Bodyguard

Es ist eine Serie, die sehr lange vorgibt, ein Update John le Carrés Schachpartien zu sein, jedoch am Ende wird sie sich möglicherweise nur als Richard Maddens fesselnde Probeaufnahme für eine Bond-Rolle in die Geschichte eingehen. Göttlich, dieser der Junge hat es in sich, einen Killerlook, zebrechlichen Charme sowie eine besondere Zerbrechlichkeit. Seine Figur ändert sich sanft vor unseren Augen von einer leistungsfähigen Maschine hin zu einer völlig zerrissenen Traumatafabrik. Leider wirkt alles andere in dieser Welt etwas unsicher. Bis zum fünften Teil handelt es sich um langsame Versprechungen, welche in der sechsten Folge, die von Wendungen wiederum übersättigt ist, ebenso mit unsinnigen Erklärungen sowie mit hirnspinnigen Motivationen einer zentralen Verschwörung. Bodyguard stellt somit als politischer Thriller letztendlich keine sorgfältig durchdachte Schachpartie dar, sondern ein stupides Kartenspiel mit spärlicher Logik. Leider werden die ehrgeizigen Versuche, ein Drama zu verfassen durch die lächerliche Konstruktion entwertet, wobei es deutlich wird, dass die einen zum Schmunzeln bringenden Klischees über die Beziehung eines Beschützers sowie seiner Schutzperson nicht nur flüchtige Ausschweifungen waren. Eigentlich ist es ein billiger, wenn auch schön gedrehter und vertonter B-Film. Schade, aber Madden steht derzeit ganz oben auf meinem 007-Verzeichnis. (24.11.2018)

Jed Mercurio took a year off from his flagship series Line of Duty and created… Well, basically not admitted spin off, which “inherited" all the strong points (tangible graduating tension, ambiguous characters, understandable motivations, intense interrogation and dialogs) and the week points (a little too much coincidences, twists at all costs, slightly excessive conspiracy) from the Line of Duty. As long as he sticks to the characters who, during their inevitable journey to hell, try to put out the consequences of their actions, it's great. As soon as he moves away from the individuals to a high backstage game full of intrigue, it gets worse and it's almost like the new Dan Brown. Which is again the fact that the same goes for, wait for it, Line of Duty. (01.10.2018)

From the first second to the last, an unpredictable testament to all the virtues of British television. There is no shortage of surprising twists, including one shocking one, an attractive environment linked to its supporting themes, and engaging acting performances by all involved, led by the breathtaking Richard Madden, where the viewer is constantly in doubt as to whether the main hero will collapse, perform a heroic act, or just shoot everyone. It's a shame how it gets tangled up in its own web of intrigue right after jumping the basic twist; until then I thought I had a true television miracle in front of me, and instead it's at least a more than meticulous genre piece with an unbelievably high-octane climax. (04.11.2019)

An incredible six-episode blast! Richard Madden, who delivers an extraordinary performance and, above all, professionalism of the deepest grain, has the task of bodyguarding a London government minister who is being targeted for terrorist attacks. Great pacing, perfectly paced scenes, a rotten, corrupt government and very entertaining politicking and intrigue. I didn't expect the politicking to be what I enjoyed most about the series. Good stuff. Keeley Hawes as the Minister was excellent. 90% (26.05.2019)

Throughout all six episodes, there are four amazingly composed action scenes, twists and turns like on a treadmill from the third episode onwards, and the main villain was for me only on the last line in the list of suspects, I really didn't guess him (but maybe I'm just dumb). The long scene with the explosive vest in the last episode is something, something so bizarrely suspenseful that you almost can't believe your eyes. But in a good way, it had drive, I had a great time. Richard Madden was incredibly good at it, a pro in every way, the minister's lapdog and a bundle of nerves all rolled into one. He was fantastic! I’m not giving it five stars only because at the very end I didn't believe at all the sudden transformation of one of the characters into absolute evil, given the previous course, the way she presented herself, what I felt from her (those who have seen it, will probably guess). The filmmakers simply overdid it with trying to surprise. (17.01.2019)