The Assassin's premiere on Prime Video starts sluggishly but gains traction.
Keeley Hawes excels as Julie, a retired hitwoman whose wit and grit anchor the show. The opening 15 minutes, bloated with a cliché-ridden flashback, could've been cut to five. Julie's quiet Greek island life is upended by her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore), but their reunion feels formulaic.
The script leans on tired spy-thriller tropes early on. The second half ignites when a failed hit forces them to flee, sparking a conspiracy that hooks the viewer.
Hawes and Highmore's tense, layered chemistry carries the episode, though supporting players like Shalom Brune-Franklin are sidelined. Directors Harry and Jack Williams use Greece's beauty to contrast the danger, but pacing falters.
6.5/10 : A sharp cliffhanger salvages the uneven debut, making it just engaging enough to continue. Tighter storytelling is needed to fulfill its promise.
