with perfect ease and comfort.

Conclusion:

Overall, Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden starrer Citadel looked intense and intriguing but falls flat. The action and the cinematography can leave an impact but the story, not so much. The Russo Brothers have tried to pull off a hard-hitting spy drama, sadly, it doesn’t have a lasting effect. Nevertheless, Priyanka and Richard do make a power couple in the series and their chemistry was worth watching.

Watch the Citadel trailer after the review: