Citadel: Diana

Better than the big budget English language take which is uneven; tries too hard. I quit that show after two to three episodes.

On the contrary this series grows on you, drawing you in, after two episodes.

This Italian version is smoother, less cluttered. It holds a consistent style than the bigger production USA series. It has neat special effects like the weaponry that don't dominate the story line.

The series relies on effective dialogue, tension & intrigue.

The two lead actors hold their own. The film pulls off the storyline without a huge budget with effective production.

The show grows on you as entertaining sci-fi. It a fun, diversion; binge-able.

Citadel is seriously thinking of creating its own universe and world. We have had spy agents like Priyanka Chopra and now Matilda De Angelis, in the Italian version. Just less than a month later, we will see Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the Hindi language called Citadel: Honey Bunny. All the spies have one thing in common- They are tough, intelligent, and in the case of Angelis, who is called Diana, angry.

Set in the year 2030, 'Citadel: Diana' follows Diana Cavalieri (Matilda De Angelis), a Citadel agent planted as a mole within Manticore. She joined Citadel after discovering that Manticore was responsible for the plane crash that killed her parents. Driven by a desire for revenge, she is trained by Citadel veteran Gabriele (Filippo Nigro) to infiltrate the syndicate. Just as Diana plans to disappear and leave the world of espionage behind, she receives unexpected help from Eduardo Zani (Lorenzo Cervasio), heir to Manticore Italy and son of the ruthless Ettore Zani (Maurizio Lombardi), who is playing his own power games against his German and French counterparts. As alliances shift and betrayals unfold, Diana must navigate a dangerous web of deceit, where trust is a rare and costly commodity.

Matilda De Angelis shines as Diana, the undercover Citadel agent, delivering a strong performance in both the dramatic and action-packed scenes. Her interactions with her sister and trainer offer glimpses of her acting range in a series largely defined by action. Maurizio Lombardi impresses as Ettore Zani, the head of Manticore Italy, suspicious of Diana's activities. His cool demeanour and sharp Italian style stand out. However, the real scene-stealer is Lorenzo Cervasio as Eduardo Zani, Ettore's son and heir to Manticore Italy. Lorenzo's calm, calculated approach, even when surrounded by enemies, is captivating. His sharp instincts and ability to anticipate threats make his performance highly credible.

Unfortunately, the basic plot and screenplay let the series down, failing to keep viewers engaged. The meeting between the heads of the Italian, French, and German Manticore branches feels outdated, with their hideout resembling a 70s-style mountain den. While the series boasts high-octane action, gadgets, and advanced tech, the lack of a gripping, edge-of-your-seat plot undermines their impact on the overall storyline.

Maybe it is not a great history or a great production. I did not expected it to be, and I am not knowledgeable enough to be a critic. I have enjoyed a few hours of an action/ scifi/ spy tv show, and, not the least, the beautiful Matilda de Angelis.

I agree with the reviewer that one should watch and make their own judgment. It should not be a problem being in Italian, or centered in Italy, or using very long guns, or the tech that would make a secret cafe conversations impossible (unless they also have a tech to cover the conversation, which I believe is a reasonable expectation).

I do have an issue with picturing cold assassins as heroes. A more realistic character development would improve the show. But that is just me.

Wow! This was a terrible waste of time on a holiday weekend. But, I really should have managed my expectations better since the first "Citadel" disappointed--after a very good pilot episode.

Anyway, "Diana" is greatly hampered by constant back-and-forth between time, and so-so action sequences. The worst thing, though, is that the series doesn't know how to TELL a story. There's no character development, motivation beyond the very superficial. The actors are all Italians--and not really well known in the U. S.

The Italian locations are great to look at, but the convoluted story undercuts everything.

Given two strikes, I'm not sure I'm going to watch the next "Citadel" installment that premieres in early November.

Jobs.

While Citadel: Diana had the potential to be a captivating international thriller, it falls totally flat in almost every aspect - except for Matilda. This feels like a low-budget series from the '90s. The storyline feels recycled, lacking any depth and complexity- unlike the first season. The pacing is uneven, with predictable twists that don't land anywhere. The show struggles to create meaningful tension or character development. The Amazon executives who approved these scripts should consider changing jobs.

Matilda, however, is the standout. She is the ONLY reason to keep watching the entire episodes which are painful to watch. She has a natural screen presence that captivates, and it's clear she's destined for greater roles. Hopefully, we'll see her in a major U. S. production soon, where her talent can truly shine.

In the end, while Citadel: Diana may not live up to expectations, it's worth watching just for Matilda- an amazing talent.