Citadel: Prime Video's Costly Flop Revealed: What Went Wrong?

Amazon's Citadel, a spy-themed TV show with a staggering $250 million production cost and renowned industry figures such as the Russo Brothers involved, did not attract a sizable audience despite its high-profile backing. The Russo Brothers, known for their successful work on blockbuster films like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, executive produced the show. They recently directed The Gray Man, Netflix's highest-budget movie, which achieved success with a lower budget compared to Citadel and featured popular actors like Chris Evans.

However, unlike its predecessors, Citadel failed to captivate viewers and did not rank among the top 10 most-watched streaming shows during its release, according to a Bloomberg report. This disappointment even prompted Amazon's CEO to question the hefty investment in the show. Despite the initial promise showcased in its early trailers and the presence of experienced filmmakers and actors, the reasons behind Citadel's failure remain unclear. Will Prime Video decide to renew the show for a second season?

What Is Citadel About?

The plot of Prime Video's Citadel centers around two spies, Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh, portrayed by Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra, respectively. Mason and Nadia are agents of Citadel, a covert spy organization that has no allegiance to any particular country. This thrilling six-episode series draws inspiration from renowned spy films such as Tenet and the Bourne franchise. Citadel's mission is to oversee various spy agencies to ensure that their actions do not cause chaos.

Within the show, Citadel combats the Manticore, a formidable syndicate with aspirations of acquiring nuclear materials. Both Mason and Nadia are assigned the task of thwarting the Manticore's plans. However, they find themselves caught in a train explosion after being ambushed by the enemy. Miraculously, Mason and Nadia survive the blast and are given new identities, their past erased, leading seemingly ordinary lives.

Why Did Citadel Fail?

After eight years, Mason comes across Bernard Orlick, a former colleague and spy seeking his assistance in thwarting the Manticore's plot to establish a new global regime. In the course of their mission, Mason is unexpectedly reunited with Nadia, his long-lost love, who now works at a restaurant where fragments of their shared history lie dormant, predominantly stemming from the train accident. As their memories gradually resurface, they embark on a joint endeavor to rescue the world from the clutches of the Manticore.

Citadel's failure can be attributed to several factors, but the main one is its excessively high budget. The show needed to be a resounding success in order to generate enough revenue to cover its production costs. Unfortunately, despite the significant investment, the six-episode spy TV show struggled due to a poorly crafted script. Additionally, Citadel fell short in terms of its action scenes, which lacked well-coordinated sequences, effective editing, and impressive visual effects (VFX). Furthermore, the episodes were surprisingly short, with runtimes of only 35-40 minutes. This wouldn't have been an issue if the show had riveting action sequences and an enthralling story. Additionally, Amazon's decision to release new episodes on a weekly basis meant that viewers had to wait a full week for the next installment, even though the show could easily be binge-watched in a single sitting and barely surpassed the length of a typical movie.

However, these factors alone cannot be attributed to the show's lack of success. The unoriginal and repetitive storyline, reminiscent of countless spy films and television series, failed to engage the audience. The plot development was also inadequate, leading to limited interest in the show's main characters. Ultimately, viewers voiced their dissatisfaction with the show's lack of originality and uniqueness.

Will there be a Citadel season 2?

Contrary to expectations, Citadel secured a renewal for a second season despite its disastrous debut. Surprisingly, Amazon's unwavering confidence in the show led to its early renewal on Prime Video, even before the audience had a chance to review the initial season. While details on the upcoming season remain scarce, Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas are set to reprise their roles as Mason and Nadia, respectively. Additionally, it is likely that new cast members will join the ensemble.

Additionally, there will be a change in Season 2's direction, with all episodes being helmed by Joe Russo. The upcoming season will delve into various subplots introduced in the first season, including Mason's backstory and the uncertain future of the spy couple. As of now, the release date for the second season remains unknown, although speculation suggests it may premiere as early as 2025. The pressure is now immense for Citadel 2 to significantly improve upon the shortcomings of its predecessor, especially considering the displeasure expressed by Amazon's CEO and the show's poor ratings.

Despite these challenges, the franchise plans to expand beyond just the second season. Amazon has ambitious intentions to create an entire universe centered around Citadel, aptly named "The Citadel Spyverse." In fact, multiple spin-offs for the show are already in development, with the first one being Citadel: Diana. Recently, a teaser for the show was released, generating excitement among fans, and it is scheduled to air next year in 2024.

Citadel: Diana, an Italian spin-off, will chronicle the transformation of lead actress Matilda De Angelis from a police officer to a Citadel agent. Speculation suggests that the show will also utilize two timelines, similar to the original Citadel. The cast members remain undisclosed, leaving fans curious about the inclusion of returning or new characters. Furthermore, Amazon intends to expand the Citadel universe by exploring different countries, including India, Italy (as previously mentioned), Spain, and Mexico. Prime Video users can now stream Citadel.