The review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes has become a fast and handy way for audiences to check out the consensus of movies and TV shows as we all slowly drown in the ever-increasing amount of “content.” Not only that, but it has also become a testament to the divide between critics and audiences. And it’s a divide that happens surprisingly often. The latest project to fall into this chasm is a new action thriller series from Prime Video…and the two groups could not disagree with each other more.
The series, which is titled The Assassin, follows a mother, Julie ( Keeley Hawes), who attempts to reconnect with her estranged son, Edward (Freddie Highmore). However, when the retired killer’s dangerous past catches up with her, she must resurrect her particular set of skills to keep them safe.
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Sounding a lot like a gender-swapped Taken, it turns out that The Assassin is far more divisive than anyone could have expected. The action series currently stands at an impressive 88% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with this “fresh” score holding firm alongside a savage 29% from audiences on the Popcornmeter. But how could this tried-and-tested tale of a former killer have cut such a clear divide between the two groups?
Turning to the critics, David Opie of Empire heaped praise on Hawes in the lead, teasing that The Assassin is a surprisingly unique take on the action thriller set up. “You’ve never met an assassin like Keeley Hawes’ Julie, and for that matter you’ve never watched a thriller like this either. Come for the cutthroat action and stay for the cutting dynamic at its core,” he said. Awarding the series a perfect 5/5, The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan concludes, “It’s so much fun. Hawes is so good, so funny, Highmore so nimble and perfectly pitched and everyone else turning in brilliant performances.” So far, so promising, but it’s the next critical reactions that could offer some idea of why The Assassin has proven so alienating for audiences.
What Do You Mean It’s ‘Mamma Mia!’ Meets ‘Taken’?
Sabrina Barr of metro.co.uk calls the show “Mamma Mia combined with Taken, with a dash of Black Doves thrown in for good measure,” with Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph similarly saying, “The Assassin… is Mamma Mia! with a sniper rifle, and it’s a treat.” Notably, both critics awarded the series a near-perfect 4/5.
It’s difficult to work out what exactly Mamma Mia! meets Taken really means (is it the sunlit setting? Do they break into song?), but it’s clearly an approach that has put audiences off. “What was all the fuss about? Strange disconnect between for example the review in The Guardian and the actual thing. How could anyone, especially a professional reviewer, think this amateurish mish mash is any good?” said one user on Rotten Tomatoes. “Painfully cheesy. Trying to be funny, but missing the mark. Odd tone, simultaneously dark and silly,” adds another, perhaps hinting the tonal changes that occur as Mamma Mia makes way for Taken. Finally, “This is probably the worst series I have seen in over 60 years,” largely sums up how audiences feel.
More than most, it sounds like The Assassin is one we will all need to check out for ourselves. Which is perfect, because it’s now streaming on Prime Video.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
- Birthname
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Claire Hawes
- Birthdate
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February 10, 1976
- Birthplace
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London, England, UK
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