Citadel Season 2 is everything fans could hope for when it comes to espionage escapism. Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Richard Madden, and Stanley Tucci are back in this globe-trotting tale of world domination courtesy of Manticore. A nefarious organisation hellbent on overthrowing established governments and simply letting the world burn. Lifting liberally from The Manchurian Candidate in the process and setting out their Season 2 stall in a sophomore effort that is unlikely to disappoint.
With new additions in Jack Reynor, who audiences can catch in Lee Cronin’s The Mummy and Paul Rudd’s up and coming Power Ballad, Citadel gets a new dynamic. Playing James Hutch opposite Stanley Tucci’s Bernard Orlick, Season 2 gets the jump start it dearly needs as this odd couple begin their bickering in a frenetic opening episode, that rarely let up even under fire.
Off the back of that odd couple dynamic, Tucci gets a good line in dry one-liners, while Reynor does wise-cracking gung-ho flunky with understated intelligence. At certain points the fate of Manticore and Citadel becomes academic because audiences get to appreciate Stanley Tucci as action hero in some tailored set pieces that expand on Bernard’s bookish demeanour. Adding another dimension to this superior sophomore effort and making Season 2 worth the Prime subscription.
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Elsewhere, comedic juggernaut Matt Berry makes a lasting impression managing to give some much-needed comic relief, before switching gear and delivering on drama as Frank Sharpe. Critics of the actor might accuse him of leaning into his cut glass English accent when it comes to embodying Sharpe, but Berry remains a rumpled force of nature regardless. An understated antidote to all the guns and ammo action that unravels and intentionally keeping things light with some subtle moments of ineptitude.
Beyond these additions, what Citadel Season 2 does so well is strike a perfect balance between moments of character-driven drama and comedic segues. Audiences will never be in doubt that the fate of our world hangs in the balance, but neither will they worry about the outcome. Thankfully, this is also such a slickly produced piece of high-end escapism, that no one will notice the join.
Richard Madden is on solid form as Mason Kane, playing dramatic ping pong with his mother played by Lesley Manville, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas has her obstacles to negotiate as Nadia Sinh. Between them they smoulder, offer up smackdown moments, and give off high octane action vibes between reloading artillery. In every conceivable way Season 2 ups the ante on that shiny first introduction back in 2023, reminding audiences that the Russo brothers are much more than heavy-hitting Marvel saviours.
Like a well-oiled machine teed up for automated renewal, Citadel feels like a formidable franchise in the making that looks set to run and run. It might not reinvent the wheel when it comes to globe-trotting espionage but feels more like comfort food for those audiences awaiting the imminent announcement of the next James Bond.
Citadel Season 2 is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video.