There Has Never Been a Sillier Thriller About Math

by

Can you recall details about prime numbers from math class? These are the numbers that can only be divided by 1 and themselves, and every other number can be broken down into them somehow. They follow a unique pattern that mathematicians haven’t yet figured out how to predict. Moreover, they play a significant role in cybersecurity, as we see in the AppleTV+ series ‘Prime Target’. In this show, a character named Leo Woodall (from ‘The White Lotus’ season two) portrays a Cambridge grad student named Edward who has found a way to foresee prime numbers, which could potentially destabilize the entire security system and lead to NSA agent Martha Plimpton pursuing him in anger. She wears an impressive collection of power scarves while doing so!

To fully appreciate a show like “Prime Target,” you’ll need to cultivate a palate that can savor the complex, seemingly nonsensical jargon characteristic of airport conspiracy thrillers. This genre has two main categories: STEM-based, with shows like “The Number 23” or “Pi,” and humanities-oriented, featuring works such as “The Da Vinci Code,” “National Treasure,” and the late “The Lost Symbol.” Both types incorporate a wealth of factual details to make viewers feel knowledgeable, then layer on excessive drama and conspiracy theories.

In “Prime Target,” the idea that prime numbers are crucial for computer passwords is expanded into a scenario where governments and shadowy organizations employ spies to monitor thinkers who might uncover dangerous mathematical truths, and eliminate them when they do. The show predominantly falls within the STEM realm, but it also incorporates historical references; the monitoring program is named Syracuse, after Archimedes’ innovations, and the storyline of prime numbers is intertwined with an archaeological dig in Iraq, which primarily serves as a vehicle for Sidse Babett Knudsen (from “Borgen”) to frequently say the word “Baghdad.

In the intricate labyrinth of “Prime Target”, logic seems elusive yet the journey is captivating. I suggest you give it a try by watching several episodes first, then attempt to summarize the storyline to your acquaintance or editor. Here’s a simplified overview: Edward receives an abrupt command from his mentor to halt his prime number research, only for this mentor to mysteriously ‘fake’ their death later. Simultaneously, Quintessa Swindell portrays a young woman monitoring the academic world on her laptop, residing in the south of France. Her job remains vague, but she believes it involves high-level global security work. Apple must be commended for financing that picturesque location shoot. When not pursuing French romance, she detects suspicious activities in Cambridge, recognizes the shadiness, and aids Edward. Despite the potential danger, he continues his quest to unravel those enigmatic prime numbers! Eventually, they all converge in Baghdad for an expensive, complicated, and arguably unnecessary chase sequence. Kudos to whoever managed to secure Apple’s funding for that scene as well.

In this quirky series titled Prime Target, its creator Steve Thompson infuses the dialogue with an amusingly eccentric flair. Towards the end of the first episode, the protagonist Edward delivers a speech on prime numbers, mocking Newton and questioning their prevalence in nature. He states that flowers often have petals in prime numbers like 3, 5 or 13, but adds a disclaimer about this statistical tendency. This disconnect between the character’s words and the performance is both funny and endearing, as it creates a dissonance with Edward’s supposed mathematical enthusiasm.

The costume department also appears to be grappling with Edward’s character, dressing him in a tweed jacket and two necklaces, which seems an odd choice for a math whiz. The actor’s laid-back style from One Day works well, but fails to convince when applied to a character who is supposedly enthralled by the intricacies of prime numbers. It’s hard to imagine him pondering the statistics of flower petals. The rowing scene provides a brief moment of credibility, but his gay romance leaves much to be desired, despite the show’s attempt to add depth by making his love interest a man.

The character Edward isn’t the only one on the show who speaks such absurdities, yet it’s this peculiar charm that makes the world of Prime Target so endearing. Everyone is spellbound by these prime numbers, everyone seems to be among the brightest minds globally, and yet they make statements like “You’ve been observing us… for years? So essentially you’ve been spying on us.” Yes, that is what the term spy implies.

Prime Target manages to be both laughably unprofessional and never overly self-conscious; as it progresses and our characters dash across Europe in astonishingly short spans of time, I found myself captivated by its relentless absurdity. The series gains momentum as it presents various groups of suspicious individuals who all want to seize Edward’s concept about a prime finder, never flinching from the fact that the central plot device is… numbers. This unwavering commitment to the joke is crucial for enjoying this type of action-packed thriller, and so is the fact that Apple was prepared to spend money to transport Woodall and Swindell, if not around the world, then at least to several locations easily accessible with a Eurail Pass.

We transition from Knudsen expressing the significance of her excavation in Baghdad to Plimpton attempting to imitate Joan Allen in a Bourne film, standing behind a desk and declaring she must trail these two to Orléans. (Yes, Plimpton’s deliberate American pronunciation of Orléans is rivaled only by Knudsen’s reverential treatment of Baghdad.)

Originally a light-hearted film from the 2000s, “Prime Target” has been reimagined as an eight-episode miniseries in the modern era, with both positive and negative aspects. I initially doubted if there was enough substance to keep viewers engaged for such extended viewing, but my curiosity got the better of me, leading me to watch all eight episodes. The intrigue lay in guessing who would betray whom (it was quite predictable) and wondering if anyone would unexpectedly start reciting prime numbers under pressure (a potentially amusing touch).

The plot may not be entirely plausible, and the actors might seem perplexed by their lines, but “Prime Target” keeps you hooked. A particularly intriguing moment comes when one character manages to hack into a shady company’s computer, which seems strange given its strong cybersecurity measures. Upon gaining access, they find a folder named “Primes.” I found myself eagerly waiting for them to open it, wanting to learn more about these mysterious primes!

Read More

2025-01-22 20:54