Ranking Russo Brothers Three 'Citadel' Prime Video Series
- Details
- Category: New Series and Movie Reviews
- Published: Friday, 01 November 2024 16:14
- Written by Lupe R Haas
The Russo Brothers expand the Citadel series internationally after the success of the 2023 Citadel series starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jones. Citadel: Diana, now streaming, sets the action-espionage thriller in Italy while the upcoming Citadel: Honey Bunny from India, applies a Bollywood spin to the spy thriller genre. While all three series provide a nail-biting experience, one of these three options brings a fresh take to the familiar genre.
Executive produced by the Russo Brothers through their production banner, AGBO, 2023’s Citadel broke records for Amazon Studios. Instead of a follow-up, Anthony and Joe Russo are expanding the series internationally with a new cast and produced by local filmmakers for new stories centering around the global spy agency and its powerful syndicate, Manticore. The Russo’s entrusted production to local filmmakers which results in authenticity and a non-Hollywood flare to each project.
The first season of Citadel was Prime Video’s second most-watched new original series outside the U.S., and fourth most-watched worldwide. The first season introduced the shared universe of the global spy agency and the powerful enemy syndicate.
The Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jones Citadel series check off all the boxes of a spy thriller. The series offers the usual dose of intrigue, double crossings, and sexy leads. Madden and Chopra Jones’ chemistry is the main attraction as former spies whose memories were wiped clean after the fall of Citadel. The two former lovers band together once again to stop Manticore from establishing a new world order, but they also uncover a betrayal in the process.
Citadel: Diana takes the action to a future (2030) in Milan, Italy, this time from Manticore’s perspective with Diana Cavalieri (Matilda De Angelis) working as a double agent for Citadel. However, the mole is on her own after Manticore destroyed the global agency. Diana must find a way out and devise a plan to implode the syndicate from within.
Milan provides a sexy backdrop as do the sophisticated characters. Diana’s hairstyle is more suited for a runway supermodel rather than a secret agent. Don’t let the hair fool you though. Diana channels her inner rage into brutal fights and action sequences. The high-tech thriller offers cool futuristic technology and weaponry that escalates the action and intensity which is different from the other two Citadel series.
Citadel: Diana doesn’t hook you in right away until after episode 2, when the stakes are higher for Diana.
Citadel: Honey Bunny stands out as a more exciting and original thriller of the three with its Bollywood aesthetic. The series relies less on high tech and focuses on mano a mano fight stunts much like the 2022 Indian breakout hit, RRR.
Directed by Raj & DK (Raj Nidimoru y Krishna DK) and written by Sita R. Menon and set in the ‘90s, Honey and Bunny refers to the two leads. Honey (Samantha Ruth Prabhu), an aspiring actress, is recruited by Bunny (Varun Dhawan), a stuntman by day and spy by night, to work for Citadel.
Like the other two series, Honey Bunny transitions from the present to the past. Honey takes to the job like a pro but her first mission puts a mark on her for life. Flash forward to the present, Honey is on the run with her young precious daughter. The stakes couldn't be any higher.
All three Citadel series have something different to offer, but Citadel: Honey Bunny offers a more refreshing take on the genre because of its Bollywood take, and how can you not root for the single mother and her child?
Citadel and Citadel: Diana are now streaming on Prime Video, and Citadel: Honey Bunny premieres on November 7.