There are shows that follow the rules of the genre. There are those that try to break them. And then there is The Assassin (2025) – a rare television masterpiece that does not break the rules by force, but rather dismantles them with extraordinary precision, stylistic sophistication and impressive emotional intelligence. It puts a character we don’t often see on screen at the forefront – a woman in her middle years who carries a history of violence, silence and resistance. Keeley Hawes in the lead role proves that television can still surprise, captivate and warn at the same time.
The Assassin is built as a tense yet complex web of relationships, secrets and internal conflicts, set in diverse environments – from a Greek village where the protagonist seeks peace, to the gloomy prisons of Libya and the sterile interiors of London where fates are decided. The series heightens the tension with exceptional narrative dynamics and dramaturgical precision, while at the same time revealing the inner worlds of the characters, who are not caricatures, but plastic, multidimensional persons, trapped in a world where any empathy is often a danger.
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An elegant thriller about a woman whose own past turns her into a target
The series centers on Julie (Keeley Hawes), a former professional assassin who, after a decade of silence and isolation, has retreated to a small Greek village where she attempts to live an invisible life. Her daily routine is interrupted by a visit from her adult son Edward (Freddie Highmore), with whom she has a cold, estranged relationship, marked by unspoken questions about her past - especially about her father, the origin of the mysterious money, and the reasons why she pushed him away for so long.
When Julie unexpectedly receives a new assignment from her supposed former superior, it quickly turns out to be a deception. The man who contacted her is not who he claims to be, and just before she is about to carry out the murder, Julie realizes that she has become a tool in someone else's plan - and the new target herself. When she inadvertently saves the woman she was supposed to kill, she sets off an avalanche of events that sends her and her son on a dangerous run. Julie must reactivate as an agent, but this time without a network, without support, and with the realization that there are more players involved than she initially imagined.
The story unfolds on multiple levels: Kayla (Shalom Brune-Franklin), a young billionaire who was almost assassinated, her impulsive brother Ezra (Devon Terrell), and Aaron Cross (Alan Dale), an influential head of a mining corporation with global interests, enter the game. Meanwhile, in a Libyan prison, Jasper (David Dencik), a Dutchman with information that could expose a global corruption network, writes his story. In parallel, in London, the mysterious Marie (Gina Gershon) opens a new chapter with a surprising family revelation that further destabilizes Edward - and expands the thematic axis of the series into the field of identity, heritage and hidden truths.
The Assassin It shifts from a condensed thriller framework to a multi-layered narrative of betrayals, family rifts, and power systems operating in the background. The focus remains on Julie – the protagonist, who must come to terms with her past, protect her son, and relearn how to survive in a world that is constantly one step ahead of her.
Sophisticated direction, exceptional acting, multi-layered narrative
The one that The Assassin What sets it apart from average thrillers is its sense of tone and rhythm. The direction doesn't resort to sensationalism, but trusts in silence, undertones and nuances, which the actors master with rare precision. Keeley Hawes is exceptional as Julie – cold and reserved on the outside, but with every gesture opening the door to a deeply traumatized but still lucid psyche. Highmore is her ideal counterpoint: vulnerable yet rebellious, often cynical but never completely hopeless.
The series is visually sophisticated: from warm Greek sunny tones to cold, almost sterile night scenes in cities and prisons. The musical background is subtle, never intrusive, but always in function of rhythm and psychological tension.
But what? The Assassin What makes it truly worth watching is its reflection on the role of women in a world where power is still defined as aggression, and aging as erasure. Julie is a protagonist who seeks not forgiveness but understanding – and in this context the series opens up space for feminist reading without becoming declarative or pamphlet-like.
Conclusion: television at the highest level
The Assassin (2025) is one of the few series in recent years that combines stylistic perfection, genre efficiency and narrative ambition. It does not underestimate the viewer, but guides them through layers of reality that are at once political, personal and existential. In six episodes, it builds a world that is brutal, emotionally complex and dramaturgically constructed with surgical precision.
This is television that is not afraid of silence. It does not need constant explosions to build tension. And when it hits – it hits with full force.
Rating: 5/5
For viewers who appreciate a psychological thriller with meaning, exceptional acting, and elegant direction that recognizes that a female protagonist can be simultaneously tender, deadly, and utterly unforgettable.
