THE ASSASSIN
Review Scores (how we rate) Watch trailer →
A retired British assassin in Greece gets the world’s most awkward family reunion: her estranged adult son shows up… and then the bullets do too.
He Said / She Said
“The locations are interesting and the humor is well placed, but the script and storyline still feel a bit shallow and unclear. I’m hooked on the mystery of what’s happening and who’s pulling the strings, but Edward’s acting feels stiff, and the dialogue isn’t always stellar. It surprised me with how gory and shocking some moments are.”
“It’s more action-packed than I expected, and the script flows well. The main characters are developing nicely, the mystery is moving forward each episode, and it’s easy to binge, even if some performances aren’t quite gelling yet.”
Critical reception (so far)
Early reactions tend to describe it as a slick, fast-moving spy thriller that’s more fun than deep. The locations, action beats, and “who’s playing who?” mystery are common highlights, with many viewers enjoying the contrast between assassin-world intensity and awkward family dynamics.
The main critique is that the storytelling can feel a little thin: motivations are still murky, the plot throws a lot at you quickly, and not all performances click at the same level (especially early on, when Edward can feel stiff compared to the rest of the cast). Overall: entertaining, bingeable, and a bit messy but it knows how to keep you watching.
What it’s about
Julie (Keeley Hawes) has been living a quiet life in Greece (if your definition of quiet includes drinking, dodging questions, and being extremely capable in a “don’t ask how” way.) Then her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore) arrives and promptly realizes he may not know anything about his mother.
When a hit goes out on Julie, she and Edward are forced into a frantic run across Europe, colliding with Kayla (Edward’s fiancée… who is connected to some very bad people) and Kayla’s brother Ezra, who would sell his soul for their father’s approval. Everyone has motives. Everyone has secrets. And someone really wants Julie dead.
Overall vibe
Think “James Bond energy,” but with more family tension and fewer martinis. It’s action-forward, a little glossy, occasionally funny, and surprisingly gory, including moments that are genuinely shocking for a show that otherwise feels pretty breezy.
The pacing is comfortably fast: the show keeps moving, drops new clues each episode, and shifts from panic-and-chase into a “wait… who’s behind this?” mystery hunt by Episode 3.
Episode-by-episode (1–3)
Julie’s “retired Assassin” life gets interrupted by her son Edward’s surprise visit… and then chaos hits fast.
Julie learns that there’s a bounty on her head. Julie and Edward’s escape to a private yacht reveals a big surprise for Julie.
Julie, Edward and Kayla go to Albania to search for answers and Edward tells Kayla how they really met with devastating consequences.
Content warnings
- Violence
- Gore / graphic imagery
- Strong language
- Adult situations
Who will love it / who should skip it
Will love it if:
- You like spy / assassin stories with chase energy
- You enjoy “everyone has secrets” mystery plotting
- You’re into glossy action with occasional dark humor
- You want a short binge (only 6 episodes)
Should probably skip if:
- Violence or gore is a hard no
- You want prestige-level writing and airtight motives
- You get annoyed when a show withholds “why” for too long
- You’re looking for gritty realism over pulpy action