Bodyguard is thrilling and maddening, but never boring

The Hollywood Reporter

The six-episode BBC drama, which arrives on Netflix today, "succeeds almost immediately at setting the hook and then races for six episodes and six-plus hours of pulse-pounding action and brain-bending twists, which, when it's all said and done, is more than enough to justify watching," says Tim Goodman. "The trouble with the series is that once it has you in its thrall — again, immediately — it almost doesn't know when to stop, with (creator Jed) Mercurio constructing an ever-increasing, wide-ranging set of whodunit options, red-herrings and oh-no-you-didn't moments that start to take their toll on credibility, especially in the last 75-minute episode."

ALSO:

• "It’s almost a shame that Netflix won’t release the show according to the UK’s weekly rollout," says Hanh Nguyen. "Not only does (creator Jed) Mercurio excel at crafting clever cliffhangers that should be savored, but a break also would allow viewers the chance to digest the events, build anticipation, and perhaps ward off stress ulcers."
• To watch Bodyguard’s six episodes is to suspend disbelief and submit to its surprises
• Bodyguard may go over the top, but its British flair prevents it from feeling ridiculous
• It's the best political thriller since Homeland, and it's more than the sum of its parts like the Showtime series
• Bodyguard is an exhilarating ride that truly showcases Richard Madden as a major talent
• Bodyguard finds itself more often than not heading towards the weaker aspects of a Designated Survivor
• Why was Bodyguard hugely popular in Britain?: The country divided by Brexit united around the show, with more than 10 million watching
• Richard Madden answers the question: Would his Bodyguard character be able to protect his Game of Thrones character?
• Creator Jed Mercurio explains why there won't be a Season 2 (for now)