Amazon’s latest action hero boasts a particular set of skills. Skills that will come in very handy when enemies from the past come calling. What follows is, somehow, an action-packed, dramatic mix of James Bond, Liam Neeson’s Taken, and, believe it or not, Mamma Mia. And while that might sound like a mix that could never work (and really didn’t for some), that hasn’t stopped it from shooting up the streaming charts.
The action thriller drama (but also Mamma Mia) series is now streaming on Prime Video and follows an ex-killer who is forced to go on the run with her son in tow when her dangerous past catches up with them. Here we go again.
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The creator behind the show says, “as long as people keep showing up, we’ll keep making it.”
Titled The Assassin, the series comes courtesy of writing duo Harry and Jack Williams, who are best known for their work on the acclaimed psychological drama The Missing and the hit thriller series The Tourist starring Jamie Dornan. The Assassin finds Spooks and Bodyguard star Keeley Hawes as the ex-killer and mother, Julie, who attempts to reconnect with her estranged son, Edward, played by Freddie Highmore, after seemingly leaving her violent employment behind.
Made up of six episodes, and starring Gina Gershon (Riverdale, New Amsterdam), Shalom Brune-Franklin (The Tourist, Baby Reindeer), Jack Davenport (The Morning Show, Pirates of the Caribbean), Alan Dale (Dynasty, Lost), Gerald Kyd (The Swarm, The Split), Devon Terrell (Totally Completely Fine, Cursed), Richard Dormer (Blue Lights, Game of Thrones), and David Dencik (The Ipcress File, No Time to Die) alongside Hawes and Highmore, The Assassin is now at #2 on the Prime Video charts in the United Kingdom, as well as #4 on BBC in the United States, with other nations likely to catch up soon.
‘The Assassin’ Brings Something Different to a Tried-And-Tested Action Thriller Formula
Despite sounding like a tried-and-tested action thriller formula, The Assassin has proven to be seriously divisive. The series currently stands at a hugely impressive 90% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which stands in stark contrast to the 37% from audiences on the Popcornmeter.
While some critics, such as David Opie of Empire and The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan, expectedly praised the performances of Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore, as well as the action and thrills on display, Sabrina Barr of Metro awarded the show a near-perfect 4/5 before confusingly called the show “Mamma Mia combined with Taken, with a dash of Black Doves thrown in for good measure,” while Anita Singh of The Daily Telegraph gave the same rating adding, “The Assassin… is Mamma Mia! with a sniper rifle, and it’s a treat.”
Clearly, such a twisted take on Taken, assassins, particular skills, and Mamma Mia needs to be seen to be believed and judged fairly. The Assassin is now streaming on Prime Video, and you can check out the official synopsis (and perhaps work out the curious comparison to the hit jukebox musical) below.
“Along the way, their dysfunctional relationship is tested to its limits. They uncover a dark conspiracy they believe to be their only threat, but a greater danger emerges that could destroy their relationship entirely. In a race against time, Julie fights to save Edward and salvage their relationship as past and present collide in a showdown across the globe…”
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
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