'Citadel: Diana' Reviews: Series "is astonishingly good at both action and spycraft"

         On October 10, 2024, 'Citadel: Diana' was released on Prime Video, earning predominantly positive reviews from critics, earning a score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the series, "The global spy agency Citadel was destroyed by the syndicate, Manticore; since then, Diana Cavalieri, an undercover Citadel agent, is alone, trapped behind enemy lines; the only way out for her is trusting, Edo Zani, the heir of Manticore Italy." The ensemble cast includes Matilda De Angelis, Maurizio Lombardi, Lorenzo Cervasio, and Thekla Reuten. But what did the critics say?

        Isabella Soares of Collider says, "Back in 2023, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden played counterparts in the three-figure spy drama Citadel, produced by the Russo Brothers. Although the big-budget series was met with mixed reactions, it was still renewed for Season 2 and received Prime Video's approval for the making of international spin-offs. Citadel: Diana is a product of this Citadel Spyverse expansion, taking place in Italy with events paralleling the original series. Although I wasn't particularly floored by Citadel, its high-caliber cast and few twists and turns made it somewhat of an engaging watch. It was no Mission Impossible, but there were still qualities to be noted. As for the latest spin-off — which feels much less like a blockbuster — it doesn't amp up the stakes, nor does it bring a fresh take on the genre. In other words, if viewers were disappointed by Chopra Jonas and Madden's show, they'll probably be even more underwhelmed by this."

Photo by Alice Voigt on Unsplash

       Michael Clark of Epoch Times notes, "For me, if it ends here, fine. It all worked. If it continues, all the better, provided the writing remains of a high caliber. I can see it lasting for four or five seasons without any drop in quality."

       Kate Sánchez of But Why Tho? A Geek Community praises the series, stating, "More grounded than the first series, Citadel Diana is astonishingly good at both action and spycraft. Not without its science fiction edge, the series pulls on the reigns and brings the audience to a spy story steeped in romance and resiliency. The leads in this series are doing work, but they have a script that meets their talent in a way that resonates with every subsequent episode. The series is directed by Arnaldo Catinari and developed by Alessandro Fabbri, the head writer who wrote the series with Ilaria Bernardini, Gianluca Bernardini, Laura Colella, and Giordana Mari."