Official Trailer
Rating: 6.9/10 | Genre: Drama, Crime, Action & Adventure | Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 13 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ashleigh Cummings, Roland Møller, Lesley Manville
Citadel is the kind of show that feels like it’s trying really hard to be a big deal. It’s got movie stars, a huge budget, and a premise that sounds cool in theory. The reality though? It’s a decent action thriller that’s entertaining enough if you turn your brain off, but it never quite reaches the heights it’s aiming for.
I went in with fairly high expectations. Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas are both solid actors, and the whole “spies who lost their memories” angle seemed like it could work. After binge-watching both seasons, I’d say it’s worth your time if you like action shows, but don’t go in thinking this is the next great prestige drama.
Season 1
Season 1 is actually the stronger of the two seasons, which is always a good sign for a show. It sets up the mystery pretty well. Mason Kane wakes up with no memory of who he is or what he does. Nadia’s in a similar boat. They’re both former top agents at this spy organization called Citadel, and they eventually find out that their memories were intentionally wiped.
The first few episodes move at a good pace. There’s action, there’s intrigue, and you actually want to know what happened to these characters. Bernard Orlick, played by Lesley Manville, shows up as this spymaster who knows more than she’s letting on. She’s honestly one of the best parts of the season. Manville brings a sharpness to the role that keeps you engaged.
Where Season 1 stumbles is in the plot details. Some of the twists feel predictable, and the show spends a lot of time on exposition. You’re sitting there listening to characters explain who Manticore is, why they’re bad, what the Citadel X Case does. It gets a little clunky.
That said, the chemistry between Madden and Chopra Jonas works. They’re supposed to be former lovers thrown back together, and there’s genuine tension between them. It’s not the most memorable on-screen romance, but it keeps things interesting. The show also looks really good. The cinematography is crisp, and the action sequences are well shot.
Season 2
Season 2 is where things start to fall apart a bit. The first season ended on a note that left room for growth, but Season 2 feels scattered. They introduce new characters and a new team of spies, which dilutes the focus. Instead of following Mason and Nadia as they piece together their past, you’re jumping around between multiple storylines.
The episodes I got through of Season 2 have some good moments. There’s a solid action scene in the second episode where Mason fights off assassins. But overall, it feels like the show is spinning its wheels. The mystery of their lost memories isn’t as front and center anymore, and that was the thing that made Season 1 worth watching.
The pacing is slower too. Season 1 had this momentum that kept you watching. Season 2 drags in places where it shouldn’t.
The Characters
Richard Madden does fine as Mason Kane. He’s likable enough, but he doesn’t have a ton of range to show here. He mostly just runs around, shoots guns, and looks confused about his past. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is actually better. She brings more edge to Nadia, and her scenes with Madden crackle more than his solo stuff.
Lesley Manville is the character who stands out most. She steals every scene she’s in. Bernard Orlick could have been a boring exposition dump of a character, but Manville gives her real personality and wit. Whenever she shows up, you pay attention.
Ashleigh Cummings and Roland Møller are fine in their supporting roles, but they don’t leave much of an impression. They do what the plot needs them to do.
So is Citadel worth watching? Yeah, if you’ve got the time and you’re into spy thrillers. Season 1 is solid entertainment. Season 2 loses some steam, but it’s still watchable. Just don’t expect this to be the show everyone’s talking about. It’s more of a “nice way to spend your weekend” kind of thing than a “you have to drop everything and watch this” kind of thing.
Have you watched Citadel yet, or are you thinking about starting it? I’m curious if people who watch it have better luck with Season 2 than I did.
Episode Guide
Season 1 (6 Episodes)
Episode 1: The Human Enigma (6.8/10)
Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh – top agents of the independent spy organization Citadel – collide with a nefarious, new syndicate – Manticore – leading to catastrophe. Eight years later, Mason Kane is living a quiet life as "Kyle Conroy," with no memory of his past. Until one day an old colleague enlists his help to stop a now powerful Manticore from creating a new world order.
Episode 2: Spies Appear in Night Time (6.3/10)
Kyle and Bernard journey to New York City to steal the Citadel X Case from Manticore Headquarters before it's too late. Later, Kyle learns that a figure from his past is still alive and he risks everything to find them.
Episode 3: Infinite Shadows (5.6/10)
As Kyle and Nadia land at an old safehouse, small clues about their past life together bubble to the surface. Soon, they discover a former ally who may be key to stopping Manticore is imprisoned in a facility in Morocco. In order to rescue him they first have to enlist the help of a local crime boss. But their mission is compromised as secrets of the past are unearthed.
Episode 4: Tell Her Everything (6/10)
After the shocking revelation of Abby's former identity, we learn of the past entanglements between Mason, Nadia and Celeste, and a horrific decision that reverberates still today. Meanwhile, Nadia and Kyle land at the Manticore compound in Morocco and risk their lives to free their fellow spy. But their hero's welcome is short-lived as they are forced to grapple with a dangerous accusation.
Episode 5: Time Renders Us Enemies (5.2/10)
Nadia, Kyle and Carter are forced to work together to escape from Manticore and protect the X Case, but suspicion of one of our heroes reaches a boiling point, leading to an explosive reckoning.
Episode 6: Secrets in Night Need Early Rains (5.7/10)
With one of their own being held hostage by Manticore, Kyle, Nadia and Carter risk everything to save them and thwart Manticore's plans to acquire nuclear weapons. As our heroes grapple with the nuclear threat, the identity of the mole within Citadel will be revealed, as will the awful truth that everything they know is a lie.
Season 2 (7 Episodes)
Episode 1: Baked Alaskas (6.6/10)
Mason, Nadia, and Bernard hide across Europe after Season 1's events. While Mason battles identity issues and Nadia flees with her daughter from operative Aparna, Bernard allies with ex-CIA Agent Hutch to stop Paulo Braga. A secret emerges when Nadia faces Frank Sharpe.
Episode 2: Cold Plunge (7.9/10)
Abby's escape triggers deadly events as Mason fights Manticore assassins. Paulo and Joana advance their weapon while pursuing Mason. Bernard and Hutch race to reunite the group. After a violent clash with Nadia, Mason seeks help from an old enemy and uncovers Bernard's dark secret.
Episode 3: Chinos (8.3/10)
As Paulo's plan accelerates, Mason and Nadia are forced into an uneasy alliance. Together with Bernard, Hutch, Celine, and Frank Sharpe, they mount a daring mission to uncover the identity of a mysterious hacker who is key to stopping a global catastrophe.
Episode 4: Unreasonable (7.9/10)
After extracting Edison's true identity, the team pivots to a high-profile gala where their target is expected to appear. But as tensions between Mason and Nadia reach a breaking point and enemies close in, a rogue decision threatens to upend the entire mission.
Episode 5: Heirlooms (7.5/10)
Mason and Dahlia set a high-stakes prisoner exchange in motion to negotiate for Abby's release. But as Mason's unraveling threatens to derail the plan, both sides race to execute the trade, leading to a shocking revelation from Abby that changes everything.
Episode 6: Highlands (8.3/10)
As Joana accelerates the plan to assassinate the Russian President at the G8 Summit, Mason and Nadia take Abby to a safehouse in Scotland. But when they uncover the horrific truth about what was done to Abby, it triggers a devastating chain of events.
Episode 7: Chin Chin (7.5/10)
Citadel agents race to prevent Joana's assassination of President Aronov at the G8 Summit, where she plans to seize control of Russian satellites. The team must execute a dangerous infiltration mission and face impossible and deadly choices in a final confrontation.
Where to Watch
Stream on: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, SFR Play