This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
It’s time once again to get our thriller on with another spy series! Thanks to Joe Jonas and his clumsy attempt at sexist pre-divorce PR, the Queen in the North has been in the news lately, which made me think about her brother, the first King in the North, and the terrific BBC series he starred in, Bodyguard. These days you can stream the show on Amazon Prime or Netflix.
Is it based on a book?
No, but it feels like it is. Creator Jed Mercurio is also a successful novelist, which probably explains why the show is so well structured and the characters so nuanced.
Is the spy a man?
As usual, yes. He’s also not actually a spy, but rather a police sergeant now assigned to work personal protection for the UK Home Secretary. So basically a British Secret Service officer.
Does the conspiracy go to THE HIGHEST LEVELS????
It goes pretty high, but nobody directly implicates the Prime Minister (at least in this conspiracy), nobody implies that the entirety of MI5 or the British government is compromised, so that’s a nice bit of realism for a change.
Who is our spy?
Police Sergeant David Budd, who is also a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, where he picked up an officially undiagnosed case of PTSD that he is nevertheless aware of himself. Also aware of it are his estranged wife and an old Army buddy. Budd’s issues haunt him, but he’s generally able to shove them down and perform his duties to a very impressive degree.
Is he sexy?
Did I mention he’s played by the King in the North, Robb Stark?
Sorry, I mean that he’s played by Scottish actor Richard Madden? And that he’s a guy tortured by the demons of a past he’s trying to keep hidden? So yes. He’s sexy.
Does it hook you right away?
Absolutely. Somewhat similar to The Night Agent, we start with our hero on a train helping to foil a terrorist bombing, though their methods are different. The tension is through the roof here, since David’s kids are also on the train and in a few moments we see the fear and his PTSD bleeding through as he tries to remain calm and keep everyone–including the bomber–alive.
Is there romance?
Holy mother of god, is there ever. Also sex. Perhaps it’s more sex than romance? How do you really separate the two at the start of a relationship, frankly? David’s been assigned to protect the Home Secretary, Julia Montague, whose politics he hates. She’s a prickly person with a lot of enemies, making his job difficult, but that bodyguard/bodyguardee(?) setup is always a recipe for sexiness, and this show makes a five-course meal out of it. As viewers, we’re never entirely sure if David is going to kill her or fuck her, but Julia only feels safe with him. It’s a treat to watch.
Are the bad guys interesting?
Yes. Given that Julia herself could reasonably be considered a bad guy–and is, by some of David’s Army friends–there are plenty of villain options to choose from along the twisting course of the plot. But when we finally discover the main bad guy, that’s the most interesting twist of all.
Any big stars?
Not really. Madden and Keeley Hawes, who plays Julia, are the biggest names in the show. Hawes was nominated for a BAFTA for this performance, and Madden won a Golden Globe. They’re both terrific, as is the rest of the cast.
Will there be more?
Super unclear, but probably not. Even though Bodyguard was a critical and ratings hit, there was no immediate renewal. For a year or so a second season was talked about, and then Covid hit and shut the world down, and now people ask Richard Madden about it and he gives polite non-answers. It sounds like a no to me.
Should you watch it?
Hell yes! There are six episodes, so it’s a great fall weekend binge.
