The Assassin
If the world needed proof that sun and sea can be as menacing as rain-slick streets and neon shadows, The Assassin makes a persuasive case. Created by Harry and Jack Williams, this six-part crime thriller follows retired assassin Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her semi-estranged journalist son Edward (Freddie Highmore) as her past catches up with them in unexpected ways. It swaps the urban grime typical of assassin fare for the striking mountains and turquoise waters of an idyllic Greek island – and it’s a gamble that pays off in spades.
With its jagged peaks, winding roads and isolated coves, the island serves as a stunning backdrop for the blood and bullets. It’s a fresh setting that feels both Arcadian and faintly claustrophobic, thanks to the close-knit community where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Weddings become sprawling village events, there’s only one doctor on the island, and the absence of a police force adds unexpected tension to the pilot’s twist-laden plot.
When Julie is yanked out of her tranquil seclusion by Edward’s sudden arrival – and a cascade of violence – it’s clear that even paradise can turn perilous. At the heart of the series is the often humorous, occasionally touching dynamic between mother and son, with Hawes and Highmore leaning easily into the comedy of awkward silences and mutual exasperation. There’s undeniable fun in watching Hawes roar along mountain roads on her motorbike, hired gunmen at her heels, with Highmore awkwardly clinging on behind her.
Still, the show can’t resist the well-worn trope of the mysterious, long-lost father – an addition that feels plainly clichéd amid otherwise original writing.
Once the action leaves the island, the story sprawls across yachts and corporate conspiracies involving wealthy siblings Kayla (Shalom Brune-Franklin) and Ezra (Devon Terrell), along with imprisoned tech expert Jasper (David Dencik). Tied into it all is a chillingly contemporary thread about AI-generated voices used for deadly deception, reminding us that in Julie’s world, danger doesn’t just lurk in back alleys with guns drawn – it also whispers down phone lines in familiar voices, making for a thriller as attuned to modern fears as it is to high-octane chases.
Christina Yang
The Assassin is released on Prime Video on 25th July 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Assassin here:
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