Priyanka Chopra-Richard Madden-starrer Citadel is going to be quite a ride, going by the first two episodes that have dropped on Amazon Prime Video. With Anthony and Joe Russo as executive producers – the brothers behind the Chris Evans-Ryan Gosling-starrer The Gray Man — the six-episode series Citadel has the makings of a top-notch actioner. Well, almost. Here’s what we loved about Episode 1 and 2.

A good enough set-up

It was obvious from the trailer that Citadel has a predictable narrative arc — the good guys are under attack from an evil syndicate and have to protect some nuclear codes as well as themselves from it — but the thriller series has a lot to offer in terms of action and plot twists.

At the centre of the show, created by Josh Appelbaum, Bryan Oh and David Weil, are two of underground intelligence agency Citadel’s top spies — Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra) and Mason Kane (Richard Madden) — along with their tech whiz colleague Bernard Orlick (Tucci). After a Citadel spy sells out their agency’s core secrets, the crime syndicate Manticore starts mowing down the Citadel agents one by one. The first two episodes go back and forth over the eight missing years since the time Nadia and Mason, after being set up in a train explosion, get out of the carnage alive but with their memories wiped out as part of Citadel protocol.

Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden’s chemistry

The sparks start flying between Priyanka’s Nadia and Madden’s Mason right from the moment the two face each other — she, dressed to kill in a red-hot number; he, looking appropriately suave in a suit. Both are on a train to retrieve a box of uranium from a crime lord. It’s clear that they have history, and they also keep secrets from each other, right up to the moment when the train blows up along with them.

When they meet again eight years later at a restaurant in Valencia where Nadia works, both have become different people with no recollection of their past. Mason, who has been traced by Bernard and briefed about his real identity, tries to jog Nadia’s memory and their chemistry is palpable even in those few wary moments when they are complete strangers to each other.

The smooth action scenes

Where Citadel looks all set to score — despite being dragged down by weak dialogues — is in the action and its plot twists. The action sequences are synchronised and fast-paced, giving both the lead characters enough room to show off their skills.

Nadia and Mason don’t just share sizzling chemistry but also work like a dream team; and so do Priyanka and Madden. They have great timing, be it in the kicks and punches they land or when they lock eyes with each other. Together, Priyanka and Madden might remind you of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

A lot of questions are hanging in the air – from who betrayed Citadel to what political forces are driving Manticore — and the action is poised to get hotter in the coming episodes, with Bernard in Manticore’s captivity, and Mason and Nadia left to themselves to figure it all out.

The third and fourth episode of Citadel will be released over the next two Fridays; the last two will drop on May 26.