After 3 Years, Prime Video’s 7-Part Spy Thriller Finally Returns To Fix Its Biggest Problem

by

After a three-year break, the controversial spy thriller on Prime Video is back with seven new episodes, hoping to win over viewers. The series had all the ingredients for success – a large budget, high-quality production, and a cast of well-known actors. However, the first season received mixed reviews, scoring only 51% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and 62% from audiences.

With Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, and Stanley Tucci leading the cast, Citadel is predicted to be a top show on Prime Video this week after its second season premiered on May 6th. Currently, Citadel season 2 is performing very well globally on Prime Video, ranking as the #2 most-watched show worldwide and in the U.S., just behind the final episodes of The Boys. The new season delivers continuous action, a compelling story similar to the Jason Bourne films, and expands on the storyline, effectively addressing the issues that held back the first season.

Citadel Season 2 Returns To Fix Season 1’s Biggest Problem

Season 2 of Citadel is a significant step up, largely due to its stronger focus on developing characters and telling a more compelling story. The addition of Jack Reynor (Midsommar) and Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows) instantly makes the show more engaging – something that was occasionally lacking in the first season. Reynor plays a rebellious CIA agent, and Berry portrays a refined spy, and together they add layers to the plot without overcomplicating things, effectively filling in what was missing from season one.

Season 2 of Citadel kicks off with exciting action, skillfully directed by Joe Russo, known for his work on the Avengers films. While a strong start was anticipated after the first season, the new season’s creators have clearly worked hard to improve the story. They’ve done this by emphasizing thrilling plots and adding engaging, and often funny, moments between characters who feel more believable this time around, even with their extraordinary backgrounds.

When it comes to action thrillers on Prime Video, Citadel stands out with its incredibly well-done fight choreography and intense action. Even with improvements to the story and characters, the show hasn’t lost what made it exciting in the first place. In fact, the action in Citadel is arguably better than other popular Prime Video thrillers like Reacher and The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, potentially making it the best on the platform. Overall, Citadel has proven its worth, especially considering its first season didn’t make as big of an impact three years ago.

Citadel Finally Proves It Can Be A Winning Action Franchise On Prime Video

Despite promising starts with the 2024 spinoffs, Citadel: Diana and Citadel: Honey Bunny, the Citadel franchise faced a major setback when those shows were canceled in summer 2025. Although both spinoffs received positive reviews and attracted viewers, the focus shifted entirely to making season 2 of Citadel a hit, essentially making it a crucial turning point for the expensive series.

While season 2 of Citadel isn’t a perfect hit and might not rank among Prime Video’s greatest shows, it’s definitely a step up from season 1 and shows the series has potential as a continuing franchise. The biggest challenge will be the cost; another season requiring $300 million – and extensive reshoots – is unlikely to be approved. If viewers continue watching Citadel in the coming weeks, Prime Video could find they have a successful thriller series, despite a difficult beginning.

Read More

2026-05-08 00:08