Prime Target

Streaming on: Apple TV+
Episodes viewed: 8 of 8

People say maths is boring, but the latest Apple TV+ thriller really goes out of its way to convince you otherwise. That's probably why Prime Target puts Leo Woodall front and centre for a start: you can't really go wrong with the man who made us swoon in One Day and gasp in The White Lotus. It also helps that his character, Edward, soon develops feelings for a cute bartender played by Hawkeye star Fra Fee, abs and all. Then there's Leo's co-lead, Quintessa Swindell, whose arrival in Episode 2 brings extra charisma, as a secret agent who's out of their depth, but still trying their best. Yet even with all that going for it, something's not quite adding up…

We're told that, "Math nerds are probably the most dangerous people on the planet," but this line, like many others throughout the show, feels forced and even clunky. It's as if Prime Target isn't entirely confident of its conceit, the writing overcompensating through repetition and drawn-out scenes that don't flow like you'd hope. That's a shame, because in a world of endless Harlan Coben-style thrillers, Prime Target should be commended for thinking outside of the box, much like Edward does in his pursuit of world-changing formulae. If only the actual series could manifest that potential in the same way.

As refreshing as it is to see two reluctant ‘heroes’ push back against action/romance tropes, especially with Edward being queer (and possibly neurodivergent), there's only so much Woodall and Swindell can do with the material. Yet they still fare better than seasoned co-stars including David Morrissey and Martha Plimpton, both of whom are inexplicably dull here, in spite of their talent. Things pick up towards the end as the stakes are raised, but by that point, Prime Target feels like a problem to solve rather than a show to be savoured, despite that intriguing ending.