No products in the cart.
The Assassin onon Prime bringsbrings backback thethe artart ofof darkdark comedycomedy
I recently found myself scrolling through Amazon Prime looking for something new and exciting. I needed something to fill the gap in my much-needed day-to-day viewing. As I selected yet another period drama, an advert played for the then upcoming drama ‘The Assassin’ (2025). I was instantly intrigued. Keeley Hawes back as a retired hitwoman? Freddie Highmore as her estranged son Edward? And an action-filled plot against the backdrop of the stunning Mediterranean? I was invested immediately and counted down the days to the release date.
I was not disappointed. This crime thriller turned dark comedy blew me away with stellar performances, sharp writing and a relationship at its core that could scarce have been more compelling. Let’s dive in.
WARNING: Spoilers for The Assassin ahead!
Characters discussed in order of first mention:
- Keeley Hawes plays Julie
- Freddie Highmore plays Edward “Eddie” Green
- Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Kayla
The Assassin: Julie
Julie reunites with her son, Eddie, after years apart. We quickly sense a tension between the two; all is not well between mother and son. The cold, stilted conversation helps to build the tension as their awkward reunion unfolds against the backdrop of a conspiracy involving Edward’s fiancé Kayla and her family.
In her seclusion in Greece, Julie is right at home. Through Hawes’ incredible acting, we soon ascertain that she is never fully at ease around others, and trusts only herself. Accordingly, given her past career as a hitwoman, this doesn’t come as a big shock. And yet it is strange that not even her son has managed to break through her barriers.
Her snappy put downs, mean-spirited humour and shut-off demeanour all help to make this character utterly captivating. It is this intriguing woman and her dynamic with her son which ensured I kept coming back for more. No matter how crazy or action packed the series gets (it never holds back in this regard). Even when the broader plot at times becomes a little bit too complicated for its own good.
The Assassin: Edward
No less interesting is the hilarious character of Edward. A quiet and polite soul by nature, he is a fish out of water in this hit-and-run world of his mother. His incredulity at her actions and way of life provides much-needed brevity and comedic relief, as well as a relatable focal point for me to relate to.
We root for him and his relationship with Kayla, and sympathise as events spiral out of control and the rug is pulled from under him. As we later learn, he isn’t completely without fault himself. Still, in wanting him to reach a good ending and finally connect on a deeper level to his mother, Edward provides the story’s humanity. Freddie delivers this engaging performance on every level flawlessly, as we’ve come to expect from this young yet distinguished actor.
Conclusions
It is with a great sense of relief that I can recommend this new Prime original series. It is rewarding to find that creativity, good writing, and compelling characters and plotlines still have a place on our streaming platforms. Certain streaming services let me down by prizing quantity over quality. I’m finally looking at you, Disney.
My main takeaway here is relief that dark, edgy comedy has similarly survived the great streaming-service transition of the last two decades. In an age where it feels as if broadcasters are more afraid than ever to be offensive on purpose, to expose our darker side, and to use comedy as a vehicle for characterisation, I was impressed by the consistency and sharpness of Julie’s wit. None of the jokes felt forced or unnecessary. I wish more series would understand the value of dark comedy to storytelling.
I would never have guessed that these two talented actors would work so closely together on such a bizarre, dark comedy series, but I’m so glad it happened!
The Assassin is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Feature image credit: Prime Video/Two Brothers Pictures/Photographer: Robert Viglasky. Other image credits: Prime Video/Two Brothers Pictures/Photographers: Marq Riley, Panos Kostouros, Robert Viglasky.
