The Assassin begins with a high-octane sequence: a masked killer shoots their way through multiple criminals part of an unknown, organized crime syndicate. When they get to the top, the boss of the operations kicks over a bag of money, offering to pay them to spare his life. Mid-sentence, the professional killer shoots him, leaving behind their weapon and money. It’s a harrowing introduction to Julie Green (Keeley Hawes), but one that immediately sells the series’ tone.
Three decades later, though, Julie’s life is no longer that of a skilled hitwoman: she’s now been retired in Greece for the last decade, keeping herself hidden from the rest of the world. That is, from everyone except her son, Edward (Freddie Highmore), who arrives seeking answers about a mysterious trust fund that appeared in his name. The two have a fraught relationship due to their clashing personalities, with Edward being a sensitive foil to Julie’s sternness.
While Edward’s arrival rocks the boat on Julie’s peace, it sinks when someone pretending to be her old boss tries hiring her for a hit. She’s instructed to kill a young woman named Kayla Cross (Shalom Brune-Franklin). However, after refusing and reinforcing her suspicions, she becomes a target herself. The Assassin offers a globe-trotting spy thriller story where its mother-son family bond is at the center. It doesn’t stick the landing in every aspect, though I found myself endeared by its multifaceted story.
The Assassin Never Lets Up On Its High-Energy Thrills
The most impressive part about The Assassin is how it never slows down its rapid pacing. Across the six-episode series, not a single moment feels out of place for the story being told. While there are some episodes that are more action-centric than others, the story is always moving. The danger Julie and Edward find themselves in quickly becomes more complex than either could fathom, leading them down a very winding yet narrow path.
It helps that its two leads have such strong chemistry. In one of Highmore’s more guarded roles, Edward is a skittish yet smart character whose amicable mood balances out Julie’s aloof attitude. As for Hawes, there’s a veil of misery that accompanies her character, emphasizing the unflinching nature she’s adopted because of her job. At the same time, it makes it difficult for her to process other elements of the world in different capacities.
This goes for her relationship with Edward, which makes up the heart of the story. Throughout their mission to uncover the truth behind Julie’s assigned hit while staying safe themselves, they reckon with their tumultuous past in very human ways. There is the occasional feeling that their relationship is running in circles. But, for the most part, every conversation progresses in Edward understanding his mother’s past.
However, the same can’t always be said about how Julie reckons with her son being so different from her. It often felt like Edward getting thrust into the world of assassins makes his acceptance of his mother the primary focus. But I was waiting for her to have a deeper understanding of his perspective, a different side to their relationship I felt was underdeveloped.
Luckily, the show doesn’t just focus on them. They are rounded out by other characters they work with in solving the series’ larger mystery. This includes Kayla, who has a secret connection to one of the pair as revealed in episode 1. Her serious approach to everything and reasonable decision-making is balanced out by her brother, Ezra (Devon Terrell), whose unpredictable, chaotic decision-making is a highlight of the series.
The Assassin Misses The Mark In Presentation
The characters may be engaging, but the story of The Assassin does lack in some regards. The first half of the season is intriguing, with a core group of heroes established as they begin uncovering the truth behind who’s targeting Julie and Kayla, and what they’re really after. Their dynamics also make the story fun, with witty dialogue and snappy interactions making them feel like a ragtag group up against insurmountable, unknown odds.
But the streaming thriller series takes a turn in the second half, when some members of the group split off in a different direction. Not only does the story itself start to drag, but the character relationships built in the first half no longer have the same pull. This group works so much better together, so much so that it feels misguided to have them apart from one another for such a lengthy stretch of time.
Luckily, The Assassin pulls itself together by the end, with a riveting – albeit lukewarm – finale that rounds out the series’ central themes nicely. Still, it left me with something to be desired, as the show felt like it stagnated in meaningful places because of the lack of connection between characters. While Julie and Edward’s bond kept up the momentum, it just wasn’t the same to have them together without everyone else.
Despite its flaws, though, The Assassin delivered competent, sleek action bolstered by riveting moments. Although character decisions would have strengthened the story, the overarching narrative was interesting enough to keep me engaged throughout. Even if the first half is stronger, the full series has all the trappings of a well-put-together crime thriller that’s sure to delight anyone already invested in the genre.
The Assassin begins Thursday, November 20 on AMC+, with new episodes arriving weekly on Thursdays.
