Season 1, Episode 1

Streaming on: Prime Video

Release date: April 28, 2023

Why I watched it

Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Stanley Tucci… sign me up!!!

Honestly, the cast alone was enough to get me interested in this show. Richard Madden was Robb Stark in Game of Thrones (probably one of my all time favorite shows), Priyanka Chopra Jonas became a star for me after seeing her in Quantico, and Stanley Tucci needs no introduction… he steals the screen every time for me (especially in The Devil Wears Prada movies).

The episode opens with espionage, a ridiculously luxurious train, multiple language changes, and one of the best train fight sequences I’ve seen in a while. Within the first ten minutes, I was fully locked in.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Russo Brothers were involved, I’m a HUGE Marvel fan. Between that and the scale of the opening sequence, I immediately understood what kind of show this wanted to be: slick, expensive-looking, action-heavy spy television.

And so far, I’m into it.

What I loved

The premiere wastes absolutely no time getting into the drama right from the first scene.

We’re introduced to Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden’s characters during what initially appears to be a routine undercover mission, but things go sideways quickly. Their covers are blown and we see the first fight scene of the series with hand-to-hand combat, explosions, betrayals, and enough unanswered questions to make me want to keep watching.

And the opening train sequence? SO GOOD.

First of all, this might be the bougiest train I’ve ever seen in my life. Maybe I’m simply not wealthy enough to know trains like this exist, but the whole thing looked gorgeous. Then the fighting started, and the episode went from glamorous spy thriller to complete chaos.

The chemistry between Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Nadia) and Richard Madden (Mason) also works immediately. There’s already a sense that Nadia and Mason have history beyond simply being coworkers, and I’m very curious to see how much romance, betrayal, and general espionage messiness is hiding underneath their relationship.

The episode then completely shifts gears. Mason wakes up after the incident with no memory of who he is, eventually assumes the identity Kyle Conroy, and eight years later has a wife, a daughter, and a quiet life that absolutely feels too peaceful to last.

What I appreciated most is how many questions the premiere creates without making the episode feel confusing. What exactly happened to Citadel? Who is Manticore? What happened to Nadia? Was Mason’s memory erased or is this just really bad amnesia? Who can actually be trusted?

The show gives you just enough information to understand the world while still making you want answers.

And despite losing his memories, Mason apparently did not lose the spy instincts, which I thought was a fun detail. His brain may not remember his old life, but his body very clearly does.

Spoiler-free takeaway:

This is an extremely fast-paced, glossy spy thriller that throws you directly into the action and barely slows down. The premiere feels expensive, dramatic, and intentionally mysterious in a way that made me immediately want to watch another episode!

Who/What Stole It

My pick: The opening train sequence

This entire opening sequence sold me on the show!

The chemistry between Nadia and Mason, the undercover setup, the reveal that things were already going wrong before they even realized it, and then the absolutely chaotic fight scene… it all makes for a fantastic opening.

It felt cinematic rather than like a typical TV premiere, and by the time the train was literally exploding, I was sitting there thinking, Well damn. Nobody is making it off this train alive.

Also, Stanley Tucci deserves an honorable mention because Stanley Tucci is simply incapable of being boring. He has such ridiculous range, and the second Bernard appeared, the show immediately became even more interesting.

Side note: realizing he’s married to Moira Kelly (One Tree Hill ) in this show was such a random little surprise for me.

What I’m watching for

There are already so many things I want answers to:

• What actually happened between Nadia and Mason before the train incident?
• What happened to Citadel, and how powerful was the organization before it fell?
• Who exactly is Dahlia Archer, because she already has major villain energy.
• How much of Mason’s old identity is still buried somewhere inside Kyle?
• Is Nadia really believed to be dead by everyone?
• What does Manticore ultimately want?
• And most importantly: how long is Kyle’s peaceful family life actually going to survive all of this?

The premiere is absolutely setting up some kind of complicated spy-love-story situation between Nadia and Mason/Kyle, and I am here for it.

The verdict

Citadel gave me exactly what I wanted from a series premiere: action, mystery, attractive spies, good chemistry, a strong cast, and enough unanswered questions to make me want to continue.

The opening sequence alone was fantastic, but the episode also did a surprisingly good job of establishing the larger mystery afterward without completely losing momentum.]

I’m curious. I’m invested. And I will absolutely be watching the rest of the season!

Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★

Bottom line: Citadel starts with a bang—literally—and delivers a slick, action-packed spy premiere that had me hooked within the first ten minutes.

Have you seen Citadel already? Let me know what you think of the series, but with no spoilers! I’m still in season 1!

With love,

Ash ♡