Prime Target is ripe with potential as it weaves a technology driven espionage thriller with ripples of historical elements that call back to , and despite a strong main cast led by Leo Woodall and Quintessa Swindell, it never fully takes off as a series due to its rather surface level storytelling.  

 

A hidden historical site. An artifact holding a secret. A mathematical formula that will change humanity forever. These are the elements of the plot of AppleTV+’s latest series Prime Target, from writer Steve Thompson who is best known for penning three episodes of BBC’s Sherlock, and it's evident that he is a fan of the Robert Langdon novels by Dan Brown. As with all of AppleTV+’s series, there is no production cost wasted as Thompson and his team take viewers on a globe-trotting adventure from executive producer Ridley Scott, who is no stranger to spectacle, and there is no question that viewers won’t be interested to hit play on the next episode to further unravel the mystery at the heart of Prime Target. Despite having the building blocks for a compelling narrative, Thompson’s vision for the story falls short and despite an exciting final two episodes, Prime Target struggles to be the intelligent and addictive thriller it strives to be despite a talented cast led by the great pairing of Leo Woodall and Quintessa Swindell. 

 

Mixing elements of history with an espionage hunt across Europe as a young post graduate mathematician student is hunted down by government agencies and dangerous opponents who will kill for the knowledge he possesses, the groundwork is laid for a strong, adult skewing thriller to unfold over the course of the eight episode season. And while the show is entertaining enough to pass the time, the narrative is lacking the depth to make the series a true hit. Merely skimming the surface of the history, math and motivations of the characters, relying on cliches of the genre and playing out as a formulaic thriller, Prime Target is never able to truly break free from the espionage thriller blueprint to make its own mark on the genre. It’s predictable and lacking the stakes to truly invest the audience in the dangerous world that Edward and Taylah are drawn into, and though there are enough intriguing developments in the season’s final two episodes to create interest in the teased potential second season as to how Edward’s story will continue, it is not enough to make Prime Target’s first season a must see television event despite the top notch production value that is a hallmark of all AppleTV+ series.

 

Even if the story is not as stimulating as viewers may hope given the series' thematic materials, with Woodall and Swindell in the lead roles of Edward and Taylah respectively, the series is in more than capable hands. Woodall, who is on a run of successful television series with the second season of The White Lotus and the miniseries adaptation of One Day, gives a strong performance as Edward, capturing the high intellect and the mannerisms that come with that genius personality. While at times his natural charm and suave overtake the character of Edward, Woodall delivers strong work over the course of the season that proves himself one of the greatest new additions to Hollywood. Opposite him is Swindell, and they are equally as impressive as Taylah. Acting as the more experienced lead character in this world of cloak and daggers that Edward and Taylah find themselves in, Swindell brings a strength and cunningness to Taylah that makes her a character that is easy for the audience to care for. And as a pairing, Woodall and Swindell are exceptional, which is a major asset to the series as they are on screen for the majority of the time.

 

Even with the majority of the season focusing on Woodall and Swindell, there are some great supporting performances that constantly steal the spotlight. Martha Plimpton is excellent as always as NSA Agent Jane Torres, proving to be resourceful and deadly as she tries to secure Edward and his knowledge, while Harry Lloyd is cold, calculating and sinister as Torres’ boss Andrew Carter. Fra Free is solid as Edward’s boyfriend Adam, even with limited amount of screen time, and Sidse Babett Knudsen is excellent as Andrea, even if it takes a while for her storyline to take flight in the season’s latter half. And while he has a limited role, Stephen Rea is incredibly effective and helps to bolster the season’s final two episodes and deepen the mystery at the heart of the story.

There is something about Prime Target that keeps you watching; and that’s the concept and the mystery. Steve Thompson has assembled the right elements for the series' narrative to tell a captivating, adult thriller that blends math, history and espionage, but never mines the material enough to create the next must watch television series event. Thanks to the strong cast featuring great turns from Leo Woodall, Quintessa Swindell and Martha Plimpton, Prime Target manages to make an entertaining watch that calls back to stories like The Da Vinci Code and other historic based thrillers, even if the depth of the story never reaches what is required of it to make it a truly great series.