Should you watch Bodyguard on Netflix? – A Complete Review

Jed Mercurio, the man behind one of Britain’s most successful dramas Line Of Duty, serves as creator and writer of the 6-part miniseries Bodyguard.

Bodyguard is a fast-paced, highly entertaining political and police drama filled with twists and turns.

Featuring several of Mercurio’s trademark storytelling elements such as political conspiracies, psychological duress, and inappropriate sex between colleagues, Bodyguard ticks all the boxes and is a thrilling ride.

1. Quick Review

Bodyguard manages to weave together a vast web of conspiracy and terrorist plots filled with grey characters. No one is what they seem, and the show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as they try to predict the next twist in the tale.

The compact style of storytelling and the fast-paced political conspiracy in which the protagonist gets entangled reminds me of an entire season of Homeland.

Jed Mercurio tries to keep the cards up his sleeve and not reveal any of the twists until necessary. This traps the show in its web of lies, and some sequences built for suspense come off as annoying. The series is a crowd-pleaser with something for everyone and supported by fine acting performances by Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes.

2. Is It Worth Watching?

The series which initially premiered on the BBC broke viewership records in Britain. Featuring a sharp script and good direction, multiple episodes end on a cliff-hanger. This will make you feel glad that you can now binge this on Netflix instead of waiting for a week for the next episode.

Bodyguard | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

I. Plot

The series revolves around Budd White, a British Army war veteran suffering from PTSD. He refuses to acknowledge his mental issues, choosing to repress them. He is a member of the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Budd is assigned as the Personal Protection Officer (PPO) of the ambitious Home Secretary Julia Montague. Her policies are against everything Budd believes in, and she is pushing for a bill that allows the government to conduct surveillance on citizen’s digital devices. This makes her an active target, and Budd is conflicted between his personal beliefs and his duty as her PPO.

There is also an underlying political and terrorist conspiracy that is introduced in the first episode itself. How does this link up with Julia and her political ambitions? What does Budd do when her life is on the line? These are the questions that are answered in this miniseries as Budd gets entangled in a web of powerful players.

II. Cast & Performances

Richard Madden, who is known better as Robb Stark of Game Of Thrones, steps into the polished shoes and crisp shirt of Budd White.

He plays the part of the bodyguard to perfection with rigid body movements, deadpan stares, and swift reactions. A man who is always surrounded by the high and mighty but is never welcomed as one of them White knows his place in the system.

Madden delivers warnings and deals with Julia with a no-nonsense attitude. He uses the word ma’am so frequently that it should appear tacky, but Madden can convey an entire sentence or feel with that well-placed word. Struggling with his marriage and dealing with his PTSD, we also see a vulnerable side of the strong bodyguard.

Keeley Hawes plays the Conservative Home Secretary, who wants to use her right-wing ideologies to get to the top.

Her bill to allow snooping by the government on civilian devices makes her the target of many individuals. She is completely comfortable in her role, ordering people around and unafraid to bash the criticism being hurled at her.

Hawes is a cold-blooded killer and embraces the part of the MP hated by the people. While her policies and behavior will make you hate her, her relationship with Budd will make you think that she shouldn’t die.

III. Detailed Review

The opening sequence where Budd encounters a suicide bomber on a train helps to set up various angles in the story. It highlights Budd’s humane nature but also his war trauma and PTSD, which interfere with his duties. It also gives the idea that terrorist cells are targeting London, and there is a conspiracy afoot.

While Mercurio appears to have bitten off more than he can chew and the side plots take too long to converge, he manages to keep the show interesting. He is not afraid to kill characters, which keeps the viewers hooked and waiting for the next twist. Some of the characters and conspiracies appear excessive and detract from the overall feel of the show.

The show offers an intimate depiction of the Police Protection Services, and the constant updates, codenames, and surveillance appear thrilling to watch. White’s PTSD is not just an additional prop but has a complete arc that affects the storyline. The show raises awareness about social issues such as mental illness and online data privacy and government overreach.

3. Final Thoughts

The Bodyguard is a thrilling and entertaining watch that will keep you engaged throughout. Madden’s performance is exceptional, and you will have finished the show sooner than you realize or wanted to.

It has plenty of twists along the way, and the ending is unpredictable. While parts of the story feel unrealistic, it all wraps up nicely in the end.

4. Grade

5. Info