The spy spectacle of Citadel has made almost a trademark out of WTF moments in its short life. The viewer finds themself frequently exclaiming things like, “He didn’t die!” and “She’s WHO?” and “WHO’S THE MOLE?!?!?” The latest episode provides another of these moments, and it’s the most personal, unexpected surprise so far. Citadel 1×05 finally adds a layer of heart to all the glossy action.
Up until now, the writers have seemed preoccupied with the surface plotting of this shadowy world. The independent intelligence organization Citadel was wiped out by the evil Manticore. Among the small number of Citadel agents to survive were two of the best, Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) and Mason Kane (Richard Madden), and their romantic relationship had all kinds of dramatic potential. However, the downfall of Citadel included the erasing of the agents’ memories. For 8 years, they lived new lives. But one Citadel leader, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), begins to find them to stop Manticore. Through flashbacks, audiences learn bit by bit about Mason and Nadia’s relationship and the work Citadel was doing.
Plot progress for the present-day story on this show moves slowly in most episodes but Citadel 1×05 at last begins to raise the stakes between Citadel and Manticore while investing more emotion than ever in the central couple.
“None of us are as clean as we want to be.”
Mason and Nadia have located a Citadel colleague, Carter Spence (Osy Ikhile), being held prisoner by Manticore and rescue him. When they reach him, they get an unpleasant surprise to start this episode. Carter blames Nadia for the fall of Citadel. Many hints have already indicated Nadia might be the mole. Or, at least, that is what the writers want us to think. Honestly, neither Nadia nor Mason have been very likeable people so far. But because (we think) they are fighting on the right side with good teamwork and strong chemistry between the actors, we are still interested in their story.
A flashback takes the viewer right to the heart of Nadia and Mason’s romance. They are on a mission in Athens posing as husband and wife and he pulls out a ring. “What if it’s real?” he asks her. When the previous episode ended, Mason had suspicions Nadia was working against Citadel and made questionable decisions to protect her. His proposal seems to be the culmination of Mason placing Nadia above what had been the most important thing in his life. His words are not emotive, because that is not Mason, but they feel genuine.
“I admired you for creating a safer world.”
Meanwhile, Bernard is still being held captive by Manticore member Dahlia Archer (Lesley Manville). He almost gets one of her henchmen to let him go but she stops that with a bullet to the henchman. Dahlia continues to insist that Citadel is culpable for doing bad things and she is simply part of stopping that. This is typical villain speak, and it remains to be seen whether she is truly right about Citadel, but the character is committed to her righteousness. And that makes for an antagonist who is at least watchable. Plus, she’s about to actually make some big moves.
Back to Mason and Nadia, though. Someone (yet another question this show needs to answer) sends Nadia a message letting her know what Mason did to protect her. Which was to wipe the memory of Celeste (Ashleigh Cummings), Nadia’s protege at Citadel (who would end up marrying Mason in his new life without memories– what a mind you-know-what). In the most vulnerable scene the two characters have ever shared, Nadia confronts Mason about this. He, in turn, confronts her about her possibly acting against Citadel. Nadia says she only destroyed a piece of tech too dangerous for anyone, even Citadel, to have, while Mason says she is terrified of being seen. Their romance is over.
“You didn’t deserve to know.”
Another thing that’s over is Dahlia’s patience. Manticore is finally coming close to locating where Bernard is hiding his and Mason’s families, and she threatens them until he agrees to give her the nuclear codes Citadel controls. The smug expression on her face when she gets the codes just confirms how much we hate her. So, Manticore can control the nukes, they just need Mason’s biometric print to override the access. Things are getting bleak now.
But that’s not all. The episode’s biggest revelation is yet to come. When Carter keeps pressing Nadia about her loyalties and her ties to a known terrorist she was off the grid with for months before the Manticore attack on Citadel, she reveals the truth. The terrorist is her father and she went to him to have her and Mason’s daughter in secret after they broke up. This is the WTF moment of this show with the most emotional repercussions. Moreover, they are contacted by Dahlia in the final scene with the news she has kidnapped their daughter to force his cooperation. This leaves the writers with things to do and questions to answer in next week’s season finale. Most importantly: who is the actual mole in Citadel? I have a bad feeling it’s Bernard, which Tucci can easily pull off, but I somehow hope I’m wrong. No matter what, Citadel 1×05 has a good focus on its central couple, and though the writing has its flaws, you will be interested in the next episode.
Citadel is streaming on Prime Video.
